Mahé, measuring 28km long by 8km wide, is the largest island and cultural and economic hub of the Inner Islands, and the international gateway to Seychelles. It is home to the international airport and the nation's capital, Victoria.
The island is home to almost 90% of the total population (or approximately 72,200 people) reflecting Seychelles' diverse ethnicity.
With a backdrop of towering 1000m granite peaks, Mahé is an extraordinary treasure trove of flora that has evolved over centuries of splendid isolation.
Rare endemic plants found nowhere else in the world adorn Mahé's mist forests in mountain strongholds, such as the Jellyfish Tree, the carnivorous Seychelles Pitcher Plant and the Seychelles Vanilla Orchid.
Mahé is the transportation hub for island-hops and day excursions to neighbouring islands and all other islands within Seychelles. All scheduled domestic flights by Air Seychelles originate from Mahé to the serviced islands.
Island Hopping possibilités: Aride, Chauve Souris, Cousin, Cousine, Curieuse, Félicité, Grande Soeur, Ile Cocos , La Digue, Mahé, St. Pierre
Description
Praslin, with a population of 6,500 people, is Seychelles' second largest island. It lies 45km to the northeast of Mahé and measures 10km by 3.7km. A leisurely tour around the island by car will take approximately 2 hours.
Praslin is the site of the fabulous Vallée de Mai, one of Seychelles's two UNESCO World Heritage Siteswhere the legendary Coco-de-Mer, the world's heaviest nut, grows high on ancient palms in a primeval forest. The Vallée is host to six species of palm to be found only in Seychelles.
The island features truly exquisite beaches such as Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, both appearing on the top-10 list of world's best beaches in recent years.
Praslin stands at the forefront of Seychelles' tourism industry with a strong tradition of hospitality and wide range of accommodation facilities. It also provides a base for excursions to neighbouring islands, some of which are important sanctuaries nurturing rare species of endemic flora and fauna.
Island Hopping possibilities: Aride, Cousin, Curieuse, Félicité, Grande Soeur, Ile Cocos ,Mahé, Praslin
Description
La Digue is a close neighbour to Praslin and, is the fourth largest island in Seychelles.
Apart from hosting the Seychelles' black paradise flycatcher, one of the rarest birds on earth, La Digue's biodiversity features such stars as the chinese bittern, cave swiftlet, waxbill as well as two rare species of terrapin.
La Digue's forests also contain a wealth of flora in the form of delicate orchids, tumbling vines of vanilla, as well as trees such as Indian almond and takamaka. Gardens blaze with hibiscus and nepenthes against a backdrop of swaying coconut palms.
La Digue is an island where time stands still and time-honoured traditions such as travelling by ox-cart and bicycle are still king. Traditional methods of boat building and refining of coconut products (copra) are still practiced on La Digue.
The friendly atmosphere of this intimate island with its languid pace of life, traditional architecture and breathtaking beaches, such as legendary Anse Source d'Argent, is an absolute must for visitors.
La Digue has numerous and diverse accommodation for visitors, and its picturesque satellite islands are ideal for snorkeling and diving excursions.
