Mahe Island - the main and largest island of the archipelago, often visited by tourists. There is an international airport, so the transfer will not be long.
In the capital of the island - Victoria - tourist information office works. Address: IndependanceAve, tel .: 610 800, opening hours: Mon-Fri 8: 00-17: 00, Sat 9: 00-12: 00.
Funny thing: the island's capital Victoria all the locals call simply "the city". This is understandable, because it is one of the few settlements on the island, besides the largest.
Transport Mahe
Regular buses between Victoria and the most popular beach on the island - Beau Vallon. The last bus leaves at 19:30, and later can only be reached by taxi (about 70 Rs, it is necessary to clarify and negotiate the fare before boarding). To the east, the west or the south coast can be reached by bus from Victoria. Fare 3 Rs, pay the driver.
beaches Mahe
On the island of 68 beaches. Almost each of them can rent snorkelling, diving, surfing, windsurfing or water skiing. Straight from the beaches start boat trips on yachts and motor boats.
Beach Beau Vallon (BeauVallon) - the biggest, most famous and most visited, is just 3 km from the capital - Victoria. It focuses on all the local "together", nightlife and the development of basic tourism infrastructure. The waves here are not great: local reef acts as a breakwater. In the ocean, there is a platform from which to dive, and local hotels allow you to use their beach bar and not just guests. In the village of Beau Vallon, where the road from Victoria to the west fork ends - in Bel Ombre (BelOmbre), and in the north-east Glasiz (Glacis), has a gas station, ATM BarclaysBank, internet cafe and a police station. Many shops nestled on the road along the beach and the road to Bel Ombre.
7 things to do in Mahe
1. Start with water skiing, snorkeling continue, complete diving - and for every new classes to choose different beaches.
2. Buy a souvenir of tortoise-shell (and take care of their authorization to export).
3. Take a horse ride along the beach of Grand Anse.
4. Look at Orchid Garden in the capital of the island - Victoria.
5. Observe the picking tea leaves at a tea factory.
6. Take a boat trip to nearby islands and ostrovochkam.
7. Do not easily climb the mountain Morne Blanc and reward yourself funky views.
South of the airport you can find some pretty wild coves and secluded beaches, for example, Feyrilend Beach, which is famous for its gorgeous snorkeling. Here are the beaches of Anse Forbans, Anse Bougainville and Anse Royale, which is protected by a coral reef, so there you can swim in calm water and safe to swim and snorkel.
The west coast of Mahe - a wild, picturesque and rich on the beaches. The road leading from the bay of Anse Takamaka to Port Launay (PortLaunay), famous for great views of the coast, where everyone can look after myself coves and beaches to taste. Hence it is also easy to get to the east coast of the island on the scenic road that runs through the center of the island. In the local bay Polis Bay, for example, you should not swim - it is dangerous. Instead, it offers stunning views of the surfers should bring a picnic basket.
Further to the west are excellent beaches of Anse Takamaka, Anse Goleta and Anse à la Mouche. It is more difficult to reach isolated beaches of Anse Soleil and Petit Anse - need a jeep, but had taken refuge in the palm-fringed beaches and the sea teeming with marine life, it is quite deserve. Grand Anse beach is suitable for surfing good waves, but from May to September, there have to be careful - the water due to the monsoon very hectic. In addition, at this beach runs a riding school UtetangarRidingCentre (tel .: 712-355, an hour away - 40 euros).
The most beautiful beach of the island is considered Anse Intendans in the south-west - this pyatisotmetrovaya sandy arc, bordered by coconut palms.
Beaches in the south of the island better and calmer than in the north. The most wonderful place for swimming and snorkelling is opposite tiny island Souris, on the east coast. Divers also surely enjoy the following material: Diving in Mahe.
Entertainment, tours and attractions Mahe
Victoria - the smallest capital in the world, with a colorful market and the two main streets, at the crossing of which stands a miniature replica of London's Big Ben. Major attractions include the famous Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Natural History Museum, Craft Village where artisans exhibit their work, a tiny Historical Museum, Botanical Garden, Mont Fleury and the Orchid Garden. You can also visit the workshop of Michael Adams - Seychellois famous artist whose canvases are appreciated by connoisseurs literally worth its weight in gold. You can still walk through the Central Market Sir Percy Selwyn Clarke, to feel the way of life of Aboriginal people, as well as buy cheap souvenirs.
Halfway from Victoria to Port Glaude, 2 km from the beach of Anse Royale is the Royal Garden "Le Jardin du Roi» (LeJardinduRoi, tel .: 371-313, entrance 25 Rs, opening hours: 10: 00- 17:00).
Beautiful garden of spices and the park can be visited during a walking tour of scenic hiking trails and glades. House planter, which is located in the park, one-room museum is interesting and a nice restaurant with great views of the coast.
Another interesting attraction - the village craftsmen (CraftVillage, free entry, mode of operation: 9: 30-17: 30, tel .: 376-100).
There are several shops with crafts and souvenirs, modelka boats, pots and products made from coconut. Here you can have a meal in a restaurant VyeMarmit (tel .: 376-155, working hours: Mon-Sat 11: 00-21: 00, main dishes from 75-150 Rs). And having driven a couple of minutes from the village artisans, you can get into the Creole Institute LenstitiKreol, which is located in a beautiful colonial building.
Tea lovers should go on a trip to a tea plantation (tel .: 378-221, entrance with a guide / no - 20/10 Rs, mode of operation: Mon-Fri 10: 00-16: 00). She is on the road Sanssouci, 3 km from Port Glod. Best time to visit - before noon, when you can see the whole process - from collection to packing tea. It produces about 45 tons of tea a year for export.
In the heart of the National Park "SeyshelskiyMorn", which covers 20% of the entire island is Mount Morne Blanc (MorneBlance, 905 m). From the top is a beautiful view off the coast of the island and is located on a hillside only on the entire archipelago tea factory (which - just above the text). On the way to the top can meet many ancient plants.
By the way, in Victoria, there are two traffic lights, the only one on the entire archipelago.
National Marine Park of St. Anne
Fantastic marine park is located between the islands of Mahe, deer (Cerf), Sainte-Anne (SainteAnne), Long (Long), Medium (Moyenne) and Round (Round). As a rule, excursions to the national park is the daily walk on the glass bottom boat. The cost of this trip for the whole day with lunch and stops for swimming and snorkeling start at 85 euros. In addition, the park is about 10 dive sites, dive there, you can use SteAnneIslandDiveCentre (tel .: 570-043, 70 euros).
The cost of visiting the park - 10 euros, children under 12 free (in the price of 10 euros, these are usually already included).
The day trip to the marine park on the glass-bottom boat will cost about 100 euros.
On Deer Island is home to approximately 60 people, including the famous South African novelist Wilbur Smith. Here you can stay in a small hotel in a colonial style L'Habitation, which is just a 10-minute boat trip from Victoria. Or in a luxurious CerfIslandMarineParkResort. In addition, strictly in the middle between these two hotels are located apartments FairyTernChalet.
Middle island can only be visited as part of tours organized exclusively Agency CreoleTravelServices (tel .: 297-000). Round Island is famous shikarnymsnorkelingom. But on the island of St. Anne, which is 4 km east of Victoria, there are two excellent beaches and luxury hotel SteAnneResort & Spa with its own dive center and spa. Long Island, Seychelles longtime prison, now is a great place for swimming and diving, and since 2008 has earned here and the hotel Shangri-La.
