Overview
Seychelles is a scatter of around 115 granite and coral islands in the Indian Ocean, roughly 1,000 miles off the East African coast and north-east of Madagascar. For UK travellers it offers powder-soft beaches, warm seas all year and a genuinely slow pace of life, with most holidays built around the three main islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. English is one of the official languages, driving is on the left and the clocks are just four hours ahead of the UK, so jet lag is mild. Direct flights from London make it one of the more accessible tropical long-haul escapes, and searches for cheap flights to Seychelles rise sharply before the winter sun season.
Best time to fly to Seychelles
The islands stay warm year round, typically 24-31C. Two gentle trade-wind seasons shape the weather: the north-west monsoon (November to March) is hotter and more humid with short, heavy downpours, while the south-east monsoon (May to September) is cooler, drier and breezier, though it can push seaweed onto some east-facing beaches. April and October are the calm, clear transition months and are widely considered ideal. Snorkelling and diving visibility is usually best around March to May and October to November. UK school holidays and the Christmas and New Year period are the busiest and most expensive times to fly, so check the When to book chart above to see how fares move through the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) on Mahe, about 10km south of the capital Victoria, is the only international gateway. From there, Air Seychelles operates short domestic hops to Praslin in around 15 minutes, and frequent ferries connect Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.
Airlines and routes
British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to Mahe, with a typical flight time of about 10 hours 15 minutes. There are no direct flights from Manchester or other UK regional airports, so travellers from Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh or Glasgow usually connect through a hub such as Emirates via Dubai, Qatar Airways via Doha, Etihad via Abu Dhabi or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, for a total journey of roughly 13-16 hours. Connecting fares are often lower than the direct service, so it is worth comparing both.
Popular places to visit in Seychelles
- Mahe: the main island, home to Victoria, hillside rainforest walks and beaches such as Beau Vallon and Anse Intendance.
- Praslin: a relaxed base and site of the Vallee de Mai nature reserve, where the famous coco de mer palm grows.
- La Digue: a bicycle-and-ox-cart island with Anse Source d'Argent, one of the most photographed beaches in the world.
- Curieuse Island: a short boat trip from Praslin to see free-roaming giant tortoises and red-earth coastal trails.
- Aldabra and the outer islands: remote atolls for serious divers and wildlife trips, reached by liveaboard or small aircraft.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Seychelles
- Travel in the shoulder months of April, May, October and early November for good weather and lower fares than the December and August peaks.
- Compare the direct British Airways service from Heathrow against one-stop Gulf and Turkish carriers, which frequently undercut it.
- Be flexible by a few days either side of your dates and use the price charts on this page to spot the cheapest departures.
- Book roughly three to six months ahead for peak-season travel, when the best-value seats sell out early.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa, but you must complete a Seychelles Travel Authorisation online before departure and carry proof of accommodation, onward or return travel and sufficient funds. You are then granted a Visitor's Permit on arrival, usually for the length of your stay up to three months. The currency is the Seychellois rupee; hotels and larger restaurants take cards, but carry some cash for taxis, ferries and small shops, particularly on La Digue. For the best fares, see the price charts on this page and book a few months in advance.
