+91 93190 69993
+91 92115 65553
support@livetraveller.in

Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

HomeDestinationsAfricaSeychelles
Destination Guide · Africa

Seychelles

Granite boulders worn smooth on beaches that appear in every advertisement, half the land area under national park, and no visa required of anyone.

CapitalVictoria, on Mahé
CurrencySeychellois rupee
VisaNone required
LanguagesCreole, English, French
Best monthsApr–May, Oct–Nov
· No visa required of any nationality· Granite islands, not coral· Half the land area protected· The coco de mer at Vallée de Mai· More giant tortoises than the Galápagos· No visa required of any nationality· Granite islands, not coral· Half the land area protected· The coco de mer at Vallée de Mai· More giant tortoises than the Galápagos
Why Seychelles

Granite islands
in an ocean of coral ones

Almost every tropical island in the world is either coral or volcanic. The inner Seychelles are neither — they are granite, fragments of an ancient continent, and that geology is the reason the beaches look the way they do. The vast weathered boulders at Anse Source d’Argent are not decoration; they are the oldest oceanic islands on Earth showing their bones.

The boulders on La Digue are pieces of a continent that broke up before flowering plants existed.

It is also a country that took conservation seriously early. Roughly half the land area is protected, the Vallée de Mai on Praslin holds the coco de mer palm and is a UNESCO site, and Aldabra — one of the world’s largest raised coral atolls — supports a giant tortoise population larger than the Galápagos. The wildlife is not incidental to the beaches; it is a genuine second reason to come.

Practically, Seychelles requires no visa of any nationality, which makes it one of the simplest destinations an Indian passport can reach. The trade-off is cost: this is an expensive country on the ground, and most itineraries work best as a focused week across two or three islands rather than an attempt at the archipelago.

What makes it different
No visa for anyone Seychelles requires no visa of any nationality — only a Travel Authorisation.
Granite, not coral The inner islands are continental fragments; the boulders are the signature.
Half the land protected Around half the country’s land area sits inside national parks and reserves.
The coco de mer Vallée de Mai on Praslin grows the largest seed in the plant kingdom.
Aldabra’s tortoises A giant tortoise population larger than the Galápagos.
Short island hops Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are linked by fast ferry.
Who it suits
Honeymooners — this is one of the Indian Ocean’s classic choices.
Travellers who want beaches with landscape rather than just sand.
Snorkellers and divers, particularly around Praslin and Silhouette.
Birdwatchers — several endemics exist nowhere else.
Anyone wanting no visa process at all.
Seychelles at a glance
CapitalVictoria, on Mahé
CurrencySeychellois rupee (SCR)
LanguagesSeychellois Creole, English and French
Time zoneUTC+4 — 1.5 hours behind India
VisaNone; Travel Authorisation required in advance
Main islandsMahé, Praslin and La Digue
UNESCO sitesVallée de Mai and Aldabra Atoll
Getting between islandsFast ferry or short flight
Speak to a specialist
Plan your Seychelles trip

Two islands or three, and how you split them, is the decision that shapes a Seychelles week. Ferries and flights need sequencing before anything is booked.

Design My Journey +91 93190 69993
💬
WhatsApp
Message a Specialist
Where to Go

Three islands
do most of the work

Over a hundred islands exist; three carry almost all visitors.

Mahé
The main island — Victoria, Beau Vallon and Morne Seychellois National Park
Praslin
Vallée de Mai, the coco de mer, and Anse Lazio
La Digue
Anse Source d’Argent, ox-carts and bicycles rather than cars
Silhouette
Mountainous, forested and almost undeveloped
The outer islands
Aldabra and the remote atolls — expedition territory
Less obviousCurieuse, where giant tortoises roam free and the mangroves are walkable.·Morne Seychellois National Park on Mahé, with trails above the coast.·Bird Island, for sooty tern colonies in the breeding season.
View all Seychelles regions Signature stays across Seychelles
Best Time to Visit

When to go to Seychelles

Seychelles sits outside the cyclone belt and is warm year-round; what changes is the wind.

