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Seychelles overview
Destination: Seychelles (Indian Ocean, ~115 islands, official tourism: https://www.seychelles.travel). Currency: Seychellois Rupee (SCR). Main islands: Mahé (international airport + capital Victoria), Praslin, La Digue. English, French and Seychellois Creole are widely spoken. Standard Russian spellings: Seychelles = Сейшелы, Mahé = Маэ, Victoria = Виктория, Beau Vallon = Бо-Валлон, Praslin = Праслин, La Digue = Ла-Диг, Seychelles International Airport = Международный аэропорт Сейшел.
Official source Ferries between islands
Cat Cocos is the main inter-island ferry operator (schedule and tickets: https://www.catcocos.com), running daily catamarans between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue (since 1998). Travel times: Mahé–Praslin 1h15; Mahé–La Digue via Praslin 1h45; Praslin–La Digue 15 min. There is no bridge between the islands — the ferry is the only connection. Typical weekly timetable (may change; verify on catcocos.com): Mahé→Praslin Mon/Wed/Fri 08:00, 10:30, 16:30; Tue/Thu 10:30, 16:30; Sat 08:00, 11:00, 16:30; Sun 11:00, 14:00, 16:30. Praslin→Mahé Mon/Wed 08:00, 14:00, 17:00; Tue/Thu 08:00, 14:00; Fri 08:00, 14:00, 17:30; Sat/Sun 08:00, 17:30. Mahé→La Digue Mon/Wed/Fri 08:00, 10:30, 16:30; Tue/Thu 10:30, 16:30; Sat 08:00, 11:00, 16:30; Sun 11:00, 16:30. La Digue→Mahé Mon/Wed 07:30, 13:30, 16:30; Tue/Thu 07:30, 13:30; Fri 07:30, 13:30, 17:00; Sat 07:30, 14:15, 17:00; Sun 07:30, 14:15. Praslin→La Digue Mon–Fri 07:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:30, 14:45, 16:30; Sat/Sun 09:00, 10:00, 11:30, 14:45, 16:30. La Digue→Praslin Mon–Fri 07:30, 09:30, 10:30, 12:15, 16:00, 17:00; Sat/Sun 09:30, 10:30, 12:15, 16:00, 17:00.
Official source Tides and swimming
Tides matter: on La Digue (Anse Source d'Argent) and many bays, swimming is good around high tide; at low tide the sea recedes far out over coral and rocks. Check the tide table for the specific beach and day before planning a swim.
Climate and when to visit
Climate: warm and humid year-round (around 27–30°C), with showers that are strong but short — if it rains on one side of an island the other side is often clear. May–October is the southeast trade-wind season: cooler and windier, and seaweed can wash up on some southern beaches of Mahé and Praslin (a seaweed-free stretch is never far away). November–April is warmer and calmer.
Entry — Travel Authorization
Entry: every visitor must complete the online Travel Authorization (TA) before flying, via the official platform https://seychelles.govtas.com; approval arrives by email, usually fast. The TA form requires accommodation details (hotel name/address or host), so have your booking to hand; at immigration the officer may ask to see your accommodation booking (hotel confirmation) as well as the approved TA and a return/onward ticket. The TA is not a visa, but it is mandatory. Applying from Russia: the govtas.com form (its date-picker and CAPTCHA widgets) often fails to load from Russia — if the date field will not accept input or the form will not submit, retry through a VPN; the platform does not block Russian applicants, it is a widget/network issue.
Official source Airport transfers and taxis
Taxis and transfers: first offer our own service https://taxi.rent.wf (the system calculates the fare itself, then bargaining is possible — like a ride-hailing app). It is still growing, so drivers may not always be available — say so honestly and suggest asking the accommodation host or hotel manager to book a licensed taxi instead. Fallback: the airport (Pointe Larue, Mahé) to resorts is by pre-booked taxi; buses are cheap but slow; bicycles are popular on La Digue; domestic flights and ferries connect the islands.
Buses (SPTC) and public transport
Public buses: SPTC (Seychelles Public Transport Corporation, https://sptc.sc) runs the island-wide bus network on Mahé and Praslin. Timetables are published on the stable page https://sptc.sc/timetable/ — there are two PDF schedules: a Weekday timetable and a Weekend timetable (effective 4 August 2026, subject to change). Buses are very cheap but slow and dated, taking the longest routes. Payment: fares are paid by bank/payment card or through the official SPTC mobile app ("SPTC App"), not cash on board.
Official source What to see and do
What to do: Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette (Praslin), Vallée de Mai (coco de mer, Praslin), Curieuse Island (giant tortoises), Ros Sodyer Rock Pool (Mahé), Morne Seychellois trails, Moyenne Island, La Digue beaches and snorkelling. Snorkelling and boat trips to nearby islands are popular.
Car rental and driving
Car rental: available on Mahé and Praslin; compact automatics are common; driving is on the left. A local driving permit may be required for foreign licences.
Practical information
Practical: 240 V UK-style plugs (type G); tap water on Mahé is generally safe but bottled is recommended.
Live webcams
Live webcams around the Seychelles (Skyline Webcams) — exactly four cameras. Beau Vallon (Mahé): https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/seychelles/mahe/beau-vallon.html . Anse Étoile (Mahé): https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/seychelles/mahe/anse-etoile.html . Takamaka / Anse Parnel (Mahé): https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/seychelles/mahe/takamaka.html . Anse Gaulettes (La Digue): https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/seychelles/la-digue/anse-gaulettes.html . There are NO webcams on Praslin and no webcams at Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette or Anse Source d'Argent — never invent cameras for those places. Full list at https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/seychelles.html
Official source Beach conditions and planning
Beach planning: a good beach day combines four factors. Weather: avoid heavy rain or thunderstorms; Seychelles showers are short and one side of an island is often clear. Seaweed: May–October the southeast trade winds push seaweed onto south-facing beaches of Mahé and Praslin, while north-facing beaches (Beau Vallon, Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette) usually stay clear. Wind: May–October the southeast trade winds make north-west facing beaches sheltered and calm; November–April the northwest monsoon makes south-east facing beaches calmer. Tides: swimming and reef snorkelling are best around high tide (deeper water, less coral exposed); at low tide shallow beaches such as Anse Source d'Argent and Anse Gaulettes expose coral and rocks, though the sand strip is wider for walking. Combine the live weather and tide tools with these rules to judge a specific beach for a specific day.
