If you, like me, think that the Seychelles is something wildly touristy, crowded, expensive and devoid of primitive place, then I hasten to disappoint and upset, but at the same time please with deserted beaches and incredible flora and fauna, which we will talk about in the following four reports: Mahe, and.

Flying to the Seychelles and staying on the capital island of Mahe is not the most best idea when there is such beauty around and plane tickets to this beauty are not so much, and you can get even cheaper by ferry.

So, on the island of Mahe - the largest of the Seychelles, there is an international airport and cruise port hosting almost the bulk of tourists. It's definitely worth staying on Mahe for a few days, but definitely not weeks, as it's essential to make time to explore the nearby (and, if time permits, not so) islands.

Briefly about the main:

languages ​​- French and English;

currency - rupee, but they accept euros and dollars for payment (except for small shops, communication stores, etc.); I do not advise you to pay with cards, since a percentage for payment is applied and the write-off rate is quite extortionate;

• all beaches are public , you cannot be asked to make room under a palm tree, even if there is a Hilton nearby;
• left hand traffic;

right means left, and up means down (upside down);

the state is pursuing policy artificially maintaining high prices for visiting the islands stating that if the tourist is not willing to pay 200 euros per night at the hotel, he has nothing to do in the Seychelles, but we will tell you how to visit this country inexpensively;

grows here coconut very bizarre and provocative shape(coco de mer) - you won't miss it;

Here no chain catering and coffee shops: McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, etc. etc., but there is a huge variety of fruits.

Below is a map. Ignore the asterisks - these are my notes that helped me a lot on the trip. On this trip, we will arrive on the island of Mahe, from there we will transfer by plane to the island of Praslin, from there by ferry to La Digue and back to Praslin, and on a separate day from Praslin to the island of Curiosity by ferry.

And today we let's talk about the island of Mahe and its beaches, and also briefly look at the capital Victoria, one of the smallest capitals in the world, which can be easily bypassed in half an hour.

How to get around on the beaches? You can take a bus, you can take a taxi, but the fastest and most convenient way is to rent a car. Buses run, although on schedule, but rarely and for a long time, and taxis, although they run quickly, are very expensive. The car should be booked in advance and you have to take a little risk by taking a franchise, because a car is not provided for rent with full insurance. Your accidents are your risk. However, if you drive quietly and on your side, there will be no problems; no one specifically scratches cars in parking lots.

On the island of Mahe we have a snorkeling tour was planned in a pre-ordered car at Sixt. We were surprised that we received a response to our reserve that we would receive confirmation within 48 hours, but after the specified time, nothing came. Hoping for the best, we drove to Mahe Airport, from where we planned to pick up a car.

Easiest get from the pier to the airport by taxi, but you have to pay 30-40 euros. The second option is to walk to the bus stop, which is very close to the port (smiling port staff will explain everything) or go directly to the bus station, indicated on google maps in the tiny city of Victoria as a Bus Station.

Buses run on schedule marked on each route. We have also downloaded the schedule from http://www.sptc.sc. We waited for bus number 6 for about 10 minutes and drove to the airport for half an hour along a regular road with stops. There is also express number 5, which we took in the evening from the airport three days later.

Important: buses run until 19-19.30, so we jumped for joy when we were transferred from a flight from Praslin half an hour early and we caught the last bus to Victoria, saving at least 30 euros.

The bus can be tracked on maps. We used maps.me offline maps, since we could not buy an Internet SIM card in the city - Monday 26.12 coincided with a public holiday and all shops were closed. The bus stop is located a little behind the airport, so as soon as you see a small one-story building on the left side and a couple of planes in the background, press the exit button. For accuracy, you can ask the locals in French or the driver to check you. If you do not speak French, I advise you to make yourself a small phrase book with important expressions in advance. Despite the two state languages, they use English with less enthusiasm.

Arriving at the airport and showing the message of the reserve, we regretfully found that our reserve was not there, and not a single rental had free cars either. The Sixt rep was slowly calling someone trying to solve our problem, but he wasn't very interested. Time flew by at cosmic speed, Wireless & Cable salon showed no signs of life at the airport. Taxi drivers demanded 200 euros for a trip to the tourist beach Beau Vallon.

Out of desperation, it was decided to offer the comrade-representative of Sixtus for 100 euros to be our driver all day and take us wherever we say. He was very happy and said to wait for him for an hour until he went to the city for a car, the office manager said "I will tell a friend."

The Seychelles people, though good-natured, but wildly unhurried and optional. We waited for him for almost 2 hours, and he came with the words "I am a very busy man." Luckily for us, at the same moment, another Sixt representative in branded uniform arrived and offered us a car that he had just picked up from the city for half the cost of the reserve.

At 12.30 we safely left the airport and went to Fairyland beach (1), marked by me as a snorkeling point. On the way, we tried in vain to find stores that were open and selling SIM cards. Luck smiled at us just before reaching the beach, but again, slow sellers issued a SIM card for almost half an hour.

We took 300 MB Internet, which doubled on the occasion of the action. These 600 MB were enough for us in full for 4 days: we sent photos and videos to our relatives in huge quantities, used Google maps, downloaded Instagram and watched the video feed on Facebook, and on the last day we generally made about half an hour of Skype and facetime calls. We were surprised by such a bottomless Internet of W&C for 7 euros and very upset by Orange in Madagascar, which ate us a gigabyte with Edge without downloading the video.

