 The stunningly beautiful Seychelles archipelago is regarded by many as being one of the most romantic destinations in the world. The crystal clear turquoise sea surrounding the islands, pristine coral reefs and the white powdery beaches offer visitors the chance to see Mother Nature at her best. For nature lovers, the lush green jungle forests found inland offer a paradise for wildlife and indigenous flora.
The islands stretch across nearly one million square kilometres of the Indian Ocean east of Kenya and have endured long periods of colonisation. Despite this, the native people have held onto their traditional customs and beliefs, and in doing so the islands have retained a special charm and uniqueness. Only a few of the 115 islands are inhabited, with most of the local population (known as Seychellois) being gathered on the main island, Mahe, and centred around the capital city of Victoria.
 Today’s Seychellois are descendants of a fascinating mix of freed African slaves, Arab, Indian and Chinese traders, and British and French settlers. The locals speak a curious mix of Creole patois. It is an extremely friendly nation, which has even been known to welcome pirates onto its shores. Today however, the pirates have gone and most visitors are honeymooners and families seeking some solace in the sun.
Regardless of whether you come to dive among the 800 species of fish, view the flocks of colourful birds flying among rare jungle trees, hike in the jungles for the chance to see native wildlife or to simply sit back and soak up the sun on white sandy beaches, the Seychelles archipelago will not disappoint.
 The Seychelles have only really developed as a popular tourist destination over the last 10 years and because of this, all of the islands still retain their natural beauty. While there are hotels on the three main resort islands, careful planning has ensured that the constructions complement the environment. From the very first building, the government decreed that no new building could be higher than the surrounding palm trees.
You will find a wealth of hotels, especially on Mahe, offering excellent service and facilities for all. It is recommended that you make reservations well in advance, especially during the high seasons in December and January and in July and August. All of the hotels meet international standards and all offer air conditioning, private bathrooms, swimming pools and full sporting facilities.
Weather
 The Seychelles experience a hot climate year-round and see an average temperature of 29°C. The average temperature at sea seldom drops below 27°C and humidity is high both inland and out at sea.
There are no distinct seasons and the temperature remains fairly consistent throughout the year, but January and February do experience the wettest weather. Tropical showers are the worst weather that the Seychelles experience, as the islands lie outside of the hurricane belt and because of this, storms are rare. While being a slight inconvenience to travellers, the rain cools the air considerably.
For the rest of the year, extreme heat is tempered by cooling sea breezes. The islands are perfect for a winter getaway as well as a summer retreat and see many tourists arrive to take advantage of the guaranteed sunshine.
While cooler than the daytimes, evenings in the Seychelles are considerably mild. Humidity levels fall and calm breezes come in from the sea. Lightweight clothing is recommended for travel to the Seychelles although it is also adviseable to bring rainwear if you visit during January or February. The sun is very strong throughout the islands, so always ensure that you have plenty of sunscreen on and try to avoid sightseeing around midday.
History
 The islands which are today known as the Seychelles appeared on Portuguese charts as early as 1505, and it is believed that Arab explorers may have visited them much earlier. Despite the early discovery of the islands, they remained uninhabited for more than 150 years.
In 1742, the French Governor of Mauritius, Bertrand François Mahe de La Bourdonnais, organised an expedition to the islands. The party were impressed by what they saw and a second expedition was organised in 1756. France took control of the islands and gave them their present name in honour of the finance minister for France at that time. However, the new French colony did not prosper as quickly as the French had hoped.
The Seychelles were captured and liberated several times during the French Revolution and then again during the Napoleonic Wars. The islands were officially handed over to the British under the Treaty of Paris in 1814. In 1888, a separate administrative council was established for the Seychelles. Just nine years later, the administrator in charge of the islands’ affairs was given full powers as a British colonial governor and in August 1903, the Seychelles became a separate British crown colony.
 In March 1970, political representatives of the Seychelles met in London for a meeting with the Seychelles Democratic Party, who were advocating closer integration with the UK, and the Seychelles People's United Party, who were advocating independence. Elections were held in November 1970 and saw a new constitution being brought into effect. The next elections to take place were held in April 1974 and saw both major political parties campaign for independence. Negotiations with Britain followed and resulted in an agreement under which the Seychelles became an independent republic. The newly knighted Sir James Mancham became the country's first president in 1976.
On June 5 1977, a coup d'état saw Mancham overthrown, while overseas the Seychelles became a one-party state with the SPUP reforming to become the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF). Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993.
Since then, the islands have thrived as a tourist destination for holidaymakers from across the world. The have been likened to paradise and are often visited by honeymooners.
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