Seychelles>Cheap Flights to Seychelles

CHEAP FLIGHTS TO SEYCHELLES

Cheap Seychelles flights are available from most UK airports including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Bristol, Cardiff, Humberside, Teesside, Exeter, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast airports either directly or by a connecting flight in either Europe or the USA.

As you would expect, with so many islands comprising Seychelles, island hopping is totally seamless with many scheduled and private internal flights, helicopter flights and marine ferry services available to make almost every itinerary possible. The two main islands Mahé and Praslin have an "interesting" yet excellent local bus net work with regular services to all corners of the islands. La Digu has its own unique forms of transport - the Ox Cart and the bicycle!

Airport
Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) is located 6 miles (10km) south of Victoria on Mahe. Facilities include an international and domestic terminal, duty free shopping, banking and currency exchange (open to meet all flights), vehicle rental, restaurant and lounge. Transportation services to all points on Mahe are available by coach and taxi

Airlines
The national airline is Air Seychelles. They operate 2 Boeing 767/300ERs on international routes and 4 DHC-6 DeHavilland Twin Otters, one Shorts 330 and one Islander on domestic routes. Service to some destinations is via code share on other airlines such as Air Austral, Kenya Airways, and Air Mauritius.

Rates can be somewhat expensive but New

Adventures has rates as low as $795 for coach and $2695 for Pearl Class (business class) roundtrip from Europe.

Other airlines serving Seychelles with their own equipment include Emirates, Air Mauritius, Kenya Airways, Aeroflot, Condor, and Air Austral. (photo of S7-AAS courtesy of Sebastien Boutry)

Gateways
Along with schedules, air gateways to Seychelles vary year to year. In 2000 direct flights were available from the following cities with scheduled nonstop flight times indicated as hours:minutes.

London (10:00)
Rome (8:10)
Zurich (8:55)
Paris (9:35)
Frankfurt (9:25)
Johannesburg (4:55)

Dubai (5:00)
Singapore (6:45)
Mauritius (2:30)
Reunion (2:45)
Comoros (2:00)

Schedules vary considerably over the course of a year, so we recommend contacting us to work out a schedule for your holiday.

Passports
Everyone traveling to Seychelles must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of travel.

Visas
Visas are not required. A Visitor's Permit, good for 4 weeks, is issued upon arrival at the airport. Travelers must have a return (or onward) air ticket, prebooked accommodations and sufficient money for their stay. If not, visitors may be required to post a security bond. The Permit may be renewed for 3 months at no cost and for 3 additional 3 month periods at a fee of 200 Seychelles rupees (US$40).

Gold Card
Not required.

In 1998 there was an initiative to require the purchase of a Gold Card by all visitors to Seychelles. This requirement was never made into law and is not in effect. Incorrect information on many websites states that the Gold Card is required.

Customs
Arriving passengers may import 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1 liter of spirits or wine; 125 ml perfume or 250 ml toilet water; and other normally dutiable goods worth up to 1000 Seychelles rupees (US$200).

Firearms (including air powered devices), spear fishing equipment and non-prescription drugs are prohibited. The entry animals or food is subject to licensing. Pets may only be imported with written permission of the Chief Veterinary Officer of the country.

Currency Exchange
Banks are available for all arriving flights in the airport for currency exchange.

Departure Tax
Everyone over 12 years old must pay a US$40 departure tax when leaving the country. The tax may be purchased at any bank and can be purchased before arrival at the airport or at a bank in the airport.

Embassies
Telephone numbers for embassies (E), consulates (C) and honorary consuls (HC) of other countries in Seychelles:

USA*
UK (E)
China (E)
Cuba (E)
Cyprus (C)
Denmark (C)
Finland (C)
France (C)
Germany (HC)
India (E)
Madagascar (HC)
Mauritius (C)
Monaco (C)
Netherlands (C)
Norway (C)
Russia (E)
Sweden (C)
Switzerland (C)

(230) 208-2347*
(248) 225225
(248) 266808
(248) 224094
(248) 376215
(248) 224710
(248) 224710
(248) 224523
(248) 261222
(248) 224489
(248) 344030
(248) 376441
(248) 233316
(248) 261200
(248) 380300
(248) 266590
(248) 224710
(248) 371050

*US Embassy in Mauritius