Let's get back to the beaches. Our trip to the Seychelles took place at the end of December, and this largely determined our perception of the islands, in particular, the beaches on the island of Mahe. The eastern part of the island (western in the northern hemisphere) met us with quiet lagoons, excellent snorkeling and almost deserted beaches, but the western part - with waves, wind and open ocean. Unfortunately, we were not able to see even half of the beaches during our stay on Mahe - firstly, we got a car late, and secondly, one day is certainly not enough, if not just to drive and see the beaches, but also spend time on them.

(1) Beach at Point au Sel(Fairyland)(numbering can be followed on the map of the island). A very calm and deserted lagoon with a slightly greenish tint of the sea and hanging palm trees. Very picturesque, near Crown Beach hotels and several villas, hanging palm trees, granite boulders on which crabs bask.

The second beach Anse Royale (2). And here they are the traditional Seychelles species: White sand, turquoise blue water and palm trees. The water changes its color depending on which direction you look from and how the sun falls.

Convenient entry into the sea without corals with white sand and a little in the depths of grass with a variety of fish and hedgehogs. We saw that decorated fish that bit me in Mauritius, only 2 times more.

The beach cannot be called quiet - there are many vacationers, however there are no bars, sunbeds and umbrellas, which adds points to it for "primitiveness". Parking among the trees, or on the road near the shops. Don't forget about left-hand traffic. We drive quietly and calmly, no one is in a hurry here, 40 km / h is just right.

(3) The next beach we visited - Anse Forbans (3). Again, a calm lagoon, white sand, a couple of local barbecues and palm trees.

The beach is divided into two with a passage through the stones: one with a hotel and vacationers, and the other with blissful silence and a paradise for snorkelers. There is a coral entrance here, so you won’t find lying tourists here, plus it’s quite shallow.

Nevertheless, this does not prevent stingrays and squids from pleasing the eye of a snorkeler, and blue hedgehogs from hiding among the stones. Snorkeling at Anse Forbans! And he is extraordinary!

From flying past a tailed stingray breathtaking, you see how his body develops along light waves and how it rushes from one stone to another pinkish squid. Schools of fish swim by. Only small sharks are missing and snorkeling would be on par with the islands in Malaysia.

There are a variety of crabs on the rocks, fry swim on the shore, and if you're lucky, you'll see bizarre birds, like this Gray Heron, for example.

It only remains to marvel at the extraordinary abilities of her neck.

We left this wonderful place and headed to the side Grand Police Bay (4) and two of its beaches ( Petite PoliceAndAnse Bazarca) marked on the maps of the island, which you can take both at the port and at the airport, as "Place to see". Swimming on the beach is prohibited due to waves larger than a human, but the place is beautiful.

On this day, the entire western side (eastern in the southern hemisphere) was very restless: wind, waves and a minimum of vacationers, except for the beach Anse Intendance (5), to which you have to go down on foot.

Beach Takamaka(6) Twin brother to the beaches of Grand Police Bay: same views, same waves, only more people.

We rise higher to the side Baie Lazare(7) . Waves and wind - there can be no talk of any snorkeling.

Anse Soleil (8). The same picture. Beautiful, but unsuitable.

On this note, we decided to finish exploring the beaches, stock up on drinks and go to the port through the mountains along serpentines. I didn’t really want to cross the island in an unfamiliar area, with a right-hand drive on the mechanics and left-hand traffic in the dark, although it was already getting dark.

The next morning we flew to Praslin Island, but in the morning we nevertheless crossed the island and stopped at the so-called "beautiful Seychelles beach" . The road to Beau Valon took 20 minutes and passed along the serpentines of the upper part of the island.

The Beau Vallon beach did not impress at all, apparently because the day was windy and cold, the waves were crashing against the shore, it was raining. Although the beauty was no different from those that we saw on other beaches of the western part of the island. In general, the rainy season in the Seychelles is a very unpleasant time of the year that you should beware of. All diving centers of Mahe Island are located in this area.

And we will complete today's review with the capital of the Seychelles - the city of Victoria, which we visited on the last day of our stay, when our hands and feet could not reach the diving center.

Victoria is a very tiny capital that does not require a car to explore. The central market is located near the bus station.

Here you can buy fruits at ridiculous prices, natural Coconut oil, as well as various tinctures for rubbing and ingestion from all diseases - sellers will be happy to tell you how to use it and share the secrets of their grandmothers.

At the exit from the market, locals arrange mini-concerts.

A small Buddhist pagoda was built opposite the market.

In the evening, Victoria was brightly lit with garlands and rains in honor of Christmas and New Year.

In fact, I wouldn't recommend making a special time to visit the capital, unless you have a short layover, or there is a risk of being late, or in general you need to take a couple of hours. The Seychelles are not beautiful cities, but their nature and beaches.

Is it possible to travel cheaply to the Seychelles? Quite! You can save on living expenses by taking vacation rental apartments instead of a hotel, some of the nuances of which I will discuss in the next review, instead of taking a taxi, ride buses or a rented car, eat in a cafe with an average price tag or in a cafe with takeaway food.

What can not be saved and what is expensive: air tickets (if taken close to the date of departure), ferries, taxis (it is useless to bargain, “we are a country with a high standard of living and income”), including water. But more on all this later.

