Seychelles with children: entry rules, safety, islands and things to do

The Seychelles are suitable not only for romantic trips. On the large islands of Mahé and Praslin there are family resorts with kids' clubs, swimming pools and suitable rooms, while a peaceful beach holiday can be combined with walks in nature parks, encounters with giant tortoises, snorkeling and sea excursions.

A trip to the Seychelles with a child should be planned with the features of the archipelago in mind. International flights arrive on Mahé, while a holiday on Praslin or La Digue will require an additional transfer.

Let's look at which Seychelles island is best for a holiday with children, what to pay attention to when choosing a hotel and beach, and what the whole family can do.

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Entry requirements for children in the Seychelles

A tourist visa is not required in advance for a trip to the Seychelles, but before departure all travellers must obtain an electronic Travel Authorisation. This requirement also applies to children.

The application is completed through the official Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS) or the Seychelles e-Border app. Traveller and trip details will be required, along with supporting documents - in particular, accommodation bookings and flight tickets. If the family is staying in several hotels, it is better to prepare information about all places of stay in advance.

When entering the country, you must have:

• a valid passport for every traveller, including the child;
• an approved Travel Authorisation;
• a return ticket or a ticket for onward travel;
• confirmation of booked accommodation;
• sufficient funds for the duration of the trip.

The Seychelles immigration service gives a guideline for financial means - at least 150 dollars per person per day. The passport must remain valid for the entire trip and until return to the country of residence.

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Safety and healthcare: what to know about the Seychelles with children

Healthcare is a separate point to consider when travelling with children. Mandatory vaccinations are generally not required for entry to the Seychelles, except for yellow fever requirements for travellers arriving from certain countries. Before the trip, it is worth checking that routine vaccinations are up to date and arranging medical insurance for each family member.

Before the trip, it is also worth checking the current epidemiological situation - mosquito-borne infections are periodically recorded in the Seychelles. Protection from insects is therefore important: repellents, light covering clothing and mosquito nets where needed.

The main precautions on a holiday with children are related to the sun and the ocean. Even on beaches that look calm, pay attention to sea conditions and current warnings, and choose sheltered bays for swimming with small children. The sun in the Seychelles is strong even in cloudy weather, so high-SPF sunscreen, a hat and light covering clothing will be useful.

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When to visit the Seychelles with children

The weather in the Seychelles is suitable for holidays all year round. Air temperatures usually stay between 24 and 32 °C. For a trip with small children, the transition periods - April-May and October-November - are the most comfortable, when winds are lighter and the sea is more often calm.

• From May to September it becomes drier and slightly cooler, but the south-easterly trade winds become stronger. At this time the sea can be rough, especially along exposed southern and south-eastern coasts, so the location of the hotel and beach matters more.
• From December to March the weather is hotter and more humid, with a higher chance of rain. Tropical downpours do not necessarily last all day, so this period is also suitable for a family trip.

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How to choose a hotel in the Seychelles for a holiday with children

When choosing a hotel, pay attention not only to whether there is a kids' club. The location and the beach itself are no less important: how convenient the entry into the water is, whether there are strong waves and how the coast changes in different seasons. If you are travelling with a small child, the distance from the airport or ferry terminal also matters.

For families, the following are especially useful:

• family rooms or villas with several bedrooms;
• a children's pool or a section in the main pool;
• a kids' club with suitable age restrictions;
• a children's menu and facilities for small children in restaurants;
• provision of cots and equipment;
• babysitting services as an additional option;
• the possibility to organise family excursions and activities.

In the Seychelles there are both large five-star resorts, where a significant part of the holiday is spent on the hotel grounds, and small hotels near villages and popular beaches. The second option may be more convenient for a family planning to travel around the island a lot, choose restaurants independently and spend most of the day outside the hotel.

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Which Seychelles island to choose for a holiday with children

Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are suitable for family holidays in different ways. Mahé is more convenient for a first trip and holidays with small children, Praslin is chosen for a calmer atmosphere and nature, while La Digue attracts visitors with its relaxed island holiday and private guesthouses.

Mahé with children

Mahé is the simplest option in terms of logistics. The international airport is located here, so after a long flight you will not need to reach the hotel by ferry or domestic flight. The island also has the widest choice of hotels, shops, restaurants, excursion companies and other tourist services.

For a holiday with children, we recommend considering Beau Vallon on the north-west coast. It is one of the island's most developed resort areas: hotels and restaurants line the beach, shops are nearby, and water activities are available on the beach. The sea here is often calm, but its condition, as on other beaches in the Seychelles, depends on the season and weather.