Apr–May
Between the trade winds
The changeover between the northwest and southeast monsoons brings the calmest seas and the best underwater visibility of the year. Ideal for diving, snorkelling and island hopping.
Best
Oct–Nov
The second calm window
The other inter-monsoon period, with the same calm conditions and clear water, and generally slightly fewer visitors than the April window.
Best
Dec–Mar
Northwest monsoon
Warmer, more humid and wetter, with short heavy showers. The sea is calmer on the southeast coasts. This covers the Indian festive and New Year peak.
Good
Jun–Sep
Southeast trades
Cooler and drier with stronger winds, which bring seaweed to some beaches and choppier crossings. Good for walking and for sailing; less ideal for flat-calm snorkelling.
Good
Itinerary Ideas

How long you need
for Seychelles

A week across two islands is the standard shape. Three islands need nine nights to avoid spending the trip on ferries.

6 nights
Praslin and La Digue
Honeymoons and first visits
View Packages →
7 nights
Mahé, Praslin and La Digue
A full inner-islands trip
View Packages →
9 nights
Three islands at a slower pace
Divers and longer stays
View Packages →
Combines well with
Mauritius for a two-island Indian Ocean trip, or a Gulf stopover on the way.
Design a Custom Route
How to explore

How to Explore the World

Six ways to find your next journey — by map, by moment, or by the feeling you are chasing.

🗺️
By region

Explore the world continent by continent, country by country — every place mapped to the right season.

Iconic wonders

The landmarks that define a journey, from ancient sites to natural marvels worth crossing the world for.

🧭
Hidden corners

Beyond the headline sights — the quiet streets and local secrets our specialists know first-hand.

📅
Right season

Each destination timed to its finest moment, so you arrive when it is at its very best.

✈️
Easy from India

Direct routes, visa-on-arrival and e-Visa options that make the world more reachable than you think.

🎯
Built around you

Use any destination as a starting point — every journey is shaped entirely to your taste.

Entry & Documents

Seychelles entry — no visa, but a form

Seychelles requires no visa of any nationality. It does require a Travel Authorisation applied for before departure.

There is no visa to obtain. Instead, all visitors must apply online for a Travel Authorisation before they travel, and a Visitor’s Permit is then issued free of charge at immigration on arrival. Published sources differ on the length of the initial permit — some state thirty days, others up to three months — so treat the stamp you receive as authoritative. Extensions are possible in further increments up to a maximum total stay.

The Travel Authorisation is not optional

It must be applied for and approved before departure — it is not issued at the airport, and airlines check for it at boarding.

Budget realistically

Seychelles is one of the more expensive destinations in the Indian Ocean once you are on the ground. Self-catering guesthouses on La Digue and Praslin are the usual way to moderate that.

Live Traveller Handles Your Visa

For all Seychelles journeys we design, we prepare your complete visa documentation package — the forms, the supporting documents, the sequence of submission. Our visa specialists help travellers prepare complete applications with careful document guidance. Final visa decisions always remain with the relevant authorities.

What you need
A passport valid for the duration of your stay.
An approved Travel Authorisation, applied for online before departure.
Confirmed return or onward ticket.
Confirmed accommodation for the whole stay.
Evidence of sufficient funds — this is genuinely assessed here.
Proof of funds
Seychelles applies a per-day funds requirement per traveller, and immigration does ask. Carry evidence of accommodation and means rather than relying on a verbal assurance.
What you will eat
Creole fish Grilled red snapper or job fish with Creole sauce — the everyday meal, and usually excellent.
Octopus curry Slow-cooked in coconut milk; the dish most associated with Seychellois cooking.
Ladob Plantain or breadfruit cooked in coconut milk, served sweet or savoury.
Indian influence Curries, dhal and rotis appear widely, a legacy of Indian migration to the islands.
Vegetarian travel Manageable but requires asking — much of the local menu is fish-based. Hotels cater well.
Getting around
Fast ferry The Cat Cocos and Inter Island ferries link Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Book ahead in peak season.
Domestic flights Short hops between Mahé and Praslin, useful when time is tight.
Car hire on Mahé Practical and the easiest way to reach the quieter southern beaches.
Bicycles on La Digue The island is largely car-free; bicycles and ox-carts are the norm.
Good to Know

Seychelles, practically speaking

No visa, but genuine documentation checks — and a real budget conversation.

