Seychelles - attractions - Countries Guide

Victoria
Having the dubious honour of being the smallest capital city in the world, Victoria can also be considered one of the quaintest and most charming, easily explored on foot. The best place to soak up the friendly atmosphere is at the busy daily market (closed on Sundays), where local crafts are on sale along with fish, fruit and vegetables. A hint of French and British colonial days still remains, reflected in buildings like the courthouse and main post office. Among the colourful houses there is also a cathedral and a clock tower built as a copy of the one housing Big Ben in London. The city is also something of an art centre, and works by local artists are popular buys at local galleries.
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Seychelles Natural History Museum
Located in the centre of Victoria, the Seychelles Natural History Museum features some fascinating exhibits like the bones of an extinct type of crocodile, a shipwreck, various stuffed animals and other curiosities of the natural world.
Telephone: 32 13 33
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Opening times: Open Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm; Friday and Saturday 8.30am to 12pm

National Museum of History
Step back into the days of the buccaneers at the Seychelles National Museum of History, which features excellent displays of historic artefacts relating to the cultural and natural history of the islands. Exhibits include a range of interesting objects from shipwreck salvage, coral, voodoo dolls and old household objects to items that belonged to well-known pirates in days of old.
Telephone: 32 13 33
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Opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm, Saturday 8.30am to 12pm

National Botanical Gardens
An oasis of green shade, ideal for a stroll, the century-old Botanical Gardens at the south end of Victoria extend for six hectares (15 acres), planted with a wide variety of indigenous and exotic trees, including the Seychelles islands' unique 'coco de mer' palms. The orchid garden is particularly lovely. There is a restaurant and souvenir shop in the Gardens.
Telephone: 670 500
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Opening times: Daily 8am to 5pm

Vallée de Mai
First stop for most visitors to Praslin island in the Seychelles is the fantastic Vallée de Mai, hidden in virgin forest, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. Apart from the rich variety of plant and animal life in this beautiful spot, the main attraction here is that this is the only place in the world where the 'coco de mer' palm grows, producing a nut that weighs up to 40 lbs (18kg): the largest nut in the world. What makes this nut even more renowned is that it is shaped like a female pelvis. Its rarity, shape and alleged aphrodisiac properties have led to it becoming a collector's item. The Vallée is also home to three of the world's rarest birds: the black parrot, fruit pigeon and Seychelles bulbul. Guided tours to the Vallée are conducted every day from all the resort hotels on the island. There is also a self-guided walking trail through the area.
Telephone: 32 17 35
Website: www.sif.sc
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Opening times: Daily 8am to 5.30pm

. Black Pearl (Seychelles) LTD
Exquisite black pearls are cultured at the only oyster farm in the Indian Ocean, but that is not all you can investigate at this attraction which, apart from displaying the art of cultivating pearls in the Black Lip Pearl Oyster, also explains the breeding and feeding of the Giant Clam species, Tridacna maxima. The farm features a touch pool and aquarium, and of course the black pearls are on sale in the onsite jewellery store.
Telephone: 233 987
Website: www.seychelles.net/prof
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Opening times: Daily from 10am to 4pm weekdays, and Saturday 10am to 12pm

George Camille Gallery
Praslin artist, George Camille, is famed not only locally, but his works have been exhibited extensively in London and Paris. He works in a variety of mediums in an effort to capture the colour and excitement of Creole life. His works may be viewed or bought at his popular studio at Cote d'Or on Praslin Island.
Telephone: 344 334
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Opening times: Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturdays 10am to 1pm

Beau Vallon Bay
The mile long beach encircling beautiful Beau Vallon Bay on the northern coast of Mahé Island is the most popular beach resort area in the Seychelles, boasting several hotels and a selection of dive and watersport centres. Beau Vallon also has a number of dive sites within the bay, including two wrecks and several coral reefs. The Marine Park of Bay Ternay is also easily accessible from the bay.
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Cities & Regions: Praslin Island | Mahé