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General information about Mahe

Mahe Island in the Seychelles is the most popular holiday destination for visitors and natives. The resort is the largest (the length of the Mahe island is 27 km, the area is 150 sq. km) and the first in terms of attendance. Here is the capital of the archipelago - the city of Victoria, Seychelles International Airport, which annually receives about 1 million travelers. The population of the mountainous and "green" atoll is 72 thousand people, most of whom are involved in the tourism industry. As elsewhere in the Seychelles, the island of Mahe is characterized by a subequatorial maritime climate, without sudden temperature changes, with moderate humidity and light refreshing breezes.

Things to do on Mahe Island

On Seychelles, Mahe is, first of all, 68 magnificent beaches, famous for their cleanliness, outlandish vegetation and the possibility of a variety of recreation - from idleness on a sun lounger to active water sports, diving and windsurfing. The most famous beach is Beau Valon, located in the north of Mahe, the most exotic, which has preserved its original beauty, is Anse Intendance, lovers of solitude will like Anse Forbans and Anse Royal, and Grand Anse will be ideal for athletes.
The sea on the island of Mahe is crystal clear, transparent, almost always serene, and diving near the shore with a mask and flippers, you can find stunning corals and shells, around which more than 150 species of fish swim.

The sights of the island of Mahe are represented by museums and galleries, mosques, churches, numerous restaurants of national cuisine. It is impossible to take your eyes off the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, built at the beginning of the last century, in the center of Victoria there is a symbol of the state - the "Clock Tower" built in 1903, the so-called "Big Ben in miniature".
Other things to visit on the island of Mahe include excursions to the famous Museum of Natural History, the exhibits of which are ancient objects and old documents of the country. A walk through the Village of artisans, the 115-year-old Botanical Garden "Mont Fleury", plantations of cinnamon and coconut palms, forests where endemics grow - the jellyfish tree and the Seychellois carnivorous jug will be informative.

Things to Do in Mahe Island

One of the pleasures for foreigners is visiting the colorful markets of Mahe Island, such as Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market, Portside Bazar, Victoria Bazar, where you can buy fruits, fresh fish, seafood, coconuts, souvenirs, handicrafts, paintings, clothes. Bazaars are open from 7.00 to 16.00 Monday to Friday, and from 6.00 to 12.00 on Saturday.
Cruises around Mahe on luxury yachts are in demand accompanied by professional skippers and a team of sailors. The ship offers snacks and drinks of local production, those who wish can swim in the emerald waters of the Indian Ocean, admire the giant turtles.
Seychelles Golf Club invites you to play golf, billiards, sit in a restaurant and enjoy elite alcohol. The club is located close to the rainforest and bird sanctuary.

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What to see on the island of Mahe

Regardless of whether you came to Mahe Island for the whole vacation, for a week, or you are passing through here, just 1 day, we will help you choose the most interesting places. There is something to see here - for example, sights, beaches, you will find information about each place with us: from opening hours to detailed description with photos. Below is a list the best places on the island of Mahe, compiled on the basis of the rating and feedback from our website users. You can also take part in the ranking of places by leaving your review and rating. This will help our future users choose what to see on Mahe.

The associations that come to mind at the mention of the Seychelles are always a honeymoon, happy couples, romance and love. But few people think that the Seychelles is also a great family holiday with absolutely safe nature and mild climate all year round, a place for solitude and relaxation on deserted beaches ... As for me, for me, these are sports spots of stunning beauty, deserted line-ups (these are places where surfers are waiting for waves) and, in fact, soft waves.

My story began with the main island of Mahe, which hosts the smallest capital in the world, Victoria. Here, absolutely everyone is fluent in English and French, and the majority also speak English. German. The locals speak Creole. This is a kind of lightweight version of French, in short, as it is heard, it is written.

In general, there is a good one about the Seychelles, I think it will remove many questions. And now about Mahe.

How to get there

On the islands in the Indian Ocean, which can hardly be found on the map, there are no direct flights from Russia yet (only from France and Germany), although this destination is gaining more and more popularity among Russian tourists. A flight to the Seychelles includes at least one connection. Arrival at international Airport Seychelles on the island of Mahe.

Read how to get from other countries by water.

By plane

Airlines and connection options

Statistics and my experience show that the most comfortable flight is offered by Emirates with a connection in Dubai. I got more than decent service and a route with the shortest transit time, but they also have the highest ticket prices.

Etihad Airways with transit to - longer connection times and a slightly boring airport to wait for the next flight (compared to the airport).

Excellent service and the lowest price tag, based on my practice, is offered by Qatar Airways, but the minus (it is also the plus of this option) is the longest transit time in Doha, I waited 15 hours. To enter the city, theoretically, you can get a free transit visa or take advantage of the airport offer: go for a free sightseeing tour around town. But since 2012, for inexplicable reasons, it has been extremely problematic for Russian citizens to obtain a transit visa to Qatar.

I am a citizen of the Republic of Belarus (Belarus), and friends from Russia traveled with me. Our transit was at night, but we had time for the last evening exit to the city with an excursion. The administrator at the reception was a young guy of Arab appearance. We danced around him a polka butterfly for about 10 minutes, he agreed to issue permission for my friends with a Russian passport to leave under my responsibility. That is, two citizens of the Russian Federation were recorded on my Belarusian passport with a note that I now answer for them with my own head, and they must return to the airport at the end of our walk. But I also witnessed negative outcomes, just during the 15-hour transit I stood alone to register for the tour, and with everyone who had passports Russian Federation they didn’t even talk: no, that’s all. Yes, two Asian girls were the receptionists that morning...

