Valley de mei national park. Seychelles, description and photos, resorts and beaches of Seychelles

Seychelles is one of the few countries that can confidently be called a real paradise on earth. This is primarily due to the luxurious combination of incredibly beautiful nature, exotic birds and animals, white beaches and crystal clear waters.

In addition, absolute peace and idyll reign in the Seychelles, which is a rarity in our hectic world. These superb conditions make Seychelles a popular destination for couples and honeymooners. In addition, romantic weddings have become quite a fashionable trend here.

Thus, Seychelles offers absolute tranquility, incredibly beautiful landscapes, excellent service and a measured pace of life - in short, ideal conditions for a great vacation.

Climate and weather

The Seychelles has a tropical climate, which makes the weather here warm and mild, and the exhausting heat is practically absent. Significant temperature fluctuations on the islands are extremely rare, while the average annual air temperature is +26 .. + 31 ° C... The year is conventionally divided into two seasons: cool (from June to November) and hot (from December to May). The largest amount of rains falls directly from December to May, and although they are quite intense, they are not at all long lasting. In general, it is worth noting that short-term tropical showers can occur here at any time of the year. The most favorable months for a trip to the Seychelles are May and October, during which the weather is literally perfect.

Nature

Seychelles is an island state that consists of 115 islands, of which only 33 are inhabited. The Seychelles archipelago is located slightly south of the equator, in the western Indian Ocean. All Seychelles are of coral or volcanic origin. Of these, the largest are Mahe, Silhouette, La Digue and Praslin.

Due to its rather long isolation, the Seychelles is home to unique birds, reptiles and plants that are found only in this archipelago, for example, Aldabrian turtles and Seychelles palms.

sights

Seychelles is considered to be one of the most magnificent places on Earth, boasting its amazing flora and fauna, as well as endless sandy beaches. The main attractions of this paradise are the pristine unique nature, the purest ocean waters and sand with a pinkish tint.

The main island of the Seychelles archipelago is Mahe, where the capital of the country is located Victoria... The island is notable for a large number of coconut trees and cinnamon plantations, as well as fantastic views of other islands. Among the city attractions it is worth highlighting:

• Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception;
• clock tower;
• United Party Museum;
• Museum of Natural History;
• Botanical Garden;
• St. Anne National Marine Park;
• a village of artisans.

The second largest island in the archipelago is Praslin... He's primarily remarkable Valley de May National Park where palm trees grow "Coco de mer" and black parrots live. Cousin Island is a nature reserve and is home to several of the rarest species of animals and seabirds, as well as turtles, two of which are 150 years old. Bird Island is famous for being home to black terns and other unique birds. Arid Island serves "Place of gathering" pink terns and red-tailed tropical birds. In addition, it is the only place on earth where the lemon tree grows. Ostorov La Digue is considered the most welcoming and cozy, and the islet of Muayenne belongs to a private person and is a real hotel on the water.

Nutrition

Almost all local menus are based on the islanders' recipes, which are greatly influenced by French and Indian traditions. The basis of the national rural cuisine is a variety of seafood, rice, exotic fruits and curries, and the most popular dish here is considered "Pwason ek diri"(sea fish with rice). Also noteworthy are the culinary delights of seashell soup, crayfish in lemon sauce, octopus in coconut curry, pork in a banana leaf and bat stew. Moreover, rice serves as a side dish for all these exotic dishes. Also in the Seychelles, quite unusual dishes for Europeans are common: cucumbers Patoli, stewed breadfruit, young sprout and flower broth, fried Chinese cabbage, etc. In addition, local fruits are very popular, from which delicious desserts are prepared. Of these, you can most often try coconut nougat, stewed bananas "Saint-jacques", crepes with fruit toppings, candied bilimbi and pudding "How-kat" from bananas and coconuts.

Among the drinks, the most popular are tea with vanilla and imported coffee, as well as freshly squeezed juices. Well, from alcohol most often you can find "Kalu"(fermented coconut juice) Bakku(fermented sugarcane juice), beer Saber and French wines.

It should be borne in mind that almost all Seychelles restaurants are open only until 22:00, but they work until the last client.

Residence

In the Seychelles, which are rightfully considered a real paradise, literally all the flora and fauna have been preserved in their original form, so here all hotel facades are in harmony with the environment and do not exceed the height of palm trees. The official "Star" Local hotels do not have a classification, so tour operators assign them conditional categories. The large islands are mainly home to luxury luxury hotels, as well as small hotels and loggias. And here, literally anywhere, excellent conditions, cozy rooms and excellent service are guaranteed. In addition, the small islands have stylish bungalows of varying comfort levels.

Entertainment and recreation

In the Seychelles, one of the most popular types of entertainment is island tours, where you can enjoy incredibly beautiful nature, as well as watch rare birds and animals. In addition, romantic cruises at night are in great demand.

