Seychelles
Phone Code
+248
Capital
Victoria
Population
100,000
Native Name
Seychelles
Region
Africa
Eastern Africa
Timezone
Seychelles Time
UTC+04:00
On This Page
Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1,500 km east of mainland Africa. Victoria on Mahé island serves as the capital and only city (population 90,000). Total population is approximately 100,000, making it Africa's smallest country by population. Seychelles covers 459 km² of land scattered across 1.4 million km² of ocean. The country gained independence from Britain in 1976. The islands are divided into Inner Islands (granitic islands, 43 islands including Mahé, Praslin, La Digue - main tourist islands) and Outer Islands (coralline atolls, 72 islands, mostly uninhabited). Seychelles is renowned as one of world's most exclusive tropical destinations with pristine beaches (Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue consistently ranked among world's most beautiful beaches), iconic granite boulder formations, lush jungle, rare wildlife including Aldabra giant tortoises and endemic birds, luxury resorts, and crystal-clear waters. Key attractions include Vallée de Mai on Praslin (UNESCO World Heritage Site - primeval palm forest with rare coco de mer palms producing world's largest seeds), Aldabra Atoll (UNESCO site, remote coral atoll hosting 150,000+ giant tortoises - world's largest population), stunning beaches across inner islands, diving and snorkeling (abundant marine life, coral reefs, whale sharks), island-hopping, and nature reserves. Seychelles has universal visa-free policy - ALL nationalities receive visitor permit on arrival for up to 3 months, making it one of world's most accessible countries despite being luxury destination.
Visa Requirements for Seychelles
Seychelles offers FREE visa-free entry on arrival for citizens of ALL countries for tourism for up to 3 months (90 days). This universal access policy makes Seychelles remarkably accessible despite its reputation as exclusive destination. Requirements: valid passport for duration of stay, return or onward flight ticket (strictly enforced - airlines require confirmed return booking), proof of accommodation (hotel confirmation or letter from host), sufficient funds for stay (no specific amount but must demonstrate ability to cover expenses - credit cards, cash, bank statements acceptable). Visitor permit issued free on arrival at Seychelles International Airport on Mahé (no application, no visa fee). Initial permit granted for intended stay up to maximum 30 days; extensions available at Immigration Office in Victoria (bring passport, return ticket, accommodation proof, sufficient funds - extensions granted for additional 30-day periods up to maximum 12 months total stay, each extension costs 5,000 SCR / $350 USD). Seychelles is extremely safe - one of world's lowest crime rates, violent crime virtually non-existent, petty theft rare. Government travel advisories from UK, US, Australia note no significant safety concerns. French, English, and Seychellois Creole are official languages - English widely spoken in tourism sector. Seychellois Rupee (SCR) is currency; euros and US dollars widely accepted at tourist establishments.
Common Visa Types
Visitor Permit on Arrival (FREE - 3 Months)
For tourism for ALL nationalities - Seychelles has universal visa-free policy for visitors.
Long-term Residence and Work Permits
For foreigners seeking employment, business, or long-term residence in Seychelles (very limited opportunities).
Important Travel Information
- •Anse Source d'Argent and World's Most Beautiful Beaches: Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue island is consistently ranked among world's most beautiful and most photographed beaches. The beach features powdery white sand, shallow turquoise water, and iconic massive granite boulders sculpted by erosion into organic shapes, creating surreal landscape. Protected by offshore reef, the water is calm and safe for swimming. Sunset at Anse Source d'Argent is magical. Access via L'Union Estate (former coconut plantation, now nature reserve and cultural site with giant tortoises, vanilla plantation, traditional coconut oil mill, copra house - entry 100 SCR / $7). La Digue is small island (10 km²) accessible by ferry from Praslin (15 minutes) or Mahé (90 minutes via Praslin). La Digue has no cars - bicycles are main transport (rent $8-12/day). Beyond Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles has numerous spectacular beaches: Anse Lazio on Praslin (stunning turquoise bay, often ranked top 10 globally, excellent swimming and snorkeling, some surf can be strong), Beau Vallon on Mahé (most popular beach, long stretch of sand, water sports, restaurants, busy but beautiful), Anse Intendance on Mahé (wild surf beach, powerful waves, popular with surfers, stunning but swimming dangerous due to currents), Anse Georgette on Praslin (isolated pristine beach accessible through Constance Lemuria Resort with permission), and countless others. Seychelles offers beach perfection - warm water year-round (26-30°C / 79-86°F), minimal pollution, protected marine parks, and uncrowded beaches outside main tourist spots.