Since November 2016, Turkish Airlines has launched flights at a nice price with a connection in Istanbul. The duration of the transit is different: from 1 to 10 hours, there is a choice of tickets with different connections.

In all directions, you do not need a transit visa to wait for the next plane at the airport without entering the city. The flight to the connecting point from Moscow will take about 5.5 hours (except Istanbul - 3 hours), the next flight to Mahe will last an average of about 6 hours.

Ticket prices and how to save

Ticket prices fluctuate depending on weekends and public holidays in Russia. The approximate cost of a round-trip economy flight in quiet time, that is, if it is not New Year's Eve or March 8, is 35,000–45,000 RUB, in holidays will be much more expensive: from 65,000 RUB per person. You can see how much tickets will cost for the dates of your trip and compare offers from different carriers.

On the official website of the national carrier Seychelles Air Seychelles, you can buy a budget flight. In this case, the flight from Moscow will be operated by Etihad, and from to the island of Mahe - by the less comfortable Air Seychelles. Keep in mind, when flying with Seychelles Airlines, you can only carry 25 kilograms of baggage for free, while other companies allow 30 and 35 kilograms.

Passport control

During the flight to Mahe, flight attendants hand out a special form, a residence permit on the islands. All fields must be filled in block letters:

• Where do you fly to Mahe from?
• transit city - , Doha, etc.,
• the address and phone number of the hotel where you will stay for more days (if there are several), if it is an apartment, then the owner's phone number is required.

During passport control, and especially if you arrive in the Seychelles for the first time, employees will call the owner and clarify the names of future guests. You must have printed copies of all reservations with addresses and phone numbers, as well as a return ticket. Stay on the islands should not exceed 30 days.

If everything goes well, your passport will have nice stamps with the famous Seychellois coco de mer, serial number and the planned date of departure based on the ticket.

What to do at the airport

In my experience, it is most profitable to change dollars or euros immediately upon arrival: the airport always has the best exchange rate, there is no commission. In everyday life on the islands, mostly local money is the Seychellois rupee (SCR). Paying with a bank card can be problematic, and places where there is a bank terminal are quite rare.

Also in the arrivals terminal, at the exit to the taxi parking lot, I buy a local SIM card with a mobile Internet package. Favorable iSurf tariff from Cable & Wireless. The consultant will need to tell the period of stay and which islands you plan to live on. I usually use the advanced Internet package for active users of Facebook and Instagram (10 days costs ~30 USD, or 400 SCR).

Below I will tell you how to get from the airport to your room/apartment.

By car

Rent a car

In the arrivals terminal, after passport control and baggage claim, there are about 45 car rental companies. Seychelles has left-hand traffic and many mountainous narrow roads. If, with this in mind, there is no doubt about driving skills, then a day of rental costs about 40 EUR plus 10 EUR insurance (see specific offers and exact prices).

Taxi

In 2017, an analogue of the familiar Uber (BouZāy Taxi App Seychelles) appeared on Mahe, which can be found and downloaded via iTunes, Google Play, and probably something else. After installing the program, the user can see all the taxis available in the Seychelles and contact the drivers in the application. BouZāy only shows licensed taxi operators. To get from the airport to the hotel, you can use this program.

Transfer

Personally, I always order a transfer from booked seat accommodation (~45 USD). It turns out much cheaper than a taxi (~70 USD).

By bus

The bus stop is a 5-minute walk from the arrivals terminal, but this is only suitable for those with hand luggage. The unspoken law of the island: the bus driver has the right to refuse passengers with suitcases to use a taxi. There are exceptions, but they are rare.

Travel on any city bus - 0.37 USD (5 SCR), in the evening the fare rises to 0.60 USD (8 SCR). Change money in advance, drivers do not accept banknotes with a face value of 100 SCR or more.

You can view the schedule and all public transport routes on Mahe.

Clue:

Mahe - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow - 1

Kazan - 1

Samara 0

Yekaterinburg 1

Novosibirsk 3

Vladivostok 6

When is the season. When is the best time to go

Life in the Seychelles at any time of the year is a heavenly delight, and this is largely due to the fact that all the islands, except for the remote southern ones, are out of cyclones. The islands are located south of the equator, in the western part of the Indian Ocean, so the Seychelles has a tropical climate: warm and humid. The temperature rarely drops below +24 °C or rises above +32 °C, there is no distinct dry season, it is always humid. The trade winds dictate the climate and influence the seasons:

Mahe - monthly weather

Clue:

Mahe - monthly weather

What are the prices for holidays

Holiday prices are very relative and depend on the needs and expectations of everyone, but I will try to highlight the boundaries of the two directions.

Elite vacation

Housing

Absolute comfort is offered by prestigious hotels, which I mentioned earlier. The cost for two people per week would look something like this:

• Four Season Resort - ~11 000 USD,
• Kempinski Resort - ~2 700 USD,
• Banyan Tree - ~6 000 USD,
• Savoy resort & spa - ~2 400 USD,
• Avani - ~1 800 USD.

As a rule, in hotels of the corresponding price category, the package of services includes a lot, an impressive area with a park and a swimming pool, personal ordering of dishes from the chef, entertainment events and various care and SPA salons.

Nutrition

Dinner in a restaurant for two will cost about 250-300 USD. Cocktails in beach restaurants are about 25 USD.

Transport

You can use the services of a driver with a car for a day and ride around the island, it will cost 250-300 USD. Easy ride a taxi will cost about 16-20 USD.

