Travelling with Children
Travelling With Children to the Seychelles
The Seychelles are not only a dream holiday destination for adults, but also for children of all ages. There are no prescribed vaccinations, and dangerous diseases and animals are absent from the country, as are weather catastrophes, because the Seychelles lie outside the hurricane zone, sparing them from bad storms. All of these factors make the Seychelles a safe, family-friendly destination.
The time difference is just two hours from Central European summer time, taking jet lag out of the equation for parents and children alike.
In the Seychelles, there is a tropical warm climate with daytime temperatures of around 30 °C (86 °F), and, thanks to the country's proximity to the equator, there aren't many temperature fluctuations. The weather is therefore suitable for family trips all year-round. However, the sun in the Seychelles is particularly strong, so special caution is required, as with most warm countries. This is especially true for children, but adults should also protect themselves from the sun with a hat and high-factor sunscreen. Many of the Seychelles' beaches have little shade, and the few that do fill up quickly. Those with children should avoid beaches in the middle of the day, and visit instead early or late in the afternoon. Not only is the sun less strong, the popular beaches are less busy at these times, allowing you to relax with your children.
The sand is clean and powdery-soft, and provides perfect conditions for playing on the beach. Many of the Seychelles' bays have an offshore reef that provides protection from the open ocean, as well as ensuring shallow water depth for children. Especially at low tide, the water level is sometimes so low that adults cannot swim, but children can certainly paddle around in the shallows. Nevertheless, they should never be left unattended. Parents should also avoid letting their children play under coconut trees, as falling coconuts are very dangerous.
Family-Friendly Accommodation
There are several types of accommodation in the Seychelles, many of which are suitable for families with children. From child-friendly resorts and hotels to authentic guesthouses and self-catering accommodation, there is something for every taste. Many of these options are not explicitly-aimed at children, so do not offer children's pools or kids clubs, but family bookings with children are still largely possible. The larger hotels and resorts are more well-equipped for families, and offer some extra options for those with children. For some accommodation, it is important to bear in mind that they only accept children over a certain age.
Anyone travelling with an infant should book their flight well in advance in order to obtain a spot on the plane with an accompanying infant bed - lots of airlines only have one or two of these places on each flight, which are fully-booked quickly.
Examples of Child-Friendly Hotels
Activities with Children in the Seychelles
Most of the activities you can take part in the Seychelles alone can also be carried out with children. These include, in particular, walks on the beach, swimming and bathing in the warm Indian Ocean, or boat trips to smaller, isolated islands. There are also a number of more manageable walks which are great for families. It should be noted, however, that some tours, especially longer ones, are not suitable for families with children. The routes can lead over rocks and through the jungle, and baby strollers or carriers cannot be taken along as there are no 'official' paths. For children, these routes can be very dangerous, so are definitely not to be recommended.
Thankfully, there are alternatives, such as a visit to the small capital, Victoria, which is located on the main island of Mahé, and is perfect for a half-day trip. At Beau Vallon beach, the most famous and bustling beach in the Seychelles, visitors can explore the underwater world of the Seychelles with a glass-bottomed boat, removing the need for snorkelling equipment, which is a great alternative for kids.
In several of the Seychelles national parks, including the Vallée de Mai, which belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage List, children can discover the flora and fauna of the Seychelles. Families staying on Praslin can also take a boat trip to see the giant tortoises on Curieuse Island; these animals are a real highlight for both adults and children alike.
Examples of Activities with Children
Family-friendly beaches
Travel Journals by Families
One of the most important ways of finding out if a far-flung destination is family-friendly is by asking someone who's already been there with their own children. Thanks to our Travel Journals, you can read the experiences of previous SeyVillas customers who visited the tropical paradise of the Seychelles with their own children! Or, in some cases, read travel journals written by the young ones themselves!
All ‘Seychelles with children’ travel stories
