Seychelles Islands are considered to be a paradise. This is more than a hundred granite and coral islands - pristine nature reserves. The cozy coves, beaches with white sand and pink, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, palm trees and stones from colored marble. Seychelles is one of the best places for an unforgettable romantic getaway.
Geography

Seychelles archipelago comprises 115 islands and islets located in the Indian Ocean just south of the equator and north of the island of Madagascar. Covers an area of ​​405 sq.km. The largest islands - Mahé, Silhouette, Praslin and La Digue - granite, small islands - mostly coral. The largest island of the archipelago - Mahe length of -27 km in length, width - 8 km. On this island is the capital of the state - Victoria International Airport.
Climate

Sub-equatorial sea. All year round good weather - sun, wind and light, thanks to the ocean, the absence of heat. Taken to distinguish between two seasons: hot (December-May), with an average temperature of +29 ° C and relatively cool (June-November), with an average temperature of +24 ° C, when the monsoon winds blow. May and October-December - the best time for recreation on the Seychelles.
Capital

City of Victoria, located on the island of Mahe.
Population

The islands are about 78tys. people. The main nationalities and ethnic groups: Creoles - 95%, African-rebellion, Indians, Chinese.
Language

The official languages ​​of the Republic of Seychelles are the three languages: English, French and Creole.
Currency

The national currency - the Seychelles rupee, which consists of one hundred cents. In circulation are banknotes of 100, 50, 25, 10 rupees and coins of 5 and 1 rupee, 25 and 10 cents.

Currency can be exchanged at the official rate in any of the banks and the airport. Change rupees back into dollars can be at any exchange office, but only upon presentation of certificates of the same exchange dollars for rupees at the official rate. In large banks, hotels and shops to accept major credit cards. The exchange rate is regularly printed in local newspapers. The exchange rate of traveler's checks preferred over cash. Banks are usually open from 8.30 am to 14.00 on weekdays and on Saturdays - up to 11.00, but it is better to specify the time of the banks in each case.
Time zone

Local time Kiev ahead of only one hour.
Religion

Major religions: Christianity (Catholicism).
Political Structure

Democratic presidential republic, a member of the British Commonwealth. The legislature - the National Assembly. The administrative area is divided into 23 districts.
Customs regulations

Seychelles - the country visa-free entry.

Duty-free import of cigarettes - 200 pcs., Perfumes - 125 ml., Alcoholic beverages - 1 liter of wine - 1 liter.

The import of firearms, guns for underwater fishing, fruits, plants (including flowers), unpreserved meat products.

Attention! When passing through passport and customs control, you must have a passport valid for at least six months, a completed customs declaration, the round-trip ticket. When departing from the Seychelles to pay customs duty of Rs 100 (about 20US $).
Transportation. Rent a car

The minimum age for renting a car - 22 years. The cost of rental Suzuki Jeep is about 300 - 350 SR per day (about 60 USD) per day.

Traffic on the left hand side Seychelles. The maximum speed in the city - 45 km / h outside populated areas - 65 km / h, and only on the main road leading to the airport - 80 km / h. The roads in most cases, are in poor condition. Local people traffic is almost non-compliance! At the same time the fuel is not cheap - a liter. Gasoline costs about 6 SR, but on the whole about. Mahe only 6 gas stations (on Praslin - 2), working from 5:00 to 23:00 (in the Bo-Vallon - from 6:00 to 21:00). On the last Saturday of each month, people from all over Mahe come to Victoria to squander just received a salary. So overcrowded these days is simply stunning (by local standards), as the sidewalks and on the roads. And find parking in the city center these days is either impossible or have to park on a fairly expensive municipal parking lots with meters.

Taxis - 140 cars. The fee for the first kilometer - 15 rupees, then - to 5 rupees. A taxi rank operates around the clock Albert Street, behind the mail.
Stores

Shopping hours are not clearly established. Usually they work in the morning, when there came the exhausting heat of the evening. In the mid-day hosts shops prefer to take a break from the heat.
Link

Telephone service is modern enough. For calls using pay phones, working on magnetic cards (sold at kiosks and post offices). Here and there remained old-style phones that work on coins (1 SR - 3 min. Call).

To call on Seychelles, dial 8 - 10 - 248 (country code and city) - subscriber's number. Telephone subscribers of other islands are the first two digits of a six-digit number (23 - Praslin and La Digue, Mahe, Felicite, and Silhouette - 37 Frigate - 32 Bird (Avian) - 22, etc.). Abroad can call the "card" phone from the hotel. The call is quite expensive (17 to 24 SR per minute, from 21:00 to 7:00 - about 13 SR).