Leisure

I recommend a sightseeing flight on a small luxury helicopter (leather seats and air conditioning in the cabin). This service is provided by Zil Air, which is based near the International Airport, from where departures take place. Depending on the route and duration, the cost of entertainment varies from 350 to 2,700 USD.

Extreme water sports from 160 USD for 1.5–3 hours. To order a boat and go fishing in the ocean in the early morning will cost from 750 USD.

Read more about prices and active leisure in the "Things to do" section below.

Budget vacation

Housing

To reduce housing costs, as I said, you can rent villas, apartments or rooms from local residents through .

An apartment for two in the Anse Royal area will cost about 1,100 USD per week, in the Beau Vallon area - 1,350 USD. Renting a room for one person per week costs about 600 USD, but this price is for living within walking distance from the beaches I have indicated, which are favorable for relaxation.

Nutrition

Really and save on food, but still try the local cuisine. I strongly recommend to eat in small cafes like take away. You will see that the “locals” willingly order pizza there for the evening for the whole family or even drop in for lunch during the working day. It's really tasty, and most importantly - really cheap. The most expensive pizza with seafood in such places costs about 12 USD, and the cheapest "Margarita" - 7 USD, a portion of grilled shrimp with rice - 6 USD, and the famous fish & chips - 5 USD.

Local beer Sey Brew (35 USD) and Takamaka rum (17 USD) are better to buy in small Indian shops, which are located in all areas of the island. There are no fakes there, do not worry - it is checked by your own health. The fact is that, firstly, it’s really cheaper there, and secondly, if you bring empty bottles from Sey Brew beer, you can buy anything at the expense of the returned container, even beer. Of course, the refund is minimal, but nice.

Transport

Ordering a taxi is quite expensive, since basically there is a fixed amount for landing and counters everywhere. Unofficial, but you can agree on the cost immediately before the trip. Sometimes it turns out cheaper by as much as 20%, and this is not a matter of bargaining, but a reasonable miscalculation of the ratio of mileage and cost. And like I said before public transport affordable and cheap, with it you can go around the whole island.

Leisure

Main attractions. What to see

You can enjoy sunrises and sunsets on stunning beaches for a long time, but if you want to diversify your leisure time, then Mahe Island is ready to satisfy almost any whim.

Top 5

Capital Victoria

No matter how ridiculous it may sound, there are only two traffic lights, which is the main pride for the locals. Victoria is very small, there are only two dozen streets and a provincial atmosphere. Nevertheless, Victoria remains the capital, the only city and the main settlement of the islands.

The city has a lot of interesting places to visit and walk, there is an international airport, a botanical garden, a university, museums, offices of travel companies, airlines, banks, and, finally, a cinema and shops.

Mini Big Ben (Clock Tower)

The name, by the way, is erroneous, and the clock tower is not an analogue of a large London attraction, but a copy of Little Ben in Westminster.

Mandatory photo spot!

Hindu temple (Hindu Temple / Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar)

Perhaps the most popular subject for photographs on Mahe is the colorful roof of the temple of the Hindu god Vinayagara. Built in 1992, this colorful building on Quincy Street serves as a place of worship for the island's approximately 5,000 followers of the religion.

Those who want to visit the temple outside the hours of the services must take off their shoes and leave them at the entrance. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday - 06:00-12:00 and 17:00-21:00.

Central Market (Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market)

The market was organized in 1840 and named after the French governor, who, as the story goes, built stalls for local farmers and fishermen to sell their goods.

Here you will find the whole variety of products grown and produced on the islands, a huge selection of fish and souvenirs. Bargaining is not accepted, but prices for tourists are initially too high, and no one hides this. Personally, I fight for every 5 rupees in the market, which usually amuses everyone and saves quite a lot. Often, instead of a discount, the seller will give away something with the purchase, such as a coconut or a vial of vanilla essence.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday - 5:30-17:30, Sunday from 6:00 to 14:00 I recommend getting here in the morning.

Botanical Gardens (Seychelles National Botanical Gardens)

A pleasant cool place not far from the center of the capital (10 minutes at a calm pace from the bus station), where you can walk along the coconut alley, look at the spicy grove and plunge into the tropical mini-forest. It took me almost 2 hours to go around the whole garden. On the territory there are a couple of cafes and a separate garden with orchids (about 150 species). Aldabra giant tortoises live at the end of the park.

The botanical garden is open daily from 8:00 to 17:00. The entrance fee is 6 USD, but at the entrance they informally warn that if you wish to stroke the turtles and plan to touch any vegetation, the ticket price will increase by another 3 USD.

Beaches. Which is better

I use local buses to get to most beaches economically, all stops are within walking distance.

See the map of transport routes below in the "How to get around the island" section.

wild beaches

Of course, the island has many unforgettable places with virgin beautiful nature and their own atmosphere, but other than to admire it and take pictures, they are not suitable for anything else. Swimming here is not worth it, because the ocean is rough, dangerous bottom with reefs and corals, boulders and granite rocks. In gray on the map above, I marked several beaches, so to speak, popular among the wild.

Port Glaud

It is located in the north-west of the island, not reaching Port Launay, in the backyard of the famous Constance Ephélia complex (I already talked about it earlier). Port Glaud is a name enough big bay, but the access to the ocean there is completely wild, as you can see in the photo.

You can’t go into the water - just feel the atmosphere of nature untouched by man and take pictures.

Anse Boileau

A narrow strip of sandy shallow water is still in the same western part of the island, located near the main coastal road. Close to fishing bay. There are official signs prohibiting swimming.