Beaches by island
Beaches: Mahé — Beau Vallon (north-west, sheltered, family-friendly, good swimming); Anse Intendance (south, exposed with strong waves, surfing, seaweed in the trade-wind season); Anse Royale and Anse Soleil (sheltered reefs, good snorkelling). Praslin — Anse Lazio (north-west, one of the best, usually seaweed-free, good swimming and snorkelling); Anse Georgette (north-west, secluded, similar); Côte d'Or / Anse Volbert (north-east, long shallow bay). La Digue — Anse Source d'Argent (shallow, iconic granite boulders, coral exposed at low tide); Grand Anse and Petite Anse (south-east, exposed to trade winds and strong currents, swim with caution); Anse Gaulettes (north-east, calm).
Events
Recurring events (dates vary each year — confirm on the official calendar at https://seychelles.com/experience/events): Carnaval International de Victoria (usually April), Seychelles Sailing Regatta (usually May), Festival Kreol (usually October), Seychelles Eco-Friendly Marathon (February).
Official source Money and prices
Money: the currency is the Seychellois Rupee (SCR); euros and US dollars are widely accepted for tourist services, but change is usually given in rupees. Cards (Visa/Mastercard) work in hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants; ATMs (MCB, Barclays, Nouvobanq) dispense rupees — carry some cash for small shops, markets, taxis and island vendors. Approximate costs (vary by season and island, use as a guide only): budget meal from ~SCR 150–300; mid-range restaurant main ~SCR 300–600; a local beer ~SCR 50–80 in a shop; short taxi ride from ~SCR 200 (confirm the current fare with the driver or your hotel); car rental from ~€40–60/day (about SCR 900–1,400).
SIM cards and internet
Mobile internet: two operators cover the Seychelles — Cable & Wireless (CWS) and Airtel. For tourists the easiest and most common place to buy a SIM is right at Seychelles International Airport (arrivals hall, after baggage claim — both operators have counters/kiosks there); alternatively buy in Victoria or at operator stores with your passport. Data bundles are cheap (a few GB for a few hundred rupees). An eSIM (Airalo, Holafly and similar) is the most convenient for a short trip — activate it before landing; eSIM data is usually pricier per GB than a local SIM. Hotel/resort Wi-Fi is common but can be slow or metered on smaller islands.
Where to stay (areas)
Where to stay: for a first visit the two most practical bases on Mahé are Beau Vallon (north-west — the main tourist beach, calm water, restaurants and hotels for all budgets, short transfer from the airport) and Anse Royale / Anse Soleil (south-east — quieter, sheltered reef, good snorkelling). On Praslin, stay around Côte d'Or / Anse Volbert (long shallow bay, central) or near Anse Lazio. On La Digue, stay in La Passe / Anse Réunion (the main village by the jetty) — the island is small and explored by bicycle. Mahé is the best base if you want shops, restaurants and day-trip ferries to Praslin/La Digue; Praslin and La Digue are more laid-back and beach-focused.
Whale sharks and diving
Whale sharks: Seychelles is one of the few places where whale sharks are seen close to shore, mostly around Mahé, with the best chances roughly August to November (the season varies each year). They are plankton feeders and harmless to snorkellers; sightings are never guaranteed — ask local dive/boat operators about recent sightings before planning around them. Diving and snorkelling: reefs, granite boulders and wrecks around Mahé, Praslin and La Digue; several dive centres run from Beau Vallon and Victoria; good snorkelling at Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette, Baie Ternay Marine Park and around La Digue.
Food and drink
Food: the local diet centres on fresh fish and tropical fruit — rainbow reef fish, marlin and tuna are everyday market food. Five things to try: any fresh grilled fish; smoked marlin wrapped around sweet mango (listed simply as "smoked fish" on menus); breadfruit chips; octopus in curry sauce; and grated raw fruit/vegetable salads (mango, papaya) dressed with just salt and chilli. Local vanilla tea (from the Mahé tea factory) is the classic drink.
Shopping and souvenirs
Shopping: Seychelles is not a shopping destination — mostly souvenirs. Bring back: local vanilla tea from the Mahé tea factory (one of the few products grown on the island rather than imported), spices from the Victoria market, and La Digue crafts made of bamboo and takamaka wood (boxes, bowls, notebooks). Note: exporting coco-de-mer nuts, their seeds, other plant seeds and seashells is officially forbidden — choose souvenirs accordingly.
Safety
Safety: Seychelles is generally safe, but take normal precautions. Do not touch marine life (rays, corals) or insects — especially the furry caterpillars that drop from trees: their hairs cause an itchy rash, so do not scratch and see a doctor for a steroid ointment. Avoid walking alone in unlit areas at night. Do not export coco-de-mer nuts, seeds or seashells.
Culture and mentality
Culture: Seychellois are famously friendly — they greet everyone, even from passing cars; ignoring a greeting confuses them, so just say hello back. Society is matriarchal (women head the family, children usually stay with the mother) and most couples live in civil unions rather than formal marriage. Island life is like a big village where everyone knows everyone, so it is easy to find people. Sundays are for church — a service is a real window into local life.