However, the most common pastime here is a beach holiday. This is not surprising, since each island has many magnificent sandy beaches and small coves, and each hotel has its own beach section. Among the active types of entertainment, diving is the most popular, as the underwater visibility is simply perfect here, and the local waters contain more than 1000 species of marine life and corals. The best dive sites favored by divers around the world, are St. Anne National Park on the island of Mahe, Aldabra Atoll, Praslin Island and shark place near La Digue Islands... In addition, the Seychelles offers surfing, fishing, windsurfing, snorkelling and water skiing.

It is worth noting that time in the Seychelles flows slowly and steadily, and the nightlife is not particularly diverse and rich. The islands, of course, have discos and casinos, but most of them are located on the island of Mahe. The lack of entertainment facilities is covered by numerous festivals, celebrations and sports competitions, which are famous all over the world. Of these, the brightest and most colorful are Creole Festival and Grand Regatta.

Purchases

Large shopping centers and large shops are found only on the island of Mahe, while on the rest of the islands there are only small grocery stores and small shops. It should be noted that the prices in Seychelles stores are quite high, and the assortment is not very diverse.

As souvenirs with Seychelles usually they bring men's straw hats, works of local painters, aromatic spices, exotic teas, CDs with national music, jewelry and original boxes made of mother-of-pearl and coral. You should also pay attention to T-shirts with country logos, pareos, various shells and pearl products. Well, the most famous Seychelles souvenir, without a doubt, is the coconut tree nuts. "Coco de mer", which are prohibited to export without a special certificate. They weigh about 20 kg and are considered the largest in the plant kingdom. It must be borne in mind that such a nut is not cheap at all. (from 180 to 300 $), although its price already includes an export permit. Also, boxes, scoops, cups, plates, flasks and other crafts are made from these nuts. In addition, it is forbidden to export corals, shells and products from the shell of local turtles from the Seychelles without a certificate of purchase.

When going shopping, it is worth considering that on Seychelles all shops are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, although small Indian-owned stores are open until late at night.

Transport

Seychelles is an island state, so you can travel between cities here on the planes of state airlines (Air Seychelles and Seychelles Helicopter), ferries and private helicopters.

There are paved roads only on the islands of Mahe, La Digue and Praslin. The main means of transportation there are buses, which are of a very high quality of service. The fare depends on the distance of the trip and fluctuates in the area from $ 0.36 to $ 0.55... In addition, there is a government taxi service on the island of Mahe, all cars of which are equipped with meters. (about $ 0.6 per km). Well, on small islands it is customary to move around by bicycles or ox-drawn sleds.

Connection

In the Seychelles, in all settlements, payphones are installed that work from magnetic cards. Such cards are sold in post offices and kiosks, as well as in some hotels. In addition, you can make any call from a restaurant or hotel, however, it is worth considering that in this case you will have to significantly overpay.

Cellular communication in Seychelles is carried out in the standard GSM 900 and roaming is available to subscribers of all major operators.

Internet access is available in most hotels. In addition, there are internet cafes on the larger islands. Also, mobile Internet is available on all islands, which is provided by mobile operators. Cable & Wareless and AirTel.

Safety

In the Seychelles, crime is practically absent, and the natives here are harmless and benevolent. This is explained primarily by the fact that the country actually lives at the expense of wealthy tourists, so everything is done here for their comfort and safety. In addition, the streets of large cities are patrolled by the police, so you can safely walk there even at night. Well, there are no dangers at all on the hotel islands. However, it is worth noting that petty thieves sometimes do come across, so it is advised to observe the most basic security measures.

It is worth noting that sea urchins can cause some troubles, about which you can injure your leg. However, on almost every beach there are safe places where these marine life are not found. As a last resort, you can purchase special slippers for swimming.

Business climate

The Seychelles economy is based on tourism and fishing (mainly exports). In addition, Seychelles is a member of the International Organization of Countries ACT . Moreover, the country's legislation allows the registration of offshore firms (international business companies) throughout the islands. It should be noted that the Seychelles economy is highly dependent on external factors and is quite vulnerable. So, any downturn in the tourism business leads to a sharp drop Gdp and budgetary constraints.

The property

Despite the high prices, Seychelles real estate is in very high demand among foreign investors. The most in demand here is luxury housing on the islands of Mahe or Praslin. To purchase any property, you must obtain permission from the Ministry of Land Management, and the transaction amount must be at least one million Seychelles rupees. (about 80 thousand $)... It should be borne in mind that real estate owned by foreigners can only be used for personal residence, and it is prohibited to rent it out.

It is not recommended even to try to exchange currency anywhere, except in a bank, hotel or casino, since exchanging money for Black market here is strictly prohibited. It is also worth considering that for the export of corals and nuts "coco de me" an export permit must be obtained, otherwise a large fine will be imposed. In addition, you should not buy turtle shell souvenirs in the Seychelles. The fact is that local turtles are an endangered species, so the export of products from their shells is strictly prohibited.