In the area where the beach is located, there is a fairly developed infrastructure: a police station, shops, pensions and supermarkets.

Anse Cachee

Incredible beauty relative to wild beach in the south of the island, discovered by me recently along with "locals". Relatively, because the construction of a hotel complex began nearby this spring.

One-way ticket price in economy class:

• adults - 40 USD,
• children from 2 to 12 years old - 20 USD.

Business Class:

• adults - 53 USD,
• children - 24 USD.

La Digue

Another island that is definitely worth a visit.

There, head to the L "Union Estate" park with vanilla plantations, turtles and the famous Anse Source D'Argent beach. Entrance to the park costs 7 USD per person.

How to get there

From Mahe by ferry, the journey will take about 1.5 hours, since the route will still pass through the island.

One-way ticket price in economy class:

• adults - 54 USD,
• children from 2 to 12 years old - 29 USD.

Business Class:

• adults - 68 USD,
• children are the same 29 USD.

Food. What to try

On Mahe, you can taste dishes from different cuisines of the world: from Indian to European. Each restaurant has Creole cuisine, the main feature of which is a huge amount of spices, especially curry, coconut oil, vanilla essence and, of course, seafood. There are no gastronomic features that would distinguish the cuisine of Mahe from other Seychelles islands.

Locals prefer to eat chicken in curry sauce with rice. Obviously, the fish do not surprise them. Yes, the most popular side dish to everything is rice.

The main alcohol is Takamaka rum and Sey Brew beer.

Holidays

First I want to say that every last day of the month is an informal holiday for all locals: songs, dances, local food market is absolutely everywhere. So there is no specific place for this.

Let's go through the list by official dates:

Safety. What to watch out for

Things to do

The ocean is great, but I want to talk about activities that will make your holiday in the Seychelles more diverse. Or, if suddenly someone gets burned in the sun and in the near future not a foot on the beach, there will be an alternative to what to do.

Production of Seychellois Takamaka Rum

This incredible rum is created according to old pirate recipes. The factory demonstrates the entire production process, and then you can taste and buy your favorite option. A great souvenir for friends, just take my word for it!

Tours run from Monday to Friday from 11:30 to 13:30, it is advisable to pre-register by phone: +248 4 37 20 10. Address: La Plaine St. André, Au Cap. Cost - 16 USD.

Production of Sey Te tea

You can learn the secrets of making Seychelles tea on the western slope of Mahe, while enjoying one of the best panoramas of the island. It is better to visit the tour in the morning to participate in all stages. On the territory there is a specialized shop for buying gifts and souvenirs.

Tours are offered Monday through Friday from 07:00 to 16:00. It is advisable (but not necessary) to pre-arrange the arrival by phone: +248 4 37 82 21. The cost of visiting is about 1.5 USD.

Fishing

One of the most popular attractions for the male half of tourists on the island. Renting a boat and sailing with a team of experienced fishermen for marlin, wahoo, sailfish, dorado, tuna is a dream of many.

In the Seychelles, a fishing license is not required. You can rent all the fishing equipment you need, but be aware that you are unlikely to find your favorite brands there. For those who are seriously engaged in this fishery, I recommend bringing equipment with you. Air Seychelles, for example, offers free transportation equipment weighing no more than 10 kilograms. This, by the way, also applies to diving, golf and surfing.

Fishing and boat rental from 600 USD are provided by the following popular companies on the island:

As an alternative, I propose to negotiate with the locals. They can be found in the Anse Royale and Anse Boileau areas, where the fishing bays are located, from where they go to fish for themselves and sell in the market. The cost of such fishing will be much less, but the service, of course, is also simpler.

Other activities

And a few more leisure options:

extreme sports

The ocean has many water sports sports: parasailing, water skiing, kayaking, jet skiing (jet ski), windsurfing, surfing, bodyboarding, diving, snorkeling… Agencies and rental offices are concentrated on the main beaches of the island, which I mentioned above in the “Beaches…” section.

About booking tours and equipment in advance, I will tell you now:

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

As I already wrote, it is best to buy in the market in Victoria, in shops on Anse Royale and Beau Vallon. Do not leave purchases on Duty Free at the airport: absolutely everything, except for rum, is much more expensive there. Rum is cheaper, but if you plan to go to the city during connections, then with rum in hand luggage, even from Duty Free, have to say goodbye. Firstly, it is alcohol, and if transit through Arab countries, then it is forbidden to be imported, and secondly, upon returning to the airport, all liquids that you take with you on the plane must be in mini-bottles of 50 milliliters and zip -package.

So, what can you bring from Mahe:

I will talk about the latter separately. Coco de mer is the symbol and pride of the islands. It is worth buying at official outlets, and export is possible only if there is an excise stamp. It weighs more than 10 kilograms and costs about 500 USD, and therefore I recommend buying a liquor from this unique coconut. It will be at least practical, and not just a souvenir.

Mahe Island - the main and most large island archipelago, most often visited by tourists. The international airport is located here, so the transfer will not be long.

In the capital of the island - Victoria - there is an information office for tourists. Address: Independance Ave, tel.: 610 800, opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:00-17:00, Sat 9:00-12:00.

Funny moment: all the locals call the capital of the island of Victoria simply “the city”. This is understandable, because this is one of the few settlements on the island, besides the largest.

