Travelling to Seychelles during pandemic- all you need to know

Travelling to Seychelles during a pandemic- all you need to know

The world of travel turned upside down over a year ago when the virus complicated the lives of people all over the world. Even for avid travellers hopping on the plane stopped being as existing and important. However, when the situation has prolonged from weeks to a year, the rush of travel and discovering new places started being highly desired again. I dreamed of being on a plane again on my way somewhere new (especially than living in a small and hot country like Qatar doesn’t give much opportunity to be outdoors and breathe fresh air for many months in a year).

Seychelles made travelling easy when it first opened its borders to travellers that were vaccinated but when they decided to fully open to anyone, I could not stop thinking about it. Basically, it was the only country that I could conveniently travel to. I never booked a flight two days before a long trip like that.

After spending two weeks in Seychelles I can say one thing: it is not overestimated.

What to expect

We cannot ignore the fact that travelling has changed and during this pandemic, many adjustments have to be made. Even though Seychelles opened to travellers from all over the world (except for South Africa), there are rules to be followed and some things to consider.

Eating out. Most restaurants required a booking. At the moment they are allowed to be open till 11 pm. You will be required to leave your details at the entrance, including your hotel, and your temperature will be checked.
Masks are required to be worn everywhere. On the beach though, you can remove the mask.
Before arriving in Seychelles you need to provide a travel certificate with a negative PCR no more than 72 hours before arriving to Seychelles.
You will need to submit an online form and receive a permit before travelling, which includes the negative PCR and all hotel bookings. The permit is given within 6 hours. I had received my PCR results around 6 hours before the flight and had to apply for an urgent permit, which
was considerably more expensive. I got it within 1 hour.
You can only stay in certified accommodations, so Airbnb is not an option.
No visa is required to enter Seychelles.

Flying to Seychelles

If you have flown anywhere in the last months, you probably know the drill. You need to wear a mask the whole flight (which for me was only 6 hours and it didn’t bother me at all). The travel permit and hotel bookings were checked multiple times: before the flight and after landing at the border check. We flew with Qatar Airways as it was the most convenient and they give you a little pack of ‘pandemic supply (that’s how the things look like right now).

Moving around

Travellers are not allowed to use public transportation at the moment, but you can use taxis, a ferry, take a flight and hire a car. I highly recommend Angel Tours in Praslin (contact Christian). It was probably the smoothest and easiest car hire service we have ever received during our travels and their prices are lower.

Choosing where to stay

Seychelles are easy to travel to when it comes to choosing accommodation. You have a lot of choices from cosy B&Bs to luxurious hotels. The best thing is that no matter where you stay, it’s always close to a beautiful beach.

During the pandemic, the rule is that you can only stay at a government-approved accommodation, so Airbnb is not really an option.

Here are a few of our favourite hotels we stayed in during the trip:

Dhevatara Beach Hotel (Praslin)- we stayed in this hotel 4 nights and it was an amazing experience.

Chateau de Feuilles– this hotel was our last in Seychelles. It’s located on the south end of Praslin on top of a hill with an incredible sea view. It doesn’t have direct access to the beach, but it was our favourite hotel. It’s a complex of small villas with a few pools, a hidden jacuzzi on the very top, and lots of space to explore and relax in peace. The staff working there is the loveliest and the most attentive but at the same time respect your privacy. I don’t remember when last time I felt so spoiled in a hotel. They grow most of their own food, they even have hens roaming around for fresh eggs for your breakfast.

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Josh Torres says:
September 23, 2021 at 4:02 pm

I had been to Seychelles last year, it will always be a memorable experience. I was at Domaine de la Reserve hotel. The staffs were very charming and kind. I would recommend this hotel to people wishing to visit the Seychelles for their vacation.