Visa information

The long-awaited vacation is approaching and it is best to spend it away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, to get lost on a small island among the palm trees. The Seychelles are ideal for such purposes.

The Seychelles and Amirant Islands are located east of Africa in the Indian Ocean, near Madagascar. The entire population, about 80 thousand people, lives on 30 of the 115 islands of coral and volcanic origin.

Regardless of whether you have experience of visiting hot tropical countries, for example, a Vietnam vacation, or you are getting closer to the ocean for the first time, in any case, the trip will not leave you indifferent. After all, the Seychelles will give you:

• a unique combination of natural landscapes and biological diversity;
• vivid diving impressions among the variegated colors of the coral reef;
• mild climate and unusual Creole cuisine;
• high level of service on every island.

Holidays in the Seychelles

Mahe Island- when planning a vacation in the Seychelles, tourists should know that no matter what island they choose, they will still end up on the central island - Mahe. It is the largest island in the archipelago. It is here that the only city and capital of the state, Victoria, is located. Mahe itself is interesting for its granite mountainous terrain, an abundance of greenery and 70 beaches. It will become the starting point for visiting any other tourist attraction in the country.

The amazing beauty of Mahe

Praslin Island- demanding tourists who are accustomed to having a rest on the sea cannot be surprised by crystal clear water and gorgeous beaches. Therefore, it will be informative to go to the Valley de May National Park of Praslin Island, where more than 7 thousand palms grow and a very rare black parrot lives. The island is famous for its wonderful landscapes, famous beaches and huge plantations of vanilla. You can get better acquainted with seabirds on the island-reserve Arid.

Valley de May National Park

Vanilla plantations

one of the best hotels about. Silhouette - LaBrize Resort

La Digue Island- here you will find untouched nature that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Of transport, only ox teams. The most beautiful bays and capes will give you the joy of solitude against the backdrop of rocky landscapes. It will be cognitive to visit the National Open Air Museum and see traditional methods of copra mining.

Silhouette Island- this lost corner has a large massif of equatorial forest filled with the aromas of sandalwood. Tourists can take advantage of the infrastructure for a luxury holiday.

One of the best hotels about. Silhouette - LaBrize Resort

Aldabra- island - science station - Aldabra is famous for its coral atoll with a huge inner lagoon. The bottom of the lagoon opens completely at low tide and tourists can see marine life and corals.

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Praslin Island is the second largest in the archipelago, but nevertheless it takes less than an hour to cross it in width.

Praslin Island is located 36 km from the capital of the Seychelles, Victoria. Territory 26 sq. Km. The island is home to about 5,000 people. Praslin Island from Mahe Island can be reached in 15 minutes by plane or 2.5 hours by boat.
Surrounded by a coral reef, the island is the only place on earth where the "sea coconut" grove has survived.

The landscape of the island is typical for the Seychelles: gentle mountains, a coast indented by large and small bays, wide sandy beaches. There is no excitement here thanks to the coral reef that surrounds the entire island. Popular, crowded beaches alternate with small bays, where even in the height of the tourist season, a feeling of loneliness and solitude is created.

Praslin is considered by many to be the most beautiful island in the Seychelles archipelago. It is called the "Garden of Eden".
Surrounded by a coral reef, the island is the only place on earth where a “sea coconut” grove has survived. The Valley de Mey National Park (Valley of May) is home to over 7,000 unique Coco de Mer walnut palms and a rare black parrot. The beaches of the island are also beautiful.
The small size of the island makes it easy to explore it - on foot or with a rented bike. There are few cars here, but you can get to any part of the island by bus. The village of Grand Ance is the main village. There are two old churches, a district administration building, a football field and, of course, souvenir shops. An interesting attraction of the island is two monuments crowned with images of the fruits of "Coco De Mer" - a sea coconut tree, which is the pride and symbol of the Seychelles. "Coco De Mer" is the main element of the Seychelles coat of arms. In the Valee De Mai National Park ("May Valley") on Praslin, the largest palm grove in the archipelago, numbering about 7 thousand trees. One of the rarest birds in the world, the black parrot, also lives here. The park is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

There are such wonderful places as the unique Valley de May National Park ("May Valley", included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), where more than 7 thousand unique "Coco de Mer" palms grow and such a rare bird as black parrot, as well as the beautiful landscapes of the Cote d'Or, Volbert, Consolation, St. Anne's Bay, Cape St. Mary, Lazio, La Blagh, Petit-Lens-Kerlan and others. There is also a copra factory and vanilla plantations, as well as the beautiful beaches of Grand Anse, Budem, Georgette, Ari Matelo, Ari Petit Cours, etc. There are 8 diving and 4 fishing centers on the island, luxury hotels and fine restaurants, but just a stone's throw from you can see a mountain stream covered with a green canopy of palms and breadfruit trees, and walks along this small island give a lot of pleasure to many tourists.