Transport Mahe

Buses run regularly between Victoria and the island's most popular beach, Beau Vallon. The last bus leaves at 19:30, later you can only get by taxi (about 70 SCR, you need to bargain and check the cost of the trip before boarding). The east, west or south coast can also be reached by bus from Victoria. The fare is 5 SCR, payable to the driver.

Prices on the page are for August 2018.

Weather on Mahe

Mahe beaches

There are 68 beaches on the island. On almost every one of them you can rent equipment for snorkeling, diving, surfing, windsurfing or water skiing. Sea excursions on yachts or motor boats start right from the beaches.

Beau Vallon Beach - the largest, most famous and most visited, is located just 3 km from the capital - Victoria. The whole local "hangout" is concentrated on it, boils night life and developed basic tourism infrastructure. The waves here are not big: the local reef acts as a breakwater. There are platforms in the ocean from which you can dive, and local hotels allow not only guests to use their beach and bar. In the village of Beau Vallon, where the road from Victoria forks west to Bel Ombre and northeast to Glacis, there is a petrol station, a Barclays Bank ATM, an internet café and a police station. Many shops nestled along the road along the beach and the road to Bel Ombra.

7 things to do in Mahe

1. Start with water skiing, continue with snorkeling, finish with diving - and choose different beaches for each new activity.
2. Buy souvenirs from tortoise shells (and take care of permission to export them).
3. Take a horse ride along the Grand Anse beach.
4. Look into the Orchid Garden in the capital of the island - Victoria.
5. Watch the process of collecting tea leaves at a tea factory.
6. Take a boat trip to the nearby islets and islets.
7. It is not easy to climb to the top of the Morne Blanc mountain and reward yourself with awesome views.

South of the airport, you can find several pretty wild coves and secluded beaches, such as Fairyland Beach, which is famous for its great snorkelling. The beaches of Anse Forbans, Anse Bougainville and Anse Royale are also located here, which are protected by a coral reef, so you can swim in calm waters and snorkel safely.

The west coast of Mahe is wilder, more picturesque and rich in beaches. The road leading from Anse Takamaka Bay to Port Launay is famous for its gorgeous views of the coast, where everyone can look after the bay and the beach to their taste. From here it is also easy to get to the east coast of the island along scenic roads that run through the center of the island. In the local bay of Polis Bay, for example, you should not swim - it's dangerous. But from here there are stunning views of the surfers, you should take a picnic basket with you.

Mahe's 68 beaches offer excellent conditions for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, diving and sailing on yachts or boats.

Further west are the excellent beaches of Anse Takamaka, Anse Gaulette and Anse-à-la-Mouche. It is more difficult to get to the isolated beaches of Anse Soleil and Anse Petit - you need a jeep, but the palm-lined beaches and the sea teeming with marine life deserve it. Grand Anse beach is suitable for surfers with good waves, but from May to September you have to be careful there - the water is very restless due to the monsoons. In addition, the Utetangar Riding Center operates on this beach (tel.: 712-355, hour ride - 40 EUR).

by the most beautiful beach The island is considered to be Anse Intendance in the southwest - it is a five-hundred-meter sandy arc, bordered by coconut palms.

The beaches in the southern part of the island are better and calmer than in the north. The most wonderful place for swimming and snorkeling is opposite the tiny island of Souris, on east coast. Divers will surely enjoy the following material: Diving on Mahe.

Mahe Hotels

There are about 30 ordinary hotels on the island, the same number of mini-hotels and at least 40 more all kinds of villas, bungalows and lodges. So, there will be plenty to choose from even the most fastidious traveler.

Entertainment and attractions in Mahe

Victoria is the smallest capital in the world, with a colorful market and two main streets, at the intersection of which stands a miniature replica of London's Big Ben. Main attractions: the famous Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Museum of Natural History, the Craft Village, where artisans exhibit their work, the tiny Historical Museum, Botanical Garden Mont Fleury and Orchid Garden. Here you can also visit the workshop of Michael Adams - the famous Seychellois artist, whose canvases are valued by connoisseurs literally worth their weight in gold. You can also stroll through the Sir Percy Selwyn Clark Central Market to feel the Aboriginal way of life, as well as buy inexpensive souvenirs.

Halfway from Victoria to Port Glaud, 2 km from Anse Royale Beach is royal garden"Le Jardin du Roi" (Le Jardin du Roi, tel.: 371-313, entrance 25 Rs, opening hours: 10:00-17:00). A beautiful spice garden and the entire park can be viewed during a walking tour along the picturesque paths and clearings. The planter's house, which is located on the territory of the park, is interesting with a one-room museum and a nice restaurant with excellent views of the coast.

Another interesting attraction is the craft village (Craft Village, admission is free, opening hours: 9:30-17:30, tel.: 376-100). There are several shops with crafts and souvenirs, model boats, pots and coconut products. Here you can also have a bite to eat at the Vye Marmit restaurant (tel.: 376-155, opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:00-21:00, main dishes from 75-150 Rs). And after driving a couple more minutes from the village of artisans, you can get to the Lenstiti Kreol Creole Institute, which is located in a beautiful colonial building.

Mahe Island

Tea lovers should go on a tour of the tea plantation (tel.: 378-221, entrance with/without guide - 30/20 SCR, opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00). It is located on the Sanssouci road, 3 km from Port Glaud. Best time to visit - until noon, when you can see the whole process - from picking to packing tea. It produces about 45 tons of tea per year for export.

