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• To see many species of coral and fish, board a glass-bottomed boat from Victoria to nearby St Anne Marine National Park, which encloses the islands of St Anne, Beacon (classified as a nature reserve), Cerf (renowned for Creole food), Long (closed to the public), Round (reputed for its tuna steaks) and Moyenne (privately owned, but open to visiting tourists).
• Tour Mahé island taking in the market, the Botanical Gardens (with coco-de-mer, giant tortoises and orchids), and a replica of London's Vauxhall Bridge Tower Clock in Victoria, before setting off around the island to visit colonial-style mansions in graceful decline and plantations of cinnamon and vanilla.
• Discover fine displays depicting the history of spice cultivation in the National Museum in Victoria, which celebrates Seychellois history, folklore and music.
• On Praslin, the second-largest island, head for the famous Vallée de Mai, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, which contains the double-nutted coco-de-mer palm.
• On Aldabra, the world's largest atoll, and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, see the giant land tortoises (150,000 tortoises in total, reputedly five times more than on the Galapagos Islands). The atoll consists of 13 islands which make up about one-third of the Seychelles' land mass. Some tortoises have been exported to Curieuse, now a reserve for giant tortoises.
• In La Digue, just over three hours by schooner from Mahé or 30 minutes from Praslin, see the black paradise flycatcher, a beautiful little bird endemic to the Seychelles. See old plantation houses, such as Château Saint-Cloud, as well as a vanilla plantation, copra factories and superb beaches.
• In Frégate, the most easterly and isolated of the granitic islands, look for the almost extinct magpie robin.
• Photograph more rare species at the nature reserve of Cousin. The brush warbler, the Seychelles toc-toc and the fairy tern all nest here. The best time to visit is April or May, when 1.25 million birds nest on the island. All visits to the island must be made as part of an organised tour.
• On Bird island, see the millions of sooty terns that migrate here to breed between May and October. In Aride, the most northerly of the granitic islands, see vast colonies of seabirds from October to the end of April.
• Discover the rock-pools and tortoise colony of Thérèse, accessible from Port Glaud by a five-minute boat trip.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• Tour Mahé island taking in the market, the Botanical Gardens (with coco-de-mer, giant tortoises and orchids), and a replica of London's Vauxhall Bridge Tower Clock in Victoria, before setting off around the island to visit colonial-style mansions in graceful decline and plantations of cinnamon and vanilla.
• Discover fine displays depicting the history of spice cultivation in the National Museum in Victoria, which celebrates Seychellois history, folklore and music.
• On Praslin, the second-largest island, head for the famous Vallée de Mai, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, which contains the double-nutted coco-de-mer palm.
• On Aldabra, the world's largest atoll, and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, see the giant land tortoises (150,000 tortoises in total, reputedly five times more than on the Galapagos Islands). The atoll consists of 13 islands which make up about one-third of the Seychelles' land mass. Some tortoises have been exported to Curieuse, now a reserve for giant tortoises.
• In La Digue, just over three hours by schooner from Mahé or 30 minutes from Praslin, see the black paradise flycatcher, a beautiful little bird endemic to the Seychelles. See old plantation houses, such as Château Saint-Cloud, as well as a vanilla plantation, copra factories and superb beaches.
• In Frégate, the most easterly and isolated of the granitic islands, look for the almost extinct magpie robin.
• Photograph more rare species at the nature reserve of Cousin. The brush warbler, the Seychelles toc-toc and the fairy tern all nest here. The best time to visit is April or May, when 1.25 million birds nest on the island. All visits to the island must be made as part of an organised tour.
• On Bird island, see the millions of sooty terns that migrate here to breed between May and October. In Aride, the most northerly of the granitic islands, see vast colonies of seabirds from October to the end of April.
• Discover the rock-pools and tortoise colony of Thérèse, accessible from Port Glaud by a five-minute boat trip.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
