With its jaw-dropping scenery, beautiful white beaches and rich endowment of wildlife, we’re adding Seychelles to our Hidden Gems destination list.

Hidden Gems: Seychelles

An island republic of 115 tropical islands in the western Indian Ocean, Seychelles is world renowned for its lush vegetation, stunning beaches, and exquisitely rare wildlife. A melting pot of many cultures which have commingled and coexisted since the first settlement of the islands in 1770, Seychelle’s three main inhabited islands are Mahé (housing the capital Victoria), Praslin and La Digue and the official languages are English, French and Seychellois Creole. This beautiful destination offers visitors a wide suite of services and amenities. Visitors can appreciate a remarkably diverse array of marine, mammal, and bird life, relax on one of the many pristine beaches, island hop, enjoy a range of watersports, or simply soak up the breathtaking views.

“The Seychelles was once a pirate hideout; legend has it that famous pirate Olivier Levasseur hid treasure worth more than $160,000 there that remains unfound to this day.”

Hidden Gems: Seychelles

The location

The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) east of Kenya and about 700 miles (1,100 km) northeast of Madagascar.

The people

The Seychelles population is 107,400. Known as Seychellois, they are a unique blend of Créole, Indian, Chinese, French and British heritage.

The climate

The climate is tropical oceanic, with little temperature variation during the year. Daily temperatures rise to the mid-80s F (low 30s C) in the afternoon and fall to the low 70s F (low 20s C) at night.

Hidden Gems: Seychelles

Tourism

After the opening of an international airport on Mahé in 1971, the Seychelles’ tourism industry grew rapidly. It quickly became the place to be seen, a playground for film stars and the international jet set. It remains an exclusive such-after destination for international visitors.

Best time to visit

October and November and April and May) are the best times to visit the Seychelles as the temperatures are good, rainfall is limited, and the winds are not too strong.

What makes Seychelles unique

The biodiversity of the Seychelles makes it unique and is protected within two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Vallee de Mai in Praslin and Aldabra) as well as several impressive Nature Reserves and National Parks.

Hidden Gems: Seychelles

What to do in Seychelles

Anse Intendance, Mahé
Anse Lazio, Praslin
Baie Lazare, Mahé
La Digue Island
Curieuse Island
Morne Seychellois National Park
Ste Anne National Marine Park
Beau Vallon Beach
Anse Volbert
Vallée de Mai National Park, Praslin

Flying private to Seychelles

Chartering a private jet for your trip to Seychelles will guarantee a seamless and stress-free experience. Customize your trip to your exact requirements and tailor your itinerary to reflect your personal preferences.

Entry airport

Victoria Seychelles International Airport

IATA: SEZ
ICAO: FSIA
Elevation: 3 meters
Coordinates: 4.6709° S, 55.5115° E

Operational information

Operating hours are 24/7 except on Mondays due to a runway closure commencing at 2215LT until 0645LT
This is an airport of entry
Aircraft parking is available
Fuel is available
Ground handling equipment such as GPU, ASU, ACU, etc. are available
Visas are not required
Handling notification is 24 hours before the operation
The fire category is 10
Customs and Immigration is available on flight schedule

Landing permit requirements

Private flights are still required to submit an application for entry into FSIA to the Public Health Authority
All flights are subject to the Public Health Authority’s approval
The applications for entry must be done for each passenger and private flight crew through the online portal here
It is the aircraft operator’s duty to submit the form to the authorities
All fields must be completed, and the approval must be received before the Landing Permit Application may be processed
Any further requirements will be communicated by the Public Health Authority when the application for entry is submitted

Hidden Gems: Seychelles

Commercial flights

Direct flights to Seychelles are available from many major airports. The majority of connecting flights originate from Doha, Dubai, or Nairobi.

Immigration

There are no visa requirements for any persons wishing to travel except for passport holder from Kosovo
Visitors should have a valid passport or other travel documents recognized by the government of Seychelles
For more information, visit the official government website here

Hidden Gems: Seychelles

Health screening

There are no vaccination or PCR requirements for visitors to Seychelles

Visitor tips

As 80% of what is consumed on the islands is imported making it an expensive trip
Although you will be spoiled for choice at the luxury resorts, be sure to sample some of the delicious local Creole cuisine
Enjoy tasting the famously fresh and abundant fruit
Be prepared to see bats pretty much everywhere in Seychelles – don’t worry they are harmless

To create your ultimate Seychelles travel experience, contact UAS Charter or UAS Executive Travel.

For more Hidden Gems, visit the UAS Blog