Seychelles. Active pastime in the Seychelles Time zone Seychelles

Those who plan to see the Clock Tower, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Emmanuel estate, go in for underwater sports, climb Mount Nid d'Aigle (a breathtaking panorama of La Digue Island opens from a height of more than 300 m; you can reach the foot by bike, after which active tourists will have a 30-minute climb), go to the Craft Village and the Vallee de Mae National Park, spend time on the Grand Anse beach, visit the plantations with cinnamon growing there, walk along Marquette Street, orchid garden and Botanical Garden of Mont Fleury, is invariably interested in the question: "How much to fly to from?"

How many hours to fly from Moscow to the Seychelles?

If you need to get to the Seychelles not only in winter, but also in other months, then you can use the services of Emirates Airlines (the flight through will take about 13 hours) or Qatar Airways (when flying through the dock, it will take at least 40 minutes). The latter option is cheaper, and Qatar Airlines flies to the Seychelles every day, except Mondays. Those who are interested in flying through European cities (Amsterdam, Paris, London) will spend about 20 hours on the road, and besides, such a trip will cost several times more.

Flight Moscow - Praslin

Despite the fact that Moscow and Praslin are separated by 6,889 km (the minimum price of air tickets is 26,800-49,600 rubles), due to the lack of direct flights, you will have to make transfers: a flight through Paris and Mahe will take 21 hours, via Dubai and Mahe - 23 hours, after and Mahe - 16.5 hours, after and Mahe - 19 hours. Upon arrival at Praslin Island Airport, travelers will find there a recreation area, a currency exchange office, and a cafe.

Flight Moscow - Victoria

For those who wish to make a direct flight Moscow - (there are 8305 km between them), in winter it makes sense to resort to the services of Air Seychelles, which flies 9 hours long, once every 10 days. As for air tickets, their cost has a wide range: for example, in August they are sold at a price of 29,700 rubles, and in December - at 246,000 rubles. Those who stopped in Abu Dhabi will be at least 12 hours later, at 23-26 hours later, at least 21 hours later, at least 16 hours later, Frankfurt am Main after 15.5 hours Doha and Abu Dhabi - after 17 hours, in Doha and Mumbai - after 18 hours, in and Dubai - after 17.5 hours, in Dubai - after more than 19.5 hours, in and Dubai - after 17 hours 15 minutes, in Dubai - after 18.5 hours, and in Frankfurt am Main - after 18 hours and 15 minutes.

Seychelles International Airport is equipped with: ATMs, currency exchange offices and bank branches; VIP room (where guests will find TVs, wireless Internet access, massage chairs, a bar with snacks and soft drinks); internet terminals and public telephones; duty-free shops (they sell souvenirs and national goods of the islands at attractive prices) and car rental points (they will ask you to pay 45 euros / day for a budget minicar); restaurants and bars.

To get to the center of Victoria (the trip duration is no more than 20 minutes), it is advisable to take a bus, the stop of which is located opposite the airport. But you should take into account that buses run from 6 am to 5-6 pm, so if the plane lands on Seychelles after this time, you will have to hire a taxi.

Since there are no hotels on the territory of the airport (when leaving it from everyone who is 12 years old, a fee of $ 40 is charged), it will take about 1 hour to get to the nearest accommodation facility.

Tours and tours

about the country

Seychelles - an amazing world full of bright colors and spicy aromas, enchanting sounds of unusual music and the sound of the surf, ancient legends and amazing stories about pirate treasures.

The Seychelles is a unique corner, lost in the endless ocean expanses, which many often call "Paradise on Earth" or "Eden". Seychelles is a lot of amazingly beautiful islands, each of them is interesting in its own way. The most popular among travelers are, and.

Holidays in the Seychelles are countless beaches with silver-white sand, which are rightfully considered one of the best in the world, exotic nature, the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world, as well as local cuisine and excellent service. Seychelles attracts travelers from all over the world and leaves an unforgettable experience.

Holidays in the Seychelles are ideal for both romantics and those who are fond of extreme sports. Here nature itself has created ideal conditions for surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, spearfishing, water skiing or canoeing and much more.

