Seychelles consists of 116 small islands scattered in several groups in the waters of the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar and Mauritius off the east coast of Africa. The private island of Félicité, covering 2.68 km2, belonging to the group of inner islands formed of solid granite rocks, is the fifth largest island. It is situated approximately 55 kilometres north-east of the international airport on the main Seychelles island of Mahé and a mere 4 kilometres from La Digue island. Until the 1970s, it served as a coconut plantation where only a few locals worked and was otherwise not permanently inhabited. Since 1996, it has been part of a protected nature reserve, just like half of the territory of this breathtaking country. It is also a globally popular scuba diving location, together with Ile Cocos, Marianne and Sisters Islands.
The charm of Seychelles lies in the beautiful unspoiled landscape, still largely composed of dense tropical forest with endemic species of flora and fauna. The picturesque island of Félicité also abounds in rich vegetation, in the heart of which coconut palms, banana trees, vanilla orchids, hibiscus, cinnamon trees, giant mango trees and other exotic fruits grow in abundance. The local underwater world is equally rich and varied with its multi-coloured coral reefs, home to sea turtles and countless fish in the turquoise waters of the ocean only a few metres from the shore. Glorious pristine white beaches with granite boulders are typical of the breathtaking scenery of this island, ideal for all lovers of relaxation and various land and water sporting activities.
The neighbouring islands also have numerous attractions, such as the popular tourist Praslin island with the Vallée de Mai national park. Here, the unique Coco de Mer palms flourish, bearing the largest coconuts in the world, resembling a woman’s buttocks in shape. In addition to this paradise garden, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, there is also the Lémuria Championship Golf Course on Praslin, the only 18-hole golf course in the Seychelles. The romantic island of La Digue is only a few minutes away by boat. It boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, notably that of Anse Source d’Argent. The Sisters Islands are even closer. Like the entire area, these are a genuine paradise for giant tortoises. There is also Ile Cocos - a group of rocky islands which form part of the Ile Cocos Marine National Park, due to their fascinating, incredibly rich underwater kingdom.
Because the Seychelles lie near the equator (south of it, actually), the climate is tropical, moist, but very stable. Temperatures throughout the year range between 25-32 °C, with a warmer climate prevailing from November to April, when also tropical rains are more frequent, however, rains come mostly at night in the form of short abundant showers. The water temperature hovers around a pleasant 27 °C all year round, in coastal lagoons it is even a few degrees higher. Moreover, thanks to its location, the Seychelles are not within the band of tropical cyclones and are therefore ideal for year-round visits.
The accessibility of the Seychelles has improved significantly with the introduction of daily flights by Emirates Airlines from Prague with a transfer in Dubai. Another option is a direct flight from Frankfurt, Germany with Condor. The airplanes land at the Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) which is located 8 kilometres southeast of the capital Victoria on Mahé island.
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