Transit to the Seychelles and other Seychelles Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Regular flights to the Seychelles take off and arrive at CDG airport terminal 2C in Paris. Flights here are code shares Air Seychelles and Air France, both excellent companies.
Our experience, however, is that CDG is an extremely difficult airport for transfers and transit in general. Transfer from one part of the airport to the other, especially from Air France-areas to "others", non-AF-partners, is cumbersome and confusing. Past experience has told me that strikes and other industrial action is quite capable of throwing off flights and schedules and chaos could rule for days at end.
This time, our flight to the Seychelles was delayed by 4 hours, so we had about 7 hours' wait. For the last three hours of the wait that particular section of the terminal past check-in and security was closed (shops, bars, services). So there we were, stuck, and without knowing when or if the flight would eventually leave. Information was also minimal. On the return transit we had a hard time finding the right terminal and gate.
My secondary advice is certainly that you opt for about 3 hours transit in Paris CDG. My primary advice is that you jump on the flight to the Seychelles from or via England (London, Manchester), Frankfurt or Rome. Pricewise it shouldn't make much difference coming from a third country. There are also connections from Moscow, Kenya, South Africa, Dubai, Mauritius, Singapore and Mumbai/Maldives.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: We enjoyed the company of Joseph as our driver and guide around Mahe and on shorter trips, too.
He is self-employed as taxi driver, and has some fixed arrangements with travel and tour companies, that vouches for his credentials - in addition to our recommendation.
Tells you the standard fares (taxi work is also heavily regulated) and options and offers a fair price that includes insight and local knowledge.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 523162
Other Contact: Joseph Larue, taxi service

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: It's easy to find your way around the Seychelles, and at the hotel, tourist office or the taxi you will get the necessary info if you ask.
The ferry terminal is down to the harbour from the Victoria town centre - cannot miss it. Instead of bothering about the plane to Praslin, with the luggage limitations (you brought your snorkelling gear, right?), and airport transfers, waiting etc., the catamaran "Cat Cocos" takes you there in about 1 1/2 hrs, pending on sea conditions. It can be a bumpy ride. In Praslin the Cat Cocos lands at the pier where the schooner for La Digue departs.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: The inevitable moment, the departure/deportation from paradise...
The airport on Mahe is very orderly and easy. Check-in is a bit on the original side, as it is outside.
Passport control and security check aren't good places to break out in a sweat, but after the steaming check-in outside you have no option... Inside, though, there is air condition.
Your last postcards can be dropped in the departure hall.
Your last purchases can be done in the duty-free shop which has a mix of Seychelles' various crafts plus some of the traditional international brands. You can get some of the Kreolor goods here, too (see shopping tip), and the local perfume.
After your last steps on Mahe's soil (well, tarmac...) you can sit back in your seat and ask yourself if your house key for the front door back home is with you? Back to normal worries, already...

Leave a Comment

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Arriving to the Seychelles is easy once you're past the hurdle of paying for the ticket!!!!
You will get a visa on arrival (papers to be filled in during the flight, no photos), provided you have a hotel/guest house booking or some other defendable option for staying overnight and the money needed for the days you plan to spend here. Pre-booking and paying from home is therefore making your life much easier when you arrive at the airport here.
If you do not have a booking, but have the means to survive, you'll be asked to book at the hotel booking counter right there.
You get to stay for as long as you have a booking only, unless on some other fool-proof arrangement.
Next counter is optional, but useful, the state bank. I tried to change here but for some reason they refused to change more than 100 USD. But, no problem, there will be chances later to stack up on rupees.
Next, unless you are diverted into the duty-free-on-arrival shop, is customs, a trouble spot mainly for locals returning with huge bags of consumer goods. Outside you'll meet the decent world of travel agents perhaps waving a plackard with your name, and taxi drivers looking for customers. Taxi fares are fairly well fixed, and big cheats are rare.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Finding a cheap flight to the Seychelles isn't easy. The best deals are probably getting a discounted package tour at the low season. Low season only means fewer tourists in the Seychelles, not bad weather.

