Mahe is the largest of the Seychelles islands and  is home to the capital, Victoria, and the international airport, the commercial ports, fishing boats, and the largest percentage of population. Mahe has most of the hotels including two casinos. Its white, powdery  beaches, verdant vegetation,  coconut palms and cinnamon trees, and lofty forested peaks. There are lots of spectacular coral reefs and clear, calm waters that  invite relaxation and many water sports. Even though it is the nation's economic hub Mahe has retained all of its natural beauty and charm.

Whichever way you turn, there is a lovely beach and upscale dining. For honeymoons, the romance of the Seychelles has everything else in the world beat, bar none.  Seychelles is a nature lover's dream, made up of both granite and coral islands. The granite islands are the visible tips of mountain peaks that were originally located on the giant continent of Gondwanaland which contained Africa, India, Australia and Madagascar. As these parts drifted apart over the eons the islands of Seychelles remained in isolation, enabling their plant and wildlife to develop unaffected by outside influences.

One of the finest natural wonderland lies not on the islands but in the surrounding clear, warm waters. Water temperatures average over 78°F year round and visibility often extends to 150 feet. More than 300 species of fish and 250 types of coral are found on the reefs of Seychelles. The invertebrate life exhibits an amazing range of form, size and color with an incredible variety of shells. Giant sting and manta rays, whale sharks, tuna and other pelagic visitors are common.

Seychelles has much more than beautiful beaches and great diving. Hiking on the many trails through the jungles, to the mountain tops and to secluded beaches will seem like you are the very first  visitor, is one of the great pleasures of the islands. There are excellent books that describe the flora, fauna and other sights along the trails. There even are helicopter tours of the islands.

Deep sea fishing and sailing are also extremely popular. Many world record fish have been caught in the Seychelles. Bareboat and crewed charters are also available, most out of Victoria Harbor on Mahe, and the grouping of islands around Mahe and Praslin is simply ideal for yachting.

The Seychelles islands are densely populated by land and sea birds, some of them very rare, are found only on specific islands. So day and overnight trips to other islands such as Cerf, Silhouette, North, Bird, Denis, Cousin, Cousine, Félicité and Frégate are quite popular.

Seychelles is located in the Indian Ocean about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) east of Kenya. The nation is an archipelago of 115 of the most beautiful islands in the world. These tropical islands are in two distinct collections of islands, some comprised of granite and others of coral. The Mahe Group consists of 42 granite islands, all within a 56-kilometer (35-mi.) radius of the main island of Mahe. These islands are rocky, and most have a narrow coastal stripe and a central range of hills rising as high as 914 meters (3,000 ft.). Mahe is the largest island--9,142 sq. km (55 sq. mi.)--and is the site of Victoria, the capital. The coral islands are flat with elevated coral reefs at different stages of formation. They have no fresh water; human life can be sustained on them only with difficulty.

The Seychelles climate is wonderful and healthy, although quite humid, as the islands are small and subject to marine influences. The temperature varies little throughout the year. Temperatures on Mahe vary from 24⁰C to 29.9⁰C (75⁰F-85⁰F), and rainfall ranges from 288 centimeters (90 in.) annually at Victoria to 355 centimeters (140 in.) on the mountain slopes. Precipitation is somewhat less on the other islands. During the coolest months, July and August, the temperature drops to as low as 70⁰F. The southeast trade winds blow regularly from May to November, and this is the most pleasant time of the year. The hot months are from December to April, with higher humidity (80). March and April are the hottest months, but the temperature seldom exceeds 88⁰F. Most of the islands lie outside the cyclone belt, so high winds are rare.

As the Seychelles islands are blessed with a year-long warm, tropical climate, it's always a good time to visit, although different times of year may be better suited to your particular interests.

Two opposing trade winds generally govern the weather pattern: the north-westerly trades blow from October to March when wind speeds average from 8 to 12 knots; and the brisker south-easterly trades blow from May to September with winds of between 10 to 20 knots, bringing the cooler and windier conditions ideal for sailing.

The periods of calm between the trades produce fairly warm and wind-free conditions throughout April and also in October. Conditions for swimming, snorkelling and especially diving are superb during April/May and October/November when the water temperature sometimes reaches 29ºC and visibility is often 30 metres plus.

The 'SUBIOS Underwater Festival', showcases Seychelles' extraordinary underwater world through a series of film shows, talks and competitions, while the 'Festival Kreol' (a week-long celebration of Creole heritage and traditions) is held in March and October respectively of each year.

The Seychelles Sailing Cup, an international sailing event, is held in January and the International Fishing Competition in March. Further local fishing competitions are held throughout the year.

Our Virtuoso Seychelles Specialists will save you money, time and stress planning and booking your vacation. Use our vacation planner and we will promptly call you back and assist you with all the best options that suit you specific requirements.