Seychelles

Seychelles can be visited all year. We could not obtain an official Tourism Seychelles statement on the best months, so the notes below come from a UK travel specialist and UK government sea-safety advice. Please treat them as a guide.

- April to May and October to November: calmer periods between the two wind seasons.
- May to September: drier and breezier. Seaweed can build up on some beaches, so the west coast is usually the better choice.
- December to March: hotter and wetter. The west coast can be unsafe for swimming at this time.
- Turtles: hatchlings enter the sea around January to March, and hawksbill turtles lay eggs from about October.

For hiking, Tourism Seychelles advises avoiding trails in rain because paths and rocks become slippery. We do not have sourced advice on the best months for diving.

Most visitors do not need a visa for Seychelles, but everyone must apply for and pay for an online Travel Authorisation before travelling (checked 8 October 2026). Rules and fees can change, so confirm on the official portal.

- Apply through the official Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS) website or the Seychelles e-Border app. Tourism Seychelles warns that unofficial websites charge much more and their approvals may cause problems at check-in or arrival.
- You can apply up to 30 days before you travel.
- Fee: Seychelles tourism and airline sources quote EUR 10 plus processing and bank charges, while the US State Department quotes EUR 10.90. Check the portal for the final price. An express option with an extra fee exists for emergencies.
- You will usually need: your passport, a digital selfie, contact and trip details, your flight booking showing arrival and departure dates, confirmed accommodation for each stay, and a bank card.
- At the border you may be asked for a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and enough money for your stay.
- The visitor's permit is free for the first 3 months. Extensions are possible but carry a fee (amount not confirmed).
- Cash of SCR 50,000 or more must be declared. Sources differ on when: one says when you apply for the Travel Authorisation, another says on entry and exit. Confirm before you travel.

Your passport must be valid for the whole length of your stay (checked 8 October 2026). The UK and US government sources we checked do not mention a six-month rule.

- Entry can be refused if your passport is damaged, invalid or reported lost or stolen.
- Have your passport details ready for the Travel Authorisation, together with a digital selfie.
- Have your flight booking and accommodation confirmation to hand, as these may be checked at the border.

Yellow fever (checked 8 October 2026): Seychelles itself has no yellow fever risk, but a certificate is required if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with yellow fever transmission risk.

- UK TravelHealthPro (updated May 2025) says travellers aged 60 and over, and those transiting an at-risk airport for under 12 hours, do not need a certificate. The US State Department (December 2025) describes the rule as applying to travellers under 60 who live in or recently visited a yellow fever country, or spent more than 12 hours in one while transiting.
- Sources describe the age and transit exemptions slightly differently, so carry your certificate if you have one and confirm your own case before you travel.
- If you are coming from East Africa, check the World Health Organization list of yellow fever risk countries for your departure and transit countries. Do not assume; we have not checked each country's current status here.
- If the rule applies to you, upload your certificate with your Travel Authorisation. The certificate is valid for life.

Other vaccines: make sure routine vaccines are up to date. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies are suggested by TravelHealthPro only for some travellers, depending on your activities and health. A chikungunya vaccine may be considered for people aged 12 and over visiting outbreak areas (see Health Advice).

Please speak to a travel clinic before you travel.

Mosquito-borne illness (checked 8 October 2026): UK TravelHealthPro lists a risk of dengue and chikungunya in Seychelles. Its 29 June 2026 update reports over 166 cases in travellers returning to 13 European countries since November 2025. There is no antiviral treatment for chikungunya and no dengue vaccine for most travellers. Use insect repellent, cover up, and use screens or nets, especially in the daytime.

Malaria: we could not confirm the official malaria position from CDC or WHO pages. Travel sources say there is no malaria in Seychelles, but please confirm with a travel clinic, especially if you are also visiting a malaria area on the same trip.

The US State Department (December 2025) rates Seychelles Level 1 and notes an area of increased risk for Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands because of health risks.