Code of Ukraine from the Seychelles - 00-380 and then the area code (Kiev - 44, Kiev - 562, Donetsk - 622, Odessa - 482) and telephone number. One minute of conversation with Ukraine is $ 8.

The standard of GSM 900. Roaming is the leading Ukrainian mobile operators.
Electricity

The voltage is 220 V, 50 Hz. Sockets 3-pin, square-shaped.
Tips

Tipping is at most hotels and restaurants are included in the cost of the service, but if you really want to express my appreciation to the staff, add to the payment of 10% of the cost of services, or just give a few rupees a maid or a porter. Taxi drivers agreed to pay over the counter, but if you rented a taxi for a tour of the island, or a long trip, tipping is appropriate.
Weekends and holidays

1 - January 2, May 1, 5, 10, 18, June 29, August 15, November 1, 8, 25 December, as well as religious holidays.

In the Seychelles held throughout the year various carnivals.
Main Attractions

Seychelles - had recently been cut off from the world of exotic corner of the globe, there is little studied and little-known, however, has always attracted travelers unusual nature of these islands, although their relative remoteness from developed countries and major transportation routes for a long time did not allow tourists to realize their interest.

After construction in 1974, the international airport in Victoria - the capital of the country - Seychelles become one of the most famous exotic resorts in the world.

Archipelago, and combines the unique and typical features of oceanic islands. In terms of geology and geomorphology of the Seychelles are of three types of islands: the high mountainous islands and low reef islands, islands - raised reefs. High mountainous islands are ancient granite ledges microcontinent expressed in relief in the form of large banks Seychelles. These islands are the most important and the most popular among tourists of the island - Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. They are unique in nature. Life for them, once completely covered with tropical forests, much richer than the young reef islands. It built the best hotels in the country. Most of them - small, surrounded by forests and are designed for a small number of guests. Some are quite large, but still separated by lush tropical greenery from each other. Seychelles at the forefront of the Nature Conservancy. Incredibly, the struggle to maintain now become legendary Aldabra atoll from the invasion of its fragile ecosystem of the British metropolistov who planned to build a strategic military base, was the beginning of the struggle for the independence of the country. Seychelles is now almost the same as before the arrival of tourists. Beautiful beaches, warm sea and mountain landscapes - all unforgettable.

Mahe Island - the most visited of all the islands. Perhaps this is most felt the influence of civilization, if I may say so with respect to the Seychelles. This is the place where you can walk to restaurants in the evening, the souvenir shops or just stroll through the old streets of Victoria - the capital of this tiny tiny country. Being Mae You, perhaps, difficult to find a secluded beach is deserted, but even the most "crowded" beaches you will never see a crowd sunbathers, as in the Mediterranean and Sochi. No, "crowded" beach in Seychelles, this does not mean that coconut nowhere to fall. At the same time, Mahe beautiful that there is a wide range of activities to suit every taste. You can rent a car and get into the most secluded corners of the beautiful island, you can rent a yacht or a boat and swim in an amazing coves nearby islands, you can take part in ocean fishing, go diving or, in the end, just lie on the beach.

Praslin Island - it can be called symbolic. Here is the main attraction of the Seychelles National Park - "May the valley" - a unique grove of coconut palms Seychelles unique. This is not just a great place to which the exiled monk Makarios of Cyprus said the following words: "Even if I doubt the theory of General Gordon, according to which there was supposedly the Garden of Eden, I must admit that this place is worthy of the name" - but it is still and a place that is for many the embodiment of romantic sentiment, tradition, romantic love. Living in Praslene tourists - it is a quiet romantic getaway for lovers. We encourage you as much as possible to walk on the beaches of bays and coves Praslin. So you will see many beautiful places and you can get acquainted with the island up close.

La Digue Island - certainly the most beautiful of all the Seychelles. Stunning. You can just arriving here prostrate on one of the chic little beaches on the island, but you can rent a bike and travel all over all the bays, beaches and bays of this small - 3 to 5 km - of the island. The main attraction of the island extremely picturesque beaches, the most famous of which are located in the bay LAS d'Argens, Grand Anse ', Coconut, Sweet Potato Ant and the bay.

Amirantskie Islands, Silhouette, Bird Island, Farquhar Atoll and other islands - are scattered over a vast territory of the Indian Ocean. They were almost there is no tourism infrastructure or minimized. These islands - is the place where it's easy to escape from civilization. Here you will discover it is easy to beaches, which will be able to retire and no one will disturb you. It is difficult to reach, but when you find yourself here on Earth will not exist nothing but the warm sand, the speaker of the sea, rustling leaves, his eyes twinkling stars and favorite. But do not forget the main thing: any island - this is just an island. Romance of the need to bring with them.

Seychelles - a place on the map, which will be comfortable to all and every person will find themselves just one area, which requires its heart and soul...