What is Seychelles?

Where are the Seychelles Islands located? This a good question that comes when you think to go to this country. The other good question is – what is Seychelles?

The Seychelles Islands are the archipelago consisting of about 115 islands. These islands are divided in two groups – granite islands or the Inner Islands and coral islands or the Outer Islands. Granite islands are usually covered with mountains or hills. Coral islands have a flat land. This variety is somewhat an advantage as one can see in the same time a different landscape, and multiplicity of animals and vegetation. A tropical climate affects the nature so that it is rich and multicolored.

This is the first feature of the Seychelles – diversity. For this reason, it is very interesting to travel from island to island.

From these 115 islands only about 30 are used. The three big islands where the population, the infrastructure and tourism are situated: Mahe, Praslin, La Digue. Other two islands have a couple of hotels or resorts with addition of several buildings – these are: Silhouette and Cerf. About twelve islands have a single hotel or resort: Alphonse, Bird, Chauve Souris, Cousine, Denis, Desroches, Fregate, Round (near Mahe), Round (near Praslin), North, Felicite, Sainte Anne. A few other islands are a private property, like Moyenne. Some others are used by scientists or students to study the flora and fauna and the marine life, like Curieuse, Aldabra, Aride. Some of them are used for excursions – Saint Pierre, Coco, Long etc.

For more to learn about each island, what to see and visit there check out category: Islands & Nature

Why do people go to Seychelles?

12 Reasons to visit Seychelles:

1. A good location. Easily to reach. Popular airlines fly there.
2. There would not be any bad jet lag for the time zone (GMT/UTC+4h) is relatively comfortable for many European and African countries.
3. Easy to go. There are no visa requirements for all countries.
4. The best climate. There is a very calm and warm tropical climate without any sharp changes.
5. А unique and beautiful nature.
6. Clean and the most beautiful beaches. The ocean is warm during the year.
7. There are unique flora and fauna without any dangerous animals or plants.
8. There are no tropical diseases, no need for vaccinations.
9. A good quality of life. There is no crime, it is very safe.
10. It is a clean country. There is no dirt or rubbish on the streets, the roadsides, etc.
11. The people are nice and friendly.
12. A delicious and healthy local cuisine. Fresh fish and seafood.

Where are the Seychelles Islands located?

The Seychelles archipelago is located south of the equator from 4 to 10 degrees south latitude in the western part of Indian Ocean. But it does not say anything to travelers who want to go there. You can find any country on the Internet in our time quite easy by using the Google maps or others.

In addition, my tip on how to understand and remember the location is to check how long the flights are to Seychelles from different countries.

The Seychelles are closer to African continent, more precisely to East Africa. For example, from Seychelles to Kenya it is a 3 hour flight. It is also not so far from Somali so from time to time Somali pirates may cause trouble. Madagascar is under Seychelles to the south. Mauritius is about 2 hours 35 minutes away. The big hub – Dubai International Airport is located a 4h 30m flight away from Seychelles. To fly from Europe, for example, from France (Paris) – it would take about 10h 30m.

So, for a better understanding of the location, it is good to know how long the flight is.

For Europe 10 hours is not so far, for there are a lot of other much further islands, to where it takes about 24 hours to get. The location for travelers from the Middle East is the best – only 4 hours.

In total, the Seychelles have a good location not far from other countries. Therefore, there is a wide choice of flights.