- •Vallée de Mai and Coco de Mer: Vallée de Mai on Praslin island is UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting ancient palm forest. The 19.5-hectare forest contains over 4,000 endemic coco de mer palms (Lodoicea maldivica), which produce world's largest and heaviest seeds (up to 25kg). The female coco de mer nut resembles female pelvis; male catkin resembles male phallus - leading to erotic symbolism and legends (early sailors believed they grew underwater, hence 'coco de mer' - coconut of the sea). Coco de mer is endemic to Seychelles (found only on Praslin and Curieuse islands). Vallée de Mai also hosts endemic birds including Seychelles black parrot (national bird), bulbul, and sunbird. Walking trails wind through primeval forest with giant palms, takamaka trees, and lush vegetation - feels like prehistoric jungle. Entry 350 SCR ($25) adults. Guided tours available (optional, $10-15 extra). Allow 1.5-2 hours. Early morning best for birdwatching and fewer tourists. Buying coco de mer nuts legal only with permit from vendor (nuts 200-1,000 SCR / $14-70 depending on size and quality - permit included allowing export); attempting to take nuts without permit results in heavy fines. Vallée de Mai represents Seychelles' unique biodiversity and conservation efforts.
- •Island-Hopping and Transportation: Seychelles' main islands are Mahé (largest, 155 km², has international airport, capital Victoria, 70% of population, mountains, beaches, hotels), Praslin (second-largest, 38 km², Vallée de Mai, Anse Lazio, quieter than Mahé, own airport), and La Digue (10 km², bicycles only, Anse Source d'Argent, traditional lifestyle, charming island). Inter-island transportation: flights between Mahé and Praslin (Air Seychelles, 15 minutes, $100-150 one-way, multiple daily flights, scenic views, advance booking recommended); ferries between islands via Cat Cocos or Cat Roses (Mahé-Praslin 60 minutes, 60 EUR / $65 round-trip; Praslin-La Digue 15 minutes, 20 EUR / $22 round-trip; multiple departures daily, schedule varies by season, seas can be rough causing delays or cancellations). Helicopter transfers available for luxury travelers ($300-600 per person). On Mahé: rental cars ($45-70/day, drive on left), buses (cheap 5-7 SCR / $0.35-0.50, frequent on main routes, limited evenings/Sundays), taxis (expensive, no meters - negotiate fare; Victoria to Beau Vallon 150 SCR / $10, airport to Victoria 200 SCR / $14). On Praslin: rental cars ($50-80/day), bicycles ($10-15/day), limited buses. On La Digue: bicycles only (cars prohibited except essential vehicles) - bicycle paradise, flat terrain, 20km of roads easily cyclable. Most visitors do 5-7 day trips staying on multiple islands (e.g., 3 nights Mahé, 2 nights Praslin, 2 nights La Digue). Organized island-hopping tours available but independent travel gives more flexibility and is straightforward.