Nature and geography

The Seychelles are located in the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, 1,500 km east of Kenya. The Seychelles are located between the fourth and fifth degrees south of the equator.

The country is an isolated archipelago of incredible beauty, consisting of 115 islands. About 35 of these are the "Inner Island Group" and have a granite structure. As a rule, these are islands with many mountains and hills and a narrow coastal strip, the rest of the islands are coral atolls. The largest of these, Aldabra, is also a national park that is under the auspices of UNESCO.

Seychelles is one of the smallest countries, with an area of \u200b\u200bonly 455.3 square meters. km. The largest islands are Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.

The capital of the Seychelles is the city of Victoria, located on the island of Mahe.

Time in the Seychelles. The time difference with Moscow is 1 hour in winter, there is no time difference in summer.

Seychelles is a republic, its status is enshrined in the Constitution of June 18, 1993, since then this day is celebrated as a national holiday.The islands were first noticed by Arab sailors 1000 years ago, but not only were they attracted by the convenient location of the archipelago - the Phoenicians also often appeared here and Indonesians. Almost 500 years ago, the islands were discovered by the famous Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama. The Seychelles were both British and French colonies. On June 29, 1976, the Seychelles declared independence from and became a republic.

Customs regulations. Those arriving in Seychelles are allowed to bring 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, 2 liters of alcohol, 125 ml of perfume or 250 ml of eau de toilette and other goods worth not more than 3000 Seychelles rupees (US $ 550). It is forbidden to import flammable materials, weapons, including those for spearfishing, drugs and medicines without a prescription. A special permit for the import of pets is required. It is forbidden to transport vegetables, fruits, plants, meat and meat products, canned food. Installed export bans coconuts, shells, corals, turtle products.

Seychelles currency. 1 rupee contains 100 cents. 5 rupees is equal to 1USD. There are banknotes in denominations of 10, 25, 50 and 100 rupees, coins in denominations of 1 and 5 rupees, as well as 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents. Sometimes you can also find silver and gold coins in use. Visa and American Express credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, except for very small settlements.

Currency exchange. Currency can be exchanged at hotels or local banks. A maximum of 1,000 rupees, or $ 200, can be exported from the country, there are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency. It is recommended to bring American dollars or traveler's checks in this currency to Seychelles, since rupees cannot be used by tourists to pay for rentals, excursions, as well as in restaurants. It is recommended to exchange a small amount of money immediately upon arrival at Victoria Airport, located on Mahe Island.

Banks in Seychelles open from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm from Monday to Friday, Saturday from 8.30 am to 11.00 am.

Travel tips

Holidays.
January 1 - New Year
Holy Friday - no fixed date
Easter - no fixed date
May 1 - Labor Day
June 5 - Liberation Day
June 18 - National Day
June 29 - Independence Day
November 1 - All Saints Day
December 25 - Christmas

Also in April, there is an annual festival dedicated to the aquatic world of the Seychelles for one week.
In September, the water regatta takes place on the island of La Digue.
The Creole festival is celebrated in October.
The annual fishing competition is held in November.

The shops. Those wishing to buy souvenirs can be advised of wonderful handicrafts made from sea shells and pearls, wicker baskets, paintings by local artists, including batik painting, mats, beautiful wood or bamboo carvings and, of course, the quintessential Seychelles souvenirs - Coco del -measure. Local tea, the varieties of which are numerous on the islands, can also be purchased as a souvenir. It should be borne in mind that turtle shell products will definitely be seized at customs. The best place to shop in the Seychelles is in Victoria. Here you can wander the streets and do some shopping. There are also several shops on Praslin, but there are not so many on the rest of the islands. Large hotels usually have boutiques. Shops are open throughout the week and on Saturday mornings.

Tipusually range from 5% to 10% and are already included in the cost of service.

Transport in the Seychelles. The islands have an international airport (in Victoria), several seaports and several local airports. You can travel between the islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue by river trams or high-speed catamarans. Travelers should take into account that flights between Mahe and Praslin are often canceled for technical reasons. It is very convenient to explore the local beauty and sights from a helicopter or a private jet, but renting it is expensive, but renting a bicycle or a car is available to everyone, especially since this is the most successful way to travel around the island. You can also travel by taxi, which is located on Albert Street in Victoria and is open around the clock.