Other family-friendly beaches include Anse Royale and Anse à la Mouche. The latter has very shallow water and a calm bay, making it comfortable for holidays with small children.

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Praslin with children

Praslin is considerably smaller than Mahé and is suitable for a more peaceful holiday. The infrastructure is more modest here, but distances are short and a beach holiday can easily be combined with trips to nature reserves.

You can reach Praslin by domestic flight or ferry from Mahé. When travelling with a small child, the short flight is often more convenient than the ferry.

One of the most convenient areas for families is Côte d'Or and Anse Volbert Beach. There is a long sandy shore with a fairly gentle entry into the water, while hotels, restaurants, shops and water sports centres are concentrated along the coast. You can rent a car or use taxis to travel around the island.

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La Digue with children

On La Digue it is very peaceful, as bicycles are the island's main form of transport. Hotels here are small, and there is much less choice of resort-style accommodation with family facilities than on the two larger islands. La Digue can be reached by ferry from Praslin or Mahé. When travelling between several islands, it is convenient to include it in the route after Praslin because the sea crossing between the neighbouring islands is much shorter than from Mahé.

With small children, you also need to consider the specifics of getting around La Digue. A bicycle with a child seat is not always convenient, and distances to some beaches have to be covered on foot or by bicycle. It is worth remembering that not all of La Digue's famous beaches are suitable for children to swim - exposed stretches of coast can have strong waves and currents.

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Things to do in the Seychelles with children

The Seychelles have few conventional family attractions, but almost every island offers nature-based activities - boat trips, snorkeling, encounters with giant tortoises and walks through tropical forests.

See giant tortoises

One of the best places to meet giant tortoises is Curieuse Island near Praslin, where they move freely around the island. On Mahé, tortoises can be seen in the Botanical Garden, and on La Digue - at L'Union Estate. The latter can easily be combined with a trip to Anse Source d'Argent.

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Take a boat trip

From Mahé, excursions to Sainte Anne Marine National Parkare popular, including trips in glass-bottom boats. From Praslin, it is convenient to travel to Curieuse and the small island of St Pierre. When travelling with small children, it is worth choosing short routes and checking in advance whether the boat has a sun canopy.

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Visit Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin is a place where you can see the famous coco de mer palms in their natural habitat. Several routes of different lengths run through the tropical forest, so when walking with children it is not necessary to choose the longest one. Keep an eye out for birds along the way - the rare Seychelles black parrot lives here.

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Visit the Botanical Garden on Mahé

The Botanical Garden in Victoria is suitable for a peaceful walk lasting a few hours. Local and exotic plants grow here, including coco de mer palms, while one of the most interesting parts of the garden for children is the enclosure with giant tortoises. It is convenient that you do not need to leave Mahé for this trip.

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Try snorkeling

While snorkeling in the Seychelles you can see fish very close to the shore, so this marine activity is also suitable for a child's first introduction to the underwater world. It is better to choose sheltered bays with calm water and check the conditions immediately before swimming: water clarity, waves and currents change depending on the season and weather.

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Walk through the tropical forest

With older children, you can go to Copolia Trail on Mahé. The route runs through tropical forest and leads to an open granite platform with views of the coast and neighbouring islands. It is better to choose the morning hours for the walk and take the heat and humidity into account.

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Spend a day at Anse Source d'Argent

The famous Anse Source d'Argent on La Digue is interesting not only for its unusual granite rocks. The reef protects part of the coast from the open ocean, so there are shallow areas convenient for holidays with children. The beach is located within L'Union Estate, where giant tortoises can also be seen.

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Seychelles with children: tips before the trip

• Do not make the route too complicated with small children. The simplest option is to stay on Mahé, and if you want to see several islands - combine Mahé and Praslin. La Digue is worth adding to the route if the child handles transfers well.
• Check the features of the beach near the hotel. Sheltered bays with shallow water and a gentle entry are more convenient for children. Conditions on the same coast can change depending on the season.
• Do not plan a ferry immediately after an international flight without extra time. A flight delay can disrupt the onward route, and the sea crossing can also be tiring for children.
• It is convenient to rent a car on Mahé and Praslin. If a child seat is required, it is better to arrange its availability with the rental company in advance.
• Do not plan too intensive a programme. Distances in the Seychelles may seem short, but journeys on mountain roads, ferries and sea excursions take time. With children, it is more comfortable to alternate beach days with walks and excursions.
• If you do not want to plan meals and activities yourself, choose a family hotel in the Seychelles

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