- •Diving, Snorkeling, and Marine Life: Seychelles offers world-class diving and snorkeling with abundant marine life, coral reefs, and granite underwater landscapes. Dive sites: around Mahé (Shark Bank - reef sharks, rays, tuna; Brissare Rocks - granite boulders, moray eels, octopus; Ennerdale Wreck - British tanker sunk 1970, encrusted with coral, penetration dive), around Praslin and La Digue (Ave Maria Rock, Channel Rocks), and outer islands (advanced divers - pristine reefs, pelagic life). Marine life includes sea turtles (green and hawksbill), reef sharks, rays (eagle rays, manta rays), whale sharks (seasonal October-November, snorkeling encounters $150-250), tropical fish (thousands of species), morays, octopus, dolphins. Coral bleaching events (2016, 2019 due to rising ocean temperatures) damaged reefs but recovery ongoing. Dive operators in Mahé and Praslin offer PADI courses ($400-600 for Open Water), daily dives ($70-130 for 2-tank dives), and snorkel trips ($50-100). Snorkeling excellent from shore at many beaches - Anse Lazio, Beau Vallon, and numerous small bays have coral gardens accessible from beach. Snorkel gear rental $10-15/day. Marine parks: Sainte Anne Marine National Park (islands off Mahé, glass-bottom boat tours and snorkeling $50-80), Port Launay Marine Park, Curieuse Marine National Park (giant tortoises, snorkeling, boat trips from Praslin $70-100). Best diving season: April-May and October-November (calm seas, best visibility 20-30m); December-March northwest monsoon brings plankton reducing visibility but attracting whale sharks; June-September southeast monsoon has rougher seas. Water temperature warm year-round (26-30°C). Seychelles' unique granite underwater formations create dramatic diving distinct from typical coral atolls.
- •Costs and Luxury Travel: Seychelles is expensive destination (one of priciest in Africa) due to island isolation, import costs, and luxury positioning. Budget travelers: $100-180/day possible but challenging (self-catering accommodation $70-120/night, groceries from shops, public transport, limited activities). Mid-range: $250-450/day (small hotels/guesthouses $150-300/night, restaurants $50-100/day, some activities). Luxury: $800+/day easily (luxury resorts $500-3,000+/night, fine dining, boat charters, helicopter transfers). Accommodation dominates costs - luxury resorts $500-3,000+ per night (Four Seasons, Banyan Tree, Hilton Labriz, North Island Resort - ultra-luxury private island $5,000+/night); mid-range hotels $200-500; guesthouses $80-200 (self-catering options help reduce food costs - buying groceries and cooking much cheaper than dining out). Dining: local takeaways $8-15/meal; casual restaurants $25-50/person; hotel restaurants $60-120; fine dining $100+. Activities: Vallée de Mai $25, Anse Source d'Argent estate $7, catamaran day trip $100-180, diving $70-130 per dive, island-hopping ferries $22-65. Seychellois Rupee (SCR): approximately 1 USD = 14 SCR, 1 EUR = 15 SCR. Euros and USD widely accepted (change given in SCR). Credit cards accepted at hotels, restaurants, tour operators. ATMs available in Victoria and main tourist areas. Best time to visit: April-May and October-November (transitional periods, calm seas, optimal for diving and snorkeling, pleasant temperatures 24-30°C / 75-86°F); December-March northwest monsoon (hotter, more humid, occasional rain, best for northwest coast beaches); June-September southeast monsoon (cooler, windier, rougher seas - better for southeast beaches). Seychelles requires significant budget but offers unparalleled natural beauty, luxury resorts, and pristine tropical paradise experience. Package deals (flights + accommodation) offer better value than booking separately.