There are several choices. From Europe, the cheapest option must be with Aeroflot, which I have seen down to 600 dollars from Scandinavia. If the idea is to go on a safari, Kenya Airways in cooperation with KLM and/or Air Seychelles is a good idea: stopover in Nairobi as part of the deal. I assume a similar solution can be had with South African Airways and Air Seychelles, too, in South Africa. And maybe Air Mauritius. From Australia and Asia, there are connections from Singapore, Mumbai, Maldives and Dubai.

Otherwise, an independently booked flight with Air France, British Airways, Air Seychelles, Condor and Kenya Airways will come to about 1000 E from most European destinations without stopovers.

Leave a Comment

Other Contact: Relevant airlines

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: The easiest way to get from Praslin to La Digue and back is by schooner. There is a regular schedule (I'll come back with this) divided between two schooners, and occasional charter traffic between the two islands.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: The cost of a one way 2nd class (main deck) ticket to Praslin from Mahe is 40 Euro or ditto dollars. Payable in foreign currency only for tourists.
You can make a booking ahead through the Cat Cocos company or a travel agent, or you can buy the ticket before departure at the key side Cat Cocos office and ticket sales building.
On board they serve simple snacks and drinks. If the sea is rough you may not wish for anything more.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Travel from Mahe to La Digue:
I recommend one night on Mahe before going out to La Digue, and one night on the way back before you fly back home. Just in case. In this way you will manage to organise yourself, buy some local books and other necessities for the La Digue trips sort out luggage and be rested before setting out to la Digue. However, going out to la Digue is definitely possible with a nice morning flight arrival to Mahe, though. A short taxi ride will take you straight to the jetty and ticket office of the catamaran. I guess the catamaran has 4 departures for Praslin every day. Easy to find out once you are there. The only flying option to La Digue is by helicopter. Or you fly to Praslin (15 minutes), taxi ride from the air strip to the Praslin jetty (20 minutes) and then the schooner to La Digue. If you choose to fly, remember you can only take 10 kg of luggage per person, an any surplus needs to be stored on Mahe. There are schooners, but no ferries going to La Digue. The schooners are schooners: small, rounded hulls and they roll terribly in high seas and swell. I will not recommend the 5-hour or so schooner trip from Victoria Harbour/Mahe to La Digue direct. The best option is the catamaran. As you disembark at Praslin you can see the La Digue schooner at the same jetty. Pay your ticket on board the schooner. From Praslin jetty to La Digue's "capital" La Passe it will take you about half an hour's enjoyable schooner travel, partly sheltered seas. At the La Passe jetty - a bit to the left as you walk off the concrete jetty pavement, there are ox carts ready to take you to where you want to go. Or taxi. Or walk. Or rent a bike right away...

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: CAT COCOS SCHEDULE

DAYS FROM TO DEPART
Mon Mahe Praslin 0730 and 1600hrs
Tue Mahe Praslin 0730 and 1600 hrs
Wed Mahe Praslin 0730 and 1600 hrs
Thur Mahe Praslin 0730 and 1600 hrs
Frid Mahe Praslin 0730,13 and 1600 hrs
Sat Mahe Praslin 0730 and 1600 hrs
Sun Mahe Praslin 0730, 1030 and 1630 h

Mon Praslin Mahe 0900 and 1730 hrs
Tue Praslin Mahe 0900 and 1730 hrs
Wed Praslin Mahe 0900 and 1730 hrs
Thu Praslin Mahe 0900 and 1730 hrs
Fri Praslin Mahe 0900, 1430 and 1800 hrs
Sat Praslin Mahe 0900 and 1730 hrs
Sun Praslin Mahe 0900, 1500 and 1800 hrs

Leave a Comment

Phone: 32 48 43 OR 32 48 44
Other Contact: catcocos@iotc.org