The Pasquiere Bay and the northern parts of the Volbert and St. Anne bays are seaports, where comfortable yachts and boats are at the service of those who prefer sea voyages to rest on the beach. From here you can sail to the nearby islands of Mahe and La Digue.

The most popular beaches are in the bays of Marie Luisa, Lazio, Consolation, Volbert or Cote D "Or (Gold Coast), as well as in Bois de Roses, Boudin and in the Cove of Kerlan, where the Lemuria Resort de Praslin was opened in 1999. , which has become the most luxurious hotel in the Seychelles.

When is the best time to go
All year round. Fluctuations in temperature throughout the year are insignificant.

Geography
Seychelles archipelago, 40 km or 15 minutes by plane or 2 hours by boat from Pointe Larue International Airport on Mahe Island.

How to get there
You can get to Praslin Island from Mahe Island: by plane, boat or ferry.

Restaurants
Seychelles cuisine can be described as European with a Creole flavor. Lots of fish and seafood dishes. The most famous restaurant is Britania.

For kids
Playgrounds on the beaches and on the territory of hotels.

Sport
Excellent locations for all kinds of water sports. There are 8 diving and 4 fishing centers on the island.

Shopping
The main souvenir of the Seychelles is the fruits of the sea coconut palm, as well as liquor from their rind. Nuts are polished, varnished, and decoratively carved. Floor and wall cabinets made from sea coconut are popular.

Night life
Praslin "s Casino in the northeastern part of the island. Large hotels have nightclubs. The most popular nightclub on the island is The Jungle. Night picnics are organized along the coast.

We can always offer you individual tours to any part of the world according to your taste.
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Famous for its variety of rich attractions. While at this famous resort, do not miss the chance to visit its interesting places. So what is the first recommended visit?

Popular tourist spots on Seychelles map

The colorful map of the Seychelles contains a large number of beautiful and remarkable places. The heart of this resort is the largest island of Mahe. What must-see places to visit in the center of Seychelles?

1. Royal garden. Here you can see very beautiful vegetation and buy souvenirs in the form of handmade candles, patchouli roots or nutmeg.
2. Seychelles Morne. This is a national reserve with a huge number of breadfruit trees, unique palms and rare animals - blue nightingales, turtles, black cockatoos, etc.
3. Port Loney. This is a nature reserve where you can watch rare whales. The place is ideal for diving as the water is very clear and there is a wide variety of beautiful coral reefs at the bottom.
4. St. Anne National Marine Park. Here you should take advantage of a unique offer - ride on a yacht with a transparent bottom and admire various marine life.

On the territory of the island of Mahe is the only city of this resort - Victoria. It is a major port and a kind of capital of the islands. The city is famous for its art galleries and souvenir shops. Here you can see original houses with beautiful openwork balconies. This place is surrounded by large cinnamon plantations.

The second largest island in the Republic of Seychelles is Praslin. It received a peculiar name from tourists - "Garden of Eden". Its main attraction is the Valley de May National Park, distinguished by its exquisite uniqueness. A large number of beautiful Coco de Mer palms grow on its territory. The island is distinguished by its beautiful original landscapes. The factory that produces copra is worth visiting.

A particularly cozy place in the Seychelles is the island of La Digue. This is an ecologically clean area with clear sea water and a lot of vegetation. A distinctive feature of the island is the presence of only one type of transport, namely bullock teams. The main attractions are the Sours-d'Arzhan bay and the Tursi cape, where you can enjoy amazing landscape landscapes.

The famous Seychelles, whose map is of particular interest to tourists, can offer places suitable for different types of recreation, both calm and active. In the Seychelles, you can relax on gorgeous beaches, take part in various sightseeing tours or practice your favorite water sport.

The islands of Sainte Anne, Alfans and Denis are ideal for diving. While diving, you can observe beautiful coral reefs, sunken shipwrecks, exotic fish species. The beaches of Grande Anse and Beau Valon are ideal for surfing.

For lovers of active nightlife, there are also interesting places to stay in the Seychelles. It is worth visiting the best club in the whole republic, which is located on the island of Mahe - "Lovnat". You should also visit the discos of the clubs "Catiolo", "369" and others.

As a souvenir in memory of the Seychelles, do not forget to purchase a kind of symbol of the islands - "sea coconut". The visiting cards of the resort are models of various sailboats, coconut liqueur, original spices or straw products.

Choosing a vacation trip to the Seychelles, you can be sure that there is something to see and where to visit. Rich sights and interesting places for different types of recreation will leave good impressions and will be remembered for a long time.