When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Mahé Island?
Mahé Island flights will be less expensive if you book outside of school holidays and the ‘wedding season’ as this is a popular time for families and honeymooners to travel to the Seychelles. Temperatures are consistently hot all year and rarely drop below 25 degrees Celsius. Cheap flights to Mahé Island and deals on last-minute flights are more likely to be found in the months of May, October and November.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Mahé Island?
The Seychelles is a popular destination for newly married couples. Therefore, it’s best to book return flights to Mahé Island at least four months in advance if you wish to head there on your honeymoon. For the best deals on cheap flights to Mahé Island, try to be flexible with your travel dates of travel and consider taking an indirect route instead of a direct flight.
Flying to Seychelles International Airport (SEZ)
Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) is also known by its French name: Aéroport de la Pointe Larue. It is located just 10 kilometres away from the capital of Victoria and is the international gateway to the other islands in the archipelago.
Starting in March 2018, British Airways will be offering direct flights to Mahé Island from London Heathrow. Mahé Island flights will leave on Wednesdays and Saturdays from March to October each year. There are no other direct flights to Mahé Island from the United Kingdom (UK). Airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Air Seychelles and Condor offer UK passengers indirect return flights to Mahé Island with stopovers in European and Middle Eastern cities.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
The airport has two terminals: one for international travel and the other for domestic flights. Travelling between the two is easy; it’s a short walk. The domestic terminal has daily flights to other islands within the Seychelles, such as Praslin. There are three ATMs outside the concourse and several bureaus de change in the baggage area and arrivals hall. Free Wi-Fi is also available. SEZ also has private nursing rooms and a children’s play area. A shower room is also available in the terminal. Food and drink options are plentiful as is duty-free shopping.
Getting to the City from Seychelles International Airport (SEZ)
Although journeys from the airport to various locations on Mahé Island can take up to an hour, Victoria, the capital, is only 15 minutes away. Taxis are available outside the arrivals hall and will take you to any destination on the island. Prices vary, and the vehicles are not metered, so agree to a price with the driver before setting off. Hotel shuttles are another great option. Additionally, you can also find a number of car hire agencies at the airport. Finally, buses do leave from the airport and connect to various parts of the island, but you will not be allowed on with large luggage.
Why Visit Mahé Island?
The Seychelles is probably the closest to paradise you will ever feel on earth. Crystal-clear waters, stunning beaches, seclusion… it’s perfect for a romantic getaway or a relaxing escape from the British weather. Mahé Island is the largest and most developed of the Seychelles archipelago with more than 85 percent of the country’s population living there. Even though most people live in Victoria, it is one of the smallest capital cities in the world.
Visitors can get lost exploring the island’s 70 different beaches, which vary in terms of isolation, by sea and by land. If you’re lucky, you might be able to watch one of nature’s most wondrous spectacles: a hawksbill turtle laying her eggs in the sand. Scuba divers and snorkelers will find spots aplenty around the island where they can observe underwater flora and fauna in all their beauty. Victoria is definitely worth a visit too; here, you’ll find bustling markets, the Botanic Gardens and a remnant of colonial past with a replica of London’s Vauxhall Bridge Tower Clock.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
The currency in the Seychelles is the Seychelles rupee (SCR). ATMs are easy to find in Victoria, but it will likely be more difficult to locate one in the island’s more remote locations. Most shops and restaurants accept payment by credit or debit card. Don’t forget to check with your hotel to see it they will accept card payments. There are banks and bureaus de change as well. Visas are not required for British passport holders and your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of your stay in the Seychelles.