Do
Apply for the Travel Authorisation online before you fly.
Carry accommodation confirmations and proof of funds to immigration.
Book inter-island ferries in advance during peak months.
Consider self-catering on La Digue and Praslin to manage costs.
Time diving and snorkelling for the inter-monsoon windows.
Don't
Do not expect to obtain the Travel Authorisation on arrival.
Do not plan three islands in five nights; the ferries will consume the trip.
Do not collect coco de mer nuts — export is strictly controlled and licensed.
Do not assume every beach is swimmable in the southeast trade season.
Let our travel designers handle every detail
Seychelles Questions

Seychelles travel FAQ

What Indian travellers ask most before booking.

No. Seychelles requires no visa of any nationality. You must, however, apply online for a Travel Authorisation before departure — airlines check for it at boarding — and a Visitor’s Permit is then issued free at immigration on arrival. Published sources differ on the initial length granted, so treat your stamp as authoritative.
April to May and October to November, the two periods between the monsoons, give the calmest seas and the clearest water. Seychelles sits outside the cyclone belt so there is no dangerous season, but the southeast trade winds from June to September bring seaweed to some beaches and choppier ferry crossings.
Two islands in six nights, or three in seven to nine. Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are linked by fast ferry, but each transfer costs the better part of a day once you account for schedules and check-in, so a compressed three-island itinerary tends to become a ferry itinerary.
Yes, by regional standards it is among the more expensive Indian Ocean destinations. Self-catering guesthouses on La Digue and Praslin, eating at Creole takeaways rather than hotel restaurants, and travelling in the shoulder months all moderate it considerably without changing the beaches.
A palm that produces the largest seed in the plant kingdom, growing wild in only a couple of places on Earth — principally the Vallée de Mai on Praslin, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Nuts may only be exported with an official licence and certificate; collecting them yourself is prohibited.
How to Travel

Seychelles for every kind
of traveller

Almost all trips split between two or three inner islands. What changes is the balance of beach, water and forest.

💛
Honeymoon
Praslin and La Digue

The classic pairing — Praslin for Anse Lazio and the Vallée de Mai, La Digue for Anse Source d’Argent and a pace set by bicycles rather than cars.

Fast ferries link both to Mahé
Calmest seas April–May and October–November
Private-island properties also available
🤿
Diving & snorkelling
Inter-monsoon months

Granite formations underwater, whale sharks seasonally, and the marine parks around Praslin and Silhouette. Visibility is at its best between the monsoons.

Best visibility April–May, October–November
St Anne Marine Park is close to Mahé
Whale sharks are seasonal, not guaranteed
🌴
Nature
Vallée de Mai and Curieuse

The coco de mer palm grows wild in only a couple of places on Earth, both here. Curieuse has free-roaming giant tortoises, and Mahé’s national park has genuine forest walking.

Vallée de Mai is a UNESCO site
Curieuse is a short boat trip from Praslin
Several endemic birds exist nowhere else
Two islands or three?

Ferries run to a schedule and the sequencing matters. Tell us your days and we will order them.

Plan with us
Your Journey Awaits

Ready to Design Your
journey?

Tell us when you want to go, what you want to feel, and what kind of journey you're imagining. Our specialists will take it from there — building something that could only ever be yours.

Visa Documentation Support Private Transfers Arranged 24/7 On-Ground Support