Car rental. In the event that you want to take a car, you need to have a driver's license with you (Russian license is also valid) and you must be at least 22 years old. Traffic in the Seychelles is left-hand, like in Britain, the quality of the roads is not bad. The maximum speed of driving in the city is 45 km / h, outside settlements - 65 km / h. The cost of 1 liter of gasoline is a little more than a dollar, there are six gas stations on Mahe Island, and two on Praslin. Gas station in Victoria is open from 5 am to 11 pm.

Electricity - 240 volts, 50 Hz

Postal services. Telephone services. The Internet. The central post office is located in Victoria and is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 8:00 am to noon. You can send letters directly from the hotel. Telephones are also available in most hotels. The country code is 248. There are several internet cafes on Mahé and at least one on Praslin Island.

Medical service. The climate in the Seychelles is very healthy, and there are no known tropical diseases, such as those common in Kenya or. There is a small risk of contracting hepatitis A, so vaccination is recommended before travel.

As for the local water, in general it is quite suitable for drinking, but it is still better to use either boiled or sold in bottles. It is preferable to eat in cafes or restaurants, since the variety of cuisine allows you to choose dishes for every taste. A lot of food is sold from trays, but it is better to refrain from eating it.

The General Hospital is located in Victoria on Mahe Island (tel. 224400). Doctors speak English and / or French. On Mahé, Praslin and La Digue there are also other, including private, clinics. Medical care is free of charge, provided by the state.

Emergency telephone Seychelles - 999.

Since the climate on the islands is tropical, which means it is rather humid and hot, recommended to wear light clothing made from natural materials, for women - light dresses, shorts or pareos during the day and long skirts in the evening, for men - shorts and a T-shirt. The most suitable shoes are flip-flops or sandals. Swimwear is usually worn only on the beach.

The Seychelles has excellent conditions for sports fans. Here you can go surfing, windsurfing, paragliding, sailing and water skiing, canoeing or hang gliding. Independently, or using the services of an experienced instructor, those who wish can go in for spearfishing and fishing. However, it would not be entirely correct to say that the Seychelles is ideal only for water sports.

Mahe has an excellent golf course just south of Victoria International Airport. The golf course on Praslin Island is considered one of the best in the world. Most hotels have tennis courts. Equestrian sports are also available on the islands.

Popular hiking tours of various difficulty levels to the islands of Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and some others, which provide travelers with an excellent opportunity to explore their beauty and get acquainted with the local exotic flora and fauna. As a rule, information about them can be obtained from hotels.

Many hotels on the islands have cinemas and discos, and barbecues with folk songs and dances are often held there. It is interesting to watch or take part in local entertainments, listen to music unusual for Europeans called "kamtolet", which is a mixture of waltz, polka and quadrille, to see how mautia dance, an African dance to the sound of drums and tomtoms, or no less famous dance "Sega".

Victoria is home to cinemas and theaters that often host theater performances in English, French and Creole. There are casinos in downtown Victoria as well as the Beau Vallon Bay Hotel and Plantation Club. Praslin is also home to the magnificent Casino des Iles.

Tourists are always interested in what time it is in the country where they go. Seychelles in this sense is very convenient for Russians who live in the time zone of Moscow or close to it. All Seychelles' territory belongs to the same time zone, i.e. the time in the Seychelles is now the same everywhere. From November to March, the time difference with the Seychelles relative to Moscow is one hour ahead, from April to October there is no difference with Moscow at all.

To the delight of tourists, there are no predators dangerous for people in the Seychelles, even sharks do not come close to the shores of the islands. Fatal cases of shark and barracuda attacks on vacationers were not noticed. Creole mothers have to scare children with feral cats, because, perhaps, no one more terrible can be found in the local tropics.

Snakes and black scorpions living on Praslin are not poisonous, and tropical diseases are not tolerated by mosquitoes, but for more comfort it is a good idea to bring insect creams and fumigators with you.