- Sea safety: strong and rip currents occur and most beaches have no lifeguards. Southern-coast beaches are never safe for swimming. The UK government says the west coast can be unsafe in the north-west monsoon (about December to March) and the east coast when south-east winds blow (about May to September). Stonefish are present.
- Medical care: Victoria Hospital on Mahe is the main hospital. Praslin and La Digue cannot treat serious illness or injury, so patients may be moved to Mahe by boat or plane. Visitors pay for treatment, and some private clinics want payment upfront.
- Do not hike, snorkel or fish alone. Trails can be poorly marked.
- Bats may carry a virus. Avoid them and seek medical care after any bite or scratch.

We found no official rule that makes travel insurance compulsory for every visitor, but the UK government says you may be asked to show proof of insurance covering health costs at the border (checked 8 October 2026). It is not listed among the Travel Authorisation documents we saw. Confirm current entry rules on the official sources before you travel.

- Visitors must pay for medical treatment, and some private clinics ask for payment upfront.
- The UK and US governments both advise insurance that covers local treatment and medical evacuation.
- Medical evacuation cover matters most for Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands, because serious cases are moved to Mahe.
- Check that your policy also covers cancellation, as outbreak news such as chikungunya can affect travel plans.

The currency is the Seychelles rupee (SCR), divided into 100 cents. The Central Bank of Seychelles lists banknotes of SCR 25, 50, 100 and 500, and coins of 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents and SCR 1, 5 and 10.

- Prices at hotels and restaurants are often shown in euros. Confirm with your accommodation which currency you can pay in and what exchange rate applies.
- Visa and Mastercard are reported as widely accepted. The airport has ATMs, a bank and a currency exchange, though this information comes from an older guide, so confirm before you rely on it.
- Exchange money only at banks, authorised dealers or hotels. Avoid unauthorised individuals.
- Bag snatching and muggings near ATMs have been reported as increasing (US State Department). Use ATMs inside banks or hotels and avoid carrying large sums.
- Cash of SCR 50,000 or more must be declared.

The Constitution of Seychelles names three national languages: Creole, English and French.

- Seychellois Creole (Kreol) is the everyday language.
- English and French are widely used, including in tourism. The UK government notes that some medical staff speak English.

Seychelles has a tropical climate with warm temperatures all year, about 27 to 30 C according to a UK travel specialist.

There are two main wind seasons:
- North-west trade wind (about November to March): hotter and wetter, with calmer seas on the east side.
- South-east trade wind (about May to September): drier and breezier, with rougher seas on the east and south coasts.
- April to May and October to November are the calmer periods in between, when the winds change over.

Average monthly rainfall on Mahe in mm (travel specialist figures): Jan 379, Feb 288, Mar 200, Apr 192, May 148, Jun 77, Jul 68, Aug 88, Sep 135, Oct 177, Nov 201, Dec 292. Other islands are similar but slightly drier.

Sudden heavy downpours can reduce road visibility (UK government).

- Swimwear, light cotton clothing, a hat and sunscreen.
- Insect repellent and light long sleeves and trousers for mosquito protection.
- Sturdy shoes for trails, and a light raincoat.
- Reusable water bottle, small first-aid kit, torch, whistle and a charged phone for hikes (Tourism Seychelles trail guidance).
- Your own medication in original packaging, with a doctor's letter. Some medicines are restricted.
- A plug adaptor for British-style three-pin sockets (reported, please confirm).
- Printed copies of your Travel Authorisation, flights, accommodation and insurance.

Do not pack: controlled drugs, camouflage or military-style clothing, firearms or ammunition.

Souvenirs: collecting shells, coral, plants or marine life in national and marine parks is banned. Under the 2023 customs regulations, shells, coral, ivory, tortoise-shell, palm plants, fresh fruit (including fresh coconuts) and some animal products need prior written approval to cross the border. Do not buy or take such items without a permit.

Leave valuables behind when hiking, and declare cash of SCR 50,000 or more.

Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) is on Mahe at Point Larue, about 10 km south-east of Victoria. Information in this section comes from older travel guides, so please confirm details with your airline or the airport.

- It has two terminals joined by a short walkway, plus ATMs, a bank and a currency exchange (guide dated January 2021).
- A bus to Victoria takes about 20 minutes and taxis are reported to run 24 hours.
- Flight routes and schedules change often, and some routings through Gulf hubs were disrupted in March 2026. Check your flights directly with the airline before you book.
- Getting to Praslin and La Digue: there are short domestic flights to Praslin from a domestic terminal close to the international terminal, and ferries to Praslin and La Digue. Timetables change, so check current schedules before you travel.
- Some resort islands are reached by resort-arranged boat or helicopter. Your accommodation will confirm how to get there.
- We found no source for any departure tax. Please confirm with your airline or the airport authority.

Park and trail rules from the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA) (checked 8 October 2026):

- Marine national parks and charged trails: non-resident visitors must hold a valid entry ticket and keep it for ranger checks. Tickets can be bought online in advance, and rangers on site take card only. Visitors on a tour package often have entry included, so ask when booking.
- Morne Seychellois National Park must be visited with a licensed tour guide.
- Overnight stays in the parks are not allowed, and commercial filming needs written permission.
- Restricted areas include the northern coast of Curieuse (including Anse Badamier) and the nesting beaches of Ste Anne: Grand Anse, Gran Manon, Petit Manon and Anse Cimitiere.
- Not allowed in the parks: collecting shells, plants, coral or other marine life; fishing and carrying spear guns or fishing gear; motorised water sports; and littering.

Vallee de Mai (Praslin) is a World Heritage palm forest managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation. We did not find specific entry rules, so confirm before you go.

Aldabra Atoll: tourism is limited and strictly controlled. Visiting vessels need authorisation from the Seychelles Islands Foundation, and drone use needs permission from the Island Manager. Private visits should go through an authorised operator.

Drones elsewhere: rules are not confirmed here. Check with the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority before you bring one.

Numbers below come from the US State Department, the UK government and Tourism Seychelles (checked 8 October 2026). Save them in your phone before you travel.

- 999: main emergency number for police, fire and ambulance.
- 112: police emergency (listed by Tourism Seychelles).
- 151: hospital emergency or ambulance.
- 133: report a crime.
- 111: Fire and Rescue.
- Police station line: +248 428 8000.
- Coast Guard emergency line: 429 0900.
- Victoria Hospital, Mont Fleuri, Mahe: +248 438 8000.
- Tourist Information Office, Mahe: 461 0800.

Embassy help: the US has no consular presence in Seychelles and is served from Port Louis, Mauritius (+230 202 4400). The UK government 24-hour line for UK nationals is +44 20 7008 5000. Other nationalities should contact their own embassy before travelling.

- Driving: traffic drives on the left. The US State Department says an international driving permit is required, and hire companies often ask for one. Roads on Mahe are narrow and winding. Driving is practical only on Mahe and Praslin.
- Time and power: reported as UTC+4 with 220 to 240 V and British-style three-pin plugs. This comes from an unofficial 2022 guide, so confirm before you travel.
- Crime: bag snatching, break-ins and petty theft happen, especially around Beau Vallon, the back streets of Victoria and isolated places at night. Use hotel safes.
- Drugs: penalties are severe and can include life imprisonment. Nudism is not allowed and topless sunbathing is not accepted on most beaches.
- Drones: must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority, and foreign visitors may need extra authorisation. Check current rules before packing one.
- Hiking: use signposted trails, do not hike alone, and tell your hotel your route and return time. Avoid trails in the rain.
- Environment: do not collect shells, coral or plants, and take all rubbish with you.
- Service charge: reported as usually 5 to 10 percent added at hotels and restaurants, with tipping not required (unofficial 2022 guide). Check your bill.
- Sand flies can bite on beaches where seaweed has washed up.
- Check the UK, US and Australian government travel advice shortly before you travel, as advice can change.