Which islands can I fit into a week?+
Easily all three main ones. The usual split is three nights on Mahé, two on Praslin and two on La Digue, with a ferry ride in between. If you'd rather not pack more than once, you can base yourself on Praslin and visit La Digue as a day trip, since the ferry between them takes fifteen minutes and runs several times a day.
Is Seychelles more expensive than the Maldives?+
Not necessarily. Accommodation can be cheap, since family-run guesthouses start around seventy euros, and food can be bought at shops or takeaways. What's expensive instead are the inter-island ferries, restaurants and car rental. A week at a guesthouse in Seychelles works out significantly cheaper than a week at a Maldivian resort.
Do I need a visa?+
No, Czech citizens don't need a visa and receive a residence permit for up to thirty days on arrival. Before traveling, however, an online Seychelles Travel Authorisation is mandatory, which can only be submitted starting a month before arrival and costs around forty euros. Without it, airlines in Europe won't let you board.
When is seaweed on the beaches?+
From May to September the southeast trade wind blows, and seaweed accumulates on the eastern and southern beaches of Mahé and Praslin. Western and northern beaches such as Beau Vallon or Anse Lazio tend to stay clear during this period. From November to March the pattern reverses.
Can I bring home a coco de mer nut?+
Yes, but only if bought from a licensed shop, along with the official certificate that comes with it. A nut costs roughly two hundred to four hundred euros. Without the certificate, exporting it is illegal and it will be confiscated at departure, since it's a protected species.
Is it worth renting a car in Seychelles?+
On Mahé and Praslin, yes, if you want to reach remote beaches and mountain roads. On Mahé, though, a bus reaches practically everywhere for five rupees, so you can manage without a car. On La Digue a car makes no sense at all — the island is explored by bicycle.
Are there sharks in Seychelles?+
Around the main islands you'll typically only encounter small reef sharks and whale sharks, both harmless to people. Attacks are extremely rare. A far greater danger is rip currents on unprotected beaches, and stingrays, which can be stepped on while wading through shallow water.
When can I see whale sharks?+
The main season is August to November, when plankton gathers off the western coast of Mahé. Dive centers organize outings for around one hundred fifty euros; sharks are spotted from a plane and you snorkel directly from the boat. The odds are lower than in the southern Ari Atoll in the Maldives.