In the very heart national reserve"Seychelles Morne", which occupies 20% of the entire island, is Mount Morne Blanc (Morne Blance, 905 m). From its top, a beautiful panorama of the coast of the island opens up, and on the slope there is the only tea factory in the entire archipelago (about which - a little higher in the text). On the way to the top, you can meet many ancient plants.

By the way, Victoria has two traffic lights, the only ones in the entire archipelago.

St. Anne National Marine Park

The fantastic marine park is located between the islands of Mahe, Deer (Cerf), Sainte Anne (Sainte Anne), Long (Long), Middle (Moyenne) and Round (Round). As a rule, excursions to national park are a day trip on a glass bottom boat. The cost of such a trip for the whole day with lunch and stops for swimming and snorkeling starts from 85 EUR. In addition, there are about 10 dive sites in the park, you can dive there with the help of the Ste Anne Island Dive Center (tel.: 570-043, from 70 EUR).

The cost of visiting the park is 10 EUR, children under 12 are free of charge (these 10 EUR, as a rule, are already included in the price of the excursion).

About 60 people live on Deer Island, including the famous South African novelist Wilbur Smith. Here you can stay in a small colonial-style hotel L'Habitation, which is only a 10-minute boat ride from Victoria. Or at the luxurious Cerf Island Marine Park Resort. In addition, Fairy Tern Chalet apartments are located exactly in the middle between these two hotels.

The Middle Island can only be visited as part of a tour organized exclusively by Creole Travel Services (Tel: 297-000). Round Island is famous for great snorkelling. But on the island of St. Anne, which is 4 km east of Victoria, there are two excellent beaches and a chic Ste Anne Resort & Spa hotel with its own dive center and spa. Long Island, a former Seychelles prison for a long time, is now an excellent place for swimming and diving, and since 2008 the Shangri-La hotel has also been operating here.

Mahe Island - snow-white beaches immersed in greenery attract lovers beach holiday from all over the world. But Mahe Island is not only rich in beaches, here you can have a great vacation.

Mahe Seychelles, Mahe island, get to Mahe

Mahe Island is the most big Island Republic of the Seychelles. Here is the international airport and the capital of the Seychelles - Victoria. Pointe Larue International Airport is located just 9 kilometers from Victoria. There are several options to get to the island, but you still can’t do without a transfer. The most budget option is to fly through Qatar with a connection at Doha airport by Qatar Airways. In such a flight, the docking time is from 1.5 to 3.5 hours. The most popular option for Russian tourists is to fly through the Emirates with the Emirates airline with a connection at. In such a flight, the connection is about three hours, but on the way back you need to spend the night in Dubai. There is another option for connections in Europe. IN largest airports Europe needs to dock with the airline "Ayer Seychelles", but this is far from the most economical option.

Mahe Island. Victoria

A bit of history

The first visitors to Mahe were the British in 1609. The next to arrive on the island were the French in 1742, who dominated the island until 1814. Further, Mahe became part of the British colony, and was such until 1976, until the independence of the Seychelles. Mahe got its name in honor of the French governor Bertrand Francois Mahe, who founded the military port of Louis here, which later became the capital of Victoria. Today Mahe is the main tourist, economic and shopping mall countries. It is from Mahe that you can get to any island of the Seychelles.

Beaches on Mahe

Of course, when going on vacation to the island of Mahe, it is worth considering the fact that this is a place for a beach holiday. There are 68 beaches on the island. Here you will find lively beaches with bars, cafes, restaurants, discos and shops. The beaches have a well-developed tourist infrastructure - tourists are offered to rent equipment for diving, snorkelling, surfing and windsurfing, water skiing, excursions on sea boats and yachts.

The largest and most popular beach is Beau Vallon. Life on this beach does not stop for a minute. This beach is well protected by a coral reef from high waves. The beach is located just three kilometers from Victoria. The northern part of Anse Intendense beach is nudist and Anse Royale beach is ideal for snorkeling. Almost all hotels on the island have beaches in the public domain, not only for guests, but for everyone. If you want privacy, then you should go to the beaches of Anse Soleli or Anse Petit Polis, which can only be reached by jeep. In addition, buses run to all the beaches on the island, so it will not be difficult for you to choose a beach to your liking.

Attractions Mahe

You should not devote your entire vacation only to the ocean, sand and sun, be sure to see the island. Take a fascinating walk to the top of Morne, which is located in the heart of the National natural park Morne. Its height reaches 905 meters, and an amazing landscape of the coast of the island opens from its top. Or to the Royal Garden "Le Jardin-du-Rau", which is located just two kilometers from the Anse Royale beach. Here you can enjoy a fine collection of spices, a planter's house that houses a museum, or dine overlooking the ocean.

Victoria Seychelles

Of course, do not forget about the capital of the Seychelles - Victoria. By the way, this is the smallest capital in the world, there are only two streets, at the intersection of which stands London's Big Ben in miniature. The main attractions of the city are the museum. natural history, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, tiny Historical Museum. Take a look at the Mont Fleury Botanical Garden and the Orchid Garden, which has existed on the island for over 100 years. Here you will find amazing exotic plants, majestic trees and magnificent meadows. The total territory of the garden is more than 6 hectares.

Visit the artisan village where you can buy souvenirs of local artisans, coconut products, as well as have a bite to eat in a restaurant. And if you drive a couple of minutes from the village, you can get to the Creole Institute, which is located in a unique colonial building. Another interesting place on the island is the National Marine Reserve. This reserve is known for the fact that here you can watch tiger sharks. During their appearance, they lazily eat plankton right on the surface.