Visit the Seychelles
The Essence of the Seychelles
Rainforest hills are home to brilliant birdlife; sun-bleached sands are strewn with giant boulders; the multi-blue hues of the Indian Ocean shelter spectacular dive sites; and a Creole culture complements the conservation of the Seychelles ‘Eden’.
Why choose a tour in the Seychelles?
From islets barely a dot on the map to large and lively Mahé, each of the Seychelles islands has its own version of wild beauty, its own character of barefoot simplicity or lap of luxury, its own unique variety of flora and fauna. Collectively, they are an enclave of Creole culture and nature conservation, in an ocean of clear blue waters, teeming with marine life. The Seychelles are paradise found.
Mahé is the ‘main island’, home to the country’s capital, Victoria, and to 90% of Seychellois; its landscapes ranging from the rainforest hills of Morne Seychellois National Park to the unique habitat of the Jellyfish Tree, and sandy beaches on the sunset shore, hemming superb snorkelling grounds.
Just 5km from Mahé but a world apart, the waters of Ste. Anne Marine National Park covers coral gardens and seagrass meadows grazed by green turtles, with bottlenose dolphins visiting the bays of the islets it encircles.
One of these is tiny Moyenne, known as ‘the world’s smallest national park’. With no jetty and no roads, it is a place of pirate legends and other-worldly peace, a forest of mahogany, mango, palm and pawpaw trees, roamed by giant Aldabra tortoises, with hawksbill turtles nesting at Pirates Beach.
Praslin is the second-largest island, boasting the sweep of Anse Lazio sands, and the UNESCO listed landscape of Valée de Mai, where the ‘national bird’, the Black Parrot, is often spotted, and six types of palms in its tropical forest include the Coco de Mer, grown naturally only here and on Curieuse.
A bio-reserve of flora and fauna, Curieuse is known for its several species of mangrove trees, and for its conservation project, a tortoise nursery where the youngsters are nurtured until they are ready to join their giant relatives in the wild.
With broad beaches edging its indigenous forest, Cousin Island is a Special Reserve. Predator-free and protecting the last tiny group of Seychelles Warbler songbirds, it is a sanctuary for seabirds and a breeding site for Hawksbill turtles.
Aride is the northernmost island of the archipelago, untamed and uninhabited except by the conservation staff. With a huge population of seabirds, this is what the islands were like in the centuries before human settlement.
On La Digue, Anse Source d’Argent is dubbed ‘the most beautiful beach in the world’, its white sands littered with grey granite boulders; the vanilla estate of L’Union is a national monument, and the wooded acres of Veuve Nature Reserve form the habitat for the blue/black Paradise Flycatcher.
When to go on Seychelles holidays
Just below the Equator, The Seychelles tropical climate is warm throughout the year, with an average temperature of 26°. There is little variation between the seasons or between day and night, as it rarely falls below 23° or rises above 32°; though humidity is higher in the rainy season (November to March).
Who are Seychelles tours suited to?
From indigenous flora to intriguing fauna, and from corals to shipwrecks and sea canyons, the Seychelles archipelago is an idyllic choice for swimmers, snorkellers, and scuba divers, botanists and wildlife enthusiasts, and those simply seeking a slow-tempo interlude in a little piece of paradise.
Jules Verne’s island-hopping journeys sail on a small ship, where contemporary comforts are teamed with convivial atmosphere and attentive service.
Why book Seychelles tours with Jules Verne?
With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary adventures, Jules Verne takes you to iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Our journeys in Seychelles include zodiac excursions to access quiet coves, snorkelling off the tiny islet of St. Pierre, a visit to Felicité, where gleaming sands are teamed with lavish luxury, and a barbecue at the Jolly Roger Bar on Moyenne Island.
Our guided tours to The Seychelles are ABTA and ATOL protected, and we offer a 100% price guarantee, so you can book with complete confidence.
Secrets of the Seychelles
Cruise the Garden of Eden on this unique island-hopping voyage through the paradise isles of the Seychelles archipelago, uncovering white sandy beaches and incredible wildlife. From dots on the map in Ste. Anne Marine Park, to the diversity on lively Mahé, discovering the culture and nature of this Creole nation