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Transport
Air Traffic : Seychelles are served by regular air links: Air France, Air Seychelles.
Airport : L'aéroport international de Mahé (SEZ) se trouve à 10 Km au sud-est de Victoria
Transferts : A pick-up and drop-off service can be provide by your hotel otherwise we will provide you an alternative arrangement.
Formalities
Passport : All visitors require a valid passport.
Entry Requirements : On arrival, visitors are granted a Visitors’ Visa valid for one month, which may be extended, provided they have an onward or return tickets, valid travel documents, sufficient funds for their stay and can produce evidence of acceptability at their next port of entry. Visitors are also required to produce proof that they have suitable accommodation for the duration of their stay.
Customs Regulations : When entering the Seychelles, passengers 18 years’ of age and over are allowed the following duty-free allowance:
• 400 cigarettes or 500g of tobacco
• 2 litres of spirits or wine
• 200 ml of perfume or eau de toilette
Please note that fruits, vegetables, seeds and meat products are considered as restricted goods and are prohibited from entering the islands.
When leaving the Seychelles, the authorities restrict the export of the Coco de Mer (except with a valid permit), live shells, fish, tortoises, turtles and birds.
Suitcases
The Seychelles are located in the equatorial belt and are therefore characterized by a generally warm and humid climate throughout the year. However, the weather is influenced by two main tradewinds.
• South East trade winds: June to September — the weather is usually windy with the possibility of scattered showers. Nice and Cool.
• North West trade winds: End of November to February — are characterized by tropical showers with high temperatures.
• Intermediate Season: March to May and October to November are dry with high temperatures.
For further information: www.tv5.org/meteo
Clothing : Lightweight cotton clothes are standard even essential all year round. Training or lightweight walking shoes are useful if you intend to explore the islands. Hats and caps are recommended for all as the equatorial sun is extremely deceptive. Sunglasses are also vital. Shorts & T-shirts are acceptable everywhere but some hotels and more formal restaurants may require men to wear long trousers in the evening.
Electricity : The electricity supply is 240 volts. Plugs used are three point square pins.
Health Requirement : The Seychelles are free from tropical diseases. The Seychelles are free of tropical diseases such as malaria, bilharzias, typhoid and dysentery. Being in the equatorial climate, you may occasionally encounter certain tropical insects that normally do not pose any hazard. The islands being located close to the Equator, exposure to the sun is particularly unsafe due to the strong U.V’s. We would therefore recommend
that you bring a high protection cream (min. 25 SPF), a hat as well as sunglasses and to avoid direct exposure between 10.30 and 15.30. Finally, we would advise you to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration.
Money
Currency : The official currency of the Seychelles is known as the “Seychelles Rupee”
(SCR). It is divided into 100 cents and is issued in the following denominations.
Notes: SCR 100, SCR 50, SCR 25 and SCR 10.
Coins: SCR 5, SCR 1, 25 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents
Credit Cards : Major credit cards such as Diners club, Visa, Euro card, and MasterCard, are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops. For American Express cardholders, please liaise with your representatives.
Exchange Control : Please refrain from exchanging all your foreign currency at once, as you will only be able to reconvert a certain percentage of your leftovers back on departure at the airport. To do so, you are required to retain your receipt and use the same bankers.
Daily Exchange rates : www.mcb.mu
Tipping : Although not expected, tips are warmly received for exceptional personal service.
Communication
Languages : Creole, English and French are the official languages of the Seychelles and are widely spoken throughout the country.
Driving : Driving is on the left hand side of the roads (our legacy from the British Colonial days). The speed limit follows the natural slow pace of the islands and varies between 40 km/h to 60 km/h depending on the area. For your information, to rent-a-car, you require a valid national or international driving licence. Please also note that Petrol Stations are not open 24 hours.
Telecommunications : Seychelles has an efficient telecommunications service with direct dialing to most countries. Cable & Wireless and Airtel operate a 24-hour link for worldwide communications and have several coin and phonecard booths around the islands. Mobile phones (GSM) and Internet facilities are also available.
Public Transport :
Mahe - A bus service operates daily from 05h30 to 20h30.
Praslin - The islands bus service operates from 05h45 to 17h45.
For both islands, timetables are usually available at your hotel’s reception.
Taxis are comfortable and operate on a 24-hour basis. Please check before your departure with us to avoid overpricing and to book for your transfers.
Agenda
Time Zone difference : The Seychelles Granitic Archipelago is four hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and three hours during summer.
Business Hours : Most businesses and shops operate between 0800 hrs and 1600 hrs, Monday to Friday, some open from 0800 hrs to 1200 hrs on Saturdays.
Banks Opening hours vary from:
• 08h30 to 14h00 – Monday to Friday
• 08h30 to 11h00 – Saturdays
Public Holidays :
Official : New Year’s Day – January 1 & 2 - Labour Day – May 1 - Liberation Day – June 5 - National Day – June 18
Independence Day – June 29
Religious: Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Corpus Christi, Assumption of Mary (La Digue Festival) August 15
All Saints Day – November 1 - Immaculate Conception – December 8 - Christmas Day – December 25
Restauration
Cuisine : A large variety of fishes and seafood; Indian rice; spices meals; exotics fruits.
Water : The tap water is perfectly safe and bottled mineral water is available.
Good to know
Shopping : Vous trouverez de nombreux paniers, sacs et chapeaux en fibre de coco ou raffia, des objets en céramique, des paréos de batik, des maquettes de bois parfumé au camphre, des boites de bois incrustés de nacre, des bâtons d'os de requin, et encore, bracelets épingles à cheveux et lunettes.
Sécurité : Evitez de changer toutes vos monnaies en une seule fois, le mieux est de calculer vos besoins journaliers et de changer en fonction. La plupart des hôtels disposent de coffres à la réception ou dans les chambres où déposer vos objets de valeur. Eviter de vous promener seule la nuit et si vous le faites prévenez de votre démarche l'hôtel.
A faire / A ne pas faire :
Ne vous exposez pas sans protection le soleil Seychellois est très fort.
Soyez respectueux de la faune et la flore.
Lecture :
Nous recommandons à l’ensemble des futurs voyageurs à la Réunion de se documenter sur la destinations ce qui leur permettra une meilleure compréhension du pays et de sa culture sur place cela facilitera le contact avec les populations locales et vous permettra d’optimiser et mieux apprécier votre séjour.
Nous pouvons vous suggérer les lectures suivantes :
- Seychelles - Empreintes & Territoires (Guide)
- Seychelles, Belles en Archipel (Livre relié)
- Maurice, Réunion, Seychelles - Gallimard (Guide)
Useful Adresses
Dodo Travel & Tours (Madagascar)
Immeuble Marbour - Antsahavola,
BP 12125 Ankorondrano,
Antananarivo 101 - Madagascar
Tél : + (261) 20 22 690 36
Fax: + (261) 20 22 257 05
Dodo Travel & Tours (Mauritius)
Queen Mary Avenue - Floréal, Mauritius
Tél: + (230) 698 68 09
Fax: + (230) 698 68 09
Compagnies aériennes
Air Austral : www.airaustral.com
Air France : www.airfrance.com
Air Madagascar : www.airmadagascar.com
Air Mauritius : www.airmauritius.fr
Air Seychelles : www.airseychelles.com
Medical Services : The Emergency number for Ambulance, Fire or Police is 999
Office du Tourisme (STB) - Bel Ombre - PO Box 1262-Victoria-Mahé
Tél : +248 67 13 00 - Fax : +248 62 06 20 / 62 06 40 - Email : info@seychelles.com |