Travel Guide
Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands scattered across 1.4 million km² of the Indian Ocean — but for most visitors, it is three: Mahé (the main island, capital Victoria, international airport), Praslin (the Vallée de Mai UNESCO palm forest, Anse Lazio beach), and La Digue (bicycle island, Anse Source d'Argent — the most-photographed beach in the Indian Ocean). What makes Seychelles' beaches unlike any other tropical destination is geology: the Inner Islands are the eroded remnants of an ancient Precambrian granite continent, not volcanic formations, and their boulders — massive, organic-shaped, sun-warmed — are found nowhere else on earth. Seychelles operates the most open entry policy in the world: all nationalities receive a free visitor permit on arrival, valid up to 90 days (initial grant 30 days, extendable in-country). Beyond the three main islands lies a second Seychelles entirely — the Outer Islands — including Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the world's largest population of giant Aldabra tortoises (150,000+ individuals) and some of the Indian Ocean's most pristine coral ecosystems.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue is consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful beaches — powdery white sand, shallow turquoise water, and enormous granite boulders sculpted into organic forms by millennia of ocean erosion. Access is through L'Union Estate (100 SCR entry). La Digue has no cars; bicycles are the standard transport. Beyond Anse Source d'Argent, Anse Lazio on Praslin and Beau Vallon and Anse Intendance on Mahé represent the full range of Seychellois beach character.
Vallée de Mai on Praslin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting a primeval palm forest with 4,000+ endemic coco de mer palms — the species that produces the world's largest and heaviest seed (up to 25 kg). Found only on Praslin and Curieuse islands in the entire world, it is also one of the last habitats of the Seychelles black parrot. The forest has the quality of a prehistoric ecosystem. Entry 350 SCR ($25); early morning visits are best for birdsong and cooler air.
Seychelles offers world-class diving with granite underwater formations unique in the Indian Ocean. Key sites include Shark Bank off Mahé (reef sharks, rays, tuna), Brissare Rocks (moray eels, octopus), and the Ennerdale Wreck (coral-encrusted 1970 tanker). Whale shark encounters are possible October–November (snorkel trips $150–250). Aldabra's waters host manta rays, hammerheads, and hawksbill turtles. Water temperature is warm year-round (26–30°C).
The classic Seychelles itinerary moves between three distinct island personalities. Mahé is the most developed: capital Victoria, national parks, Beau Vallon beach, mountain interior. Praslin is smaller and quieter: Vallée de Mai, Anse Lazio, fewer crowds. La Digue is the smallest and most photogenic: car-free, unhurried, granite boulders at every turn. Inter-island ferries (Cat Cocos) run several times daily; the Mahé–Praslin–La Digue circuit is straightforward to arrange independently.
Aldabra is a remote coral atoll 1,100 km south-west of Mahé and one of the world's most significant UNESCO natural heritage sites — home to over 150,000 Aldabra giant tortoises, the largest wild tortoise population on earth, along with frigatebirds, flightless rails, green turtles, and pristine coral reef systems almost entirely untouched by tourism. Access is strictly controlled; live-aboard dive expeditions and research visits are the only options.
Money & Currency
Seychellois Rupee (SCR)
Currency code: SCR
Practical Money Tips
Seychellois Rupee (SCR) — USD and EUR at Resorts
The Seychellois rupee (SCR) is the official currency. At most resorts, hotels, and upscale restaurants, USD and EUR are accepted directly. Exchange to SCR at banks or Seychelles Central Bank branches in Victoria for local markets and taxis.
ATMs in Victoria and Major Resorts
Absa, MCB, Nouvobanq, and Barclays have ATMs on Mahé, including near Victoria. Praslin has some ATMs near the main town and airport. La Digue has very limited ATM access — plan ahead and withdraw cash before the ferry.
Visa and Mastercard at Hotels — Cash on Outer Islands
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at all major resorts and hotels. Apple Pay and Google Pay work at most premium properties. Local shops, small guesthouses, taxis, and boat tours often prefer cash.
Carry SCR or Small USD Bills for Local Spending
Markets, local buses, smaller restaurants, and smaller islands are cash-dependent. Small USD or EUR notes (1, 5, 10) are useful for tips and local purchases. Carrying some SCR makes daily transactions smoother.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
Explore different regions and their cities.
Embassies in Seychelles
These foreign embassies and consulates are based here. Choose a mission to open its in-depth guide and contact details.
Key origin countries
Accredited missions for Seychelles
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