Holidays in the Seychelles 2022/2023

• Sail and island hop around the 115 islands
• Home to Vallée de Mai nature reserve
• Experience a private island paradise
• Hawksbill turtle hotspot

In 1881, General Charles Gordon was said to have been so awestruck by the emerald beauty of Vallée de Mai nature reserve while exploring Praslin island, he declared it the original Garden of Eden. You can see the scenic splendour he witnessed for yourself on an unforgettable holiday in the Seychelles.

Made up of 115 granite and coral islands, they’re like dreamy drops of green jungle ringed by ribbons of white and gold sand. The Seychelles wasn’t properly ‘discovered’ until the middle of the 18th century and it still feels that way if you go on a luxury holiday today.

Even its biggest isles have a rich sense of isolation. Mahé’s beaches are peppered with sculpted granite boulders, while the capital, Victoria, charms you with infectious local life. Praslin has splendid sands, as well as the primal allure of bird-rich Vallée de Mai, which drew General Gordon under its spell. La Digue is like a land frozen in time, with ox-carts the transport of choice and the thud of a coconut or a crab’s scuttle the only sounds around.

Cast your net further and its far-flung outer islands like Denis, Desroches and Silhouette offer a remote retreat where you can have your own Robinson Crusoe experience. Whether the Seychelles was God’s idea of Eden or not, it can certainly be yours.

The Seychelles is a group of islands that are chock-full with natural wonder, from boulder-strewn beaches to thick forested interiors and rainbow-hued reefs. Resorts tap into the stunning nature they are surrounded by, with everything from villas enveloped by jungle to hilltop retreats overlooking turquoise-coloured bays. Private islands offer all of that but with an added wedge of privacy.

Lying just south of the equator, the Seychelles enjoys a tropical climate year-round, which keeps temperatures at around 30°C. While it has two distinct seasons of the year, the dry season from May to October and the wet season from November to April, the Seychelles is lovely to visit at any time of year.

Thanks to south-east trade winds, the dry season serves up slightly cooler temperatures and drier days, although short tropical showers can occur at any time. As well as acting as a natural air con, the trade winds means it’s a great time to visit the Seychelles if you’re planning to go sailing.

As November hits, the north-west trade winds kick in, although they are much calmer than during the dry season. This means the days feel hotter and the humidity is higher, with more chances of rainfall. However, the rain never stays for long and you can still expect plenty of sunshine hours. October to December sees hawksbill and green turtles come to lay their eggs and come January, you can witness the resulting hatchlings right up until April.

If you’re into snorkelling and diving, the shoulder months of April/May and October/November offer the best visibility underwater for lagoons’ pantone-tinged marine life. It’s also the best time to go to the Seychelles for a chance to spot wildlife inland, when the direction of the trade winds change.