Seychelles is reached by air, landing at Seychelles International Airport on Mahe. Gulf carriers from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, along with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Ethiopian via Addis Ababa, Air Seychelles and seasonal European flights, connect the islands to the world. From Europe it is usually one stop and around ten to twelve hours of flying. From Mahe you continue to Praslin and La Digue by ferry or short domestic flight.
Seychelles sits alone in the western Indian Ocean, with no land borders and no road or rail in, so every visitor arrives the same way, by air into Mahe. The good news is that the islands are far better connected than their remoteness suggests, and getting there is more straightforward than most first-timers expect.
The gateway: Seychelles International Airport
All international flights land at Seychelles International Airport on Mahe, a few minutes’ drive from the capital and within easy reach of the main hotels. It is a compact, easy airport to arrive into, and from here the rest of the country opens up by sea and by short hops in the air.
Who flies to Seychelles
The busiest routes run through the Gulf, with Emirates from Dubai, Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Qatar Airways from Doha all offering smooth one-stop connections from across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Turkish Airlines links the islands through Istanbul, Ethiopian Airlines through Addis Ababa, and the national carrier Air Seychelles flies a network of its own. Seasonal and direct services from Europe come and go through the year, so it is always worth checking direct options from your nearest hub alongside the reliable Gulf connections.
How long it takes
From most of Europe you are looking at one stop and somewhere around ten to twelve hours in the air, plus the connection. From the Gulf itself it is roughly a four to five hour final leg. Many of the long-haul flights are timed to land in the morning, which is perfect, since it leaves you a full first day to settle in.
Onward to Praslin and La Digue
Mahe is the start, not the finish, for most trips. From the airport you connect to the other islands in two ways. The fast Cat Cocos catamaran crosses to Praslin in about an hour and on to La Digue, and Air Seychelles flies the same hop in around fifteen scenic minutes. If you are island hopping, line up these connections when you book your international flight so the timings dovetail.
Arriving and getting going
Before you travel you complete the online Travel Authorisation, the one piece of paperwork every visitor needs, and there is no visa to buy. Once through the easy border formalities, the smoothest start is a hire car waiting at the airport, which puts you on the road to your first beach within the hour rather than waiting on a transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct flight to Seychelles?
Direct flights operate from some cities, often seasonally, but the most reliable routes are one-stop connections through the Gulf hubs of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, or through Istanbul and Addis Ababa.
Which airlines fly to Seychelles?
Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and the national carrier Air Seychelles are among the main carriers, alongside seasonal European services.
How long does it take to fly to Seychelles?
From most of Europe it is around ten to twelve hours of flying with one stop. The final leg from the Gulf is roughly four to five hours.
How do you get from Mahe to Praslin and La Digue?
By the fast Cat Cocos catamaran, about an hour to Praslin and on to La Digue, or by a short Air Seychelles domestic flight of around fifteen minutes.
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