Only a stone-fish can become fatally dangerous if you step on it, walking through the puddles formed after low tide, or during diving. When a poisonous spinal spine of this fish enters a human blood vessel, it has no chance of survival. Near coral reefs there is a danger of getting burned by polyps, worms and mollusks, it is also undesirable to stumble upon zebra fish.

Swimming during high tide should be avoided as strong underwater currents can carry you to the open sea. This is how the governor of the Seychelles, Sir John Thorpe, and his secretary, who were excellent swimmers, drowned in 1961.

Driving in the Seychelles must be done with caution due to the winding mountain roads and the unusual left-hand traffic. The number of cars on the roads is insignificant, local traffic police officers are usually in the district office, promptly arriving at the scene of an accident on call.

Unfortunately, Russian tourists have established themselves as problem guests due to their propensity to poaching. The Seychelles environmental agency is very zealous about fulfilling its duties, so, say, about illegal spearfishing, you just need to forget.

Due to the fact that the country lacks currency, tourists have to pay for everything in dollars or euros (more precisely, in Seychelles rupees, but exchanged at the official rate). And this is completely unprofitable for travelers. Firstly, in many cash offices the official exchange rates of the dollar and the euro are equalized, which hits the pocket of those who have the euro with them. Secondly, you will most likely have to change the currency at an undervalued rate. It turns out to be more profitable to exchange currency for rupees and buy some things on your own in stores than ordering them at a hotel, where you will be calculated at the official rate.

Seychelles is an incredibly picturesque and fabulous place that is considered one of the most wonderful on earth. Here you can enjoy bright and exciting excursions, see giant land turtles, and walk through the forest. But the main way to spend time actively on the islands is diving.

Near the shores there is a huge coral reef with thousands of different inhabitants of the deep sea. Beautiful corals are an important calling card of the Seychelles, just like its paradise landscapes. Selected beaches boast great high waves that even spoiled surfers will love to see.

Another interesting direction among lovers of active pastime is air walks. You can get more information about holidays in the Seychelles by following the link https://miroved.com/countries/seishely.

Diving

Scuba diving in the Seychelles is special - most of the islands here are derived from coral reefs. The bottom of the coastal waters is covered with corals of various forms, created by the hands of nature. The underwater world near the Seychelles is amazingly diverse. It is home to molluscs, barnacles, spiny lobsters, various fish and tiger sharks.

Trompeuse Rocks is one of the top diving spots with a huge amount of fish, giant granite boulders and a depth of 20 meters. Near Le Mamel Island, you can see a British tanker that sank here in the 70s of the last century. The ship was immediately populated by marine fauna.

On the island of Mahe, near the Beau Vallon beach, you can admire amazing underwater cliffs up to 45 meters high. They create exciting underwater labyrinths that have become a haven for large fish - barracuda and even huge whale sharks.

North of the main island of Seychelles is another place loved by divers from all over the world - Brissare Rocks. It will dive to a depth of 40 meters. For that, at the bottom you will see fire corals, a lot of exotic fish, and if you're lucky, even a real reef shark. Several sunken ships are located northeast of Mahé.

Snorkeling and fishing

Snorkeling is a challenge for those who like new sensations. It is about diving without special equipment. You breathe with a tube, descending several meters. Fairyland Beach's crystal clear waters and the fabulous depths of the sea are ideal for snorkelling. Another good option is Anse Patat.

Do you like fishing? In this case, an unforgettable experience awaits you. Go on a fishing excursion and catch giant tuna or other fish in person. Whether you can pull out the prey or not depends only on your skills, because sometimes the catch comes across a record. Contact the professionals here for your adventure.

Surfing

Surfing is also popular in the Seychelles. Only coral reefs interfere with the formation of high waves, so it will not be possible to cut on waves everywhere. As a rule, surfing is done on the island of Mahe and Praslin. But there are no particularly high waves here, so the conditions are more likely for beginners in this sport.

Yacht cruise

To enjoy the beauty and splendor of the local nature, we recommend taking a yacht cruise. A large number of yacht clubs operate on the islands, which will be happy to show you the habitat of huge turtles and much more.

And finally, it is worth mentioning the pleasure that you can get from a simple bike ride along the paths of any of the local islands. Enjoy your trip!