12 Reasons Why You Should Visit Seychelles At Least Once

An island off the eastern coast of Africa, the Seychelles consist of a series of islands located in the Indian Ocean. From the great outdoors to enjoying local food and drink, here are 12 of the reasons why visiting the Seychelles should be added to a places-to-go list.

Some of the Best Beaches in the World

The beaches in Seychelles have so much to offer. The sand is super fine and blindingly white. The water is warm and every shade of blue imaginable. The best part, even the most popular beaches are never what most people would consider crowded. Those looking to avoid crowds entirely have countless options to choose from.

Most of the beaches here are totally untouched and many are naturally surrounded by palm trees and lush vegetation to provide some welcome shade throughout the day.

Enjoy the Year-Round Good Weather

While very few people go on holiday to experience the rain, it is spectacular in the Seychelles in its own right. Overall, it’s always warm, and a Piña Colada is never too far away.

The Hiking Trails

There are some outstanding hikes in Seychelles. Find fantastic trails across the islands with varying difficulties, but all offering spectacular views.

Taste Authentic Creole Food

Dreaming of an octopus curry, the freshest-grilled fish straight from the Indian Ocean, or the ultimate sweet-coconut nougat? Book a trip to the Seychelles. Those looking for something a little more exotic, how about trying the local delicacy, fruit bat?

From street food to fine dining, tourists will find all varieties of the best Creole food.

Witness Endangered Species

Seychelles is home to many endangered and critically-endangered species. High on the ‘look-out list’ for nature lovers are the hawksbill and green turtles, Aldabra giant tortoises, and Seychelles paradise flycatchers. There is a whole lot more though; in fact, 65 species on the IUCN Red List currently call Seychelles home.

Admire (and Giggle at) the Naughty Nut

The nut of the endemic Coco de Mer is certainly a sight to behold. It is, in fact the biggest nut in the world. However, it’s hard to hide from the fact that it looks exactly like a woman’s backside. There’s no missing the insanely-phallic-looking Inflorescence either. Many myths and legends surrounding the Coco de Mer exist including the nuts only falling at night, that they hold aphrodisiac qualities, and the old sailors’ belief that they grew in an underwater forest.

One thing is clear, they are certainly revered by Seychellois to this day. They only grow naturally on Praslin and Cureiuse Islands, although some have been planted elsewhere in the Seychelles. They are well worth checking out, and weighing more than 50 lbs, these giants really do look too big to be growing on any tree.

Praslin, Seychelles

Cureiuse Islands, Seychelles

Visit the Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites call Seychelles home: The Vallee de Mai on Praslin Island and the Aldabra Atoll, which is part of the outer-island chain. The Vallee de Mai is an absolute must-visit for any visitor to the Seychelles and the best place see Coco de Mer in abundance.

Meanwhile, the Aldabra Atoll is much harder to reach, but it is once again possible after a long hiatus due to piracy risks. There is no way to land a helicopter or plane there, so visitors must get there by boat and be prepared to pay for such an expedition.

The Vallee de Mai on Praslin Island, Praslin, Seychelles

Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles

Carnival

While only in its seventh year, the Carnival in Seychelles has already become an extremely popular event, not just locally but worldwide. With participants coming from all over the world, the Seychelles’ Carnival is proving itself on the big stage of worldwide carnivals.

It has been decided this year that the carnival will be moved from April to October to fall in line with the annual Creole Festival. There is always a fantastic party atmosphere and at the same time it’s a wonderful way to learn about, and celebrate the ‘melting pot’ that is Seychelles culture and history. This is more true than ever now that it is being tied in with the Creole Festival.

1. Enjoy a Private Island

Resort, Villa

For the ultimate luxury experience, visitors can rent their own private island. Not quite in the budget? There are many private islands with a limited number of rooms that will offer the same feel for (slightly) less with the same amount of exclusivity and fantastic treatment.

There are a few fantastic private islands in Seychelles, but Fregate Island provides both villa rental and whole-island rental. For a high end, once in a lifetime luxury vacation, this is as good as it gets.

Fregate Island, Seychelles

2. Experience World-Class Fishing

Natural Feature

Its proximity to the Indian Ocean and allowing people to recreationally fish without a license make Seychelles an ideal location for those who enjoy fishing. Charter a fishing boat or head over to Alphonse Island to catch some of the best fish the sea has to offer.

3. Discover Some Fantastic Dive Sites

Resort, Hotel

Seychelles is an underrated-diving destination. Take advantage of that by diving from uncrowded spots and enjoying marine life.

There is, however, a serious and ongoing problem with coral bleaching. Those passionate about diving or marine environment can learn more about the problem, contribute, and get involved with helping out with conservation efforts. There are also multiple ‘reef rescue’ projects of various sizes ongoing in the Seychelles. Some hotels, such as the Four Seasons on Mahe have embraced this as an idea and have teamed up with WiseOceans to create the ‘Love grows beautiful things’ as part of a reef-rescue project. Couples prepare their own coral fragment before securing it to grow. Later, it is ‘replanted’ into a coral nursery and then finally back to the reef.

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, Petite Anse, Mahe Island, Seychelles, +248 4 393 000

4. Experience Real Island Rum

Restaurant, Cocktails

Any lover of a good rum will want to taste real-life island rum. Widely available and wildly delicious, a good serving of local rum goes hand in hand with a trip to the Seychelles.

A visit to the Takamaka Rum Distillery on Mahe is an absolute must. There also happens to be a restaurant on site that’s one of the best on the island. The cocktails there are on a whole other level, and most options are rum-based.

While on the topic of a local tipple, the local beer, Seybrew, and palm wine are not to be missed.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

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