How to get to Seychelles: airports, flights and border crossings

Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) on Mahé is the country's only international gateway. Every long-haul arrival lands here, and from the terminal you either take a taxi or bus into Victoria, or connect onward to Praslin by a short domestic flight or by ferry from the capital's port.

Praslin Airport (PRI) handles domestic flights from Mahé only. It is useful as a connection, not as an arrival point from overseas. If your first nights are on Praslin or La Digue, book the international leg to SEZ and add the domestic hop or ferry separately — build in a buffer of at least three hours between landing and the last ferry of the day.

The airport sits roughly 15 minutes' drive south of Victoria on the east coast. Taxis and car hire are available at the terminal; the public bus is the cheapest option but slow with luggage.

Seychelles is served mainly by carriers routing through the Gulf, East Africa or Europe. Direct flights from Europe are limited and often seasonal, so most itineraries involve one or two stops. Treat the figures below as planning bands, not fixed schedules — routes and frequencies change, so confirm with the airline when you book.

From the UK, a direct flight runs roughly 10–11 hours; with a stop in the Gulf or Nairobi it is usually longer door to door. From the US east coast, expect around 20–24 hours with one or two connections; from the west coast, add several hours. From Canada, count on a European or Gulf connection and a similar total. From Australia and New Zealand, the usual routing is via the Gulf or Southeast Asia, typically 18–24 hours or more depending on the connection.

There is no land border: Seychelles is an island state, so you cannot drive or take a train in. Arrival by sea is possible for cruise passengers and private yachts, which clear immigration and customs at Victoria or Eden Island. There is no scheduled international passenger ferry linking Seychelles to the African mainland or to other Indian Ocean countries.

Once you are in the islands, the inter-island ferry network is how most travellers move between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Book the ferry and the domestic flight separately from your international ticket, and keep an eye on sea conditions in the southeast trade-wind months, when crossings can be rough.

Most visitors need a travel authorisation or entry permit, applied for online before departure; check the current rules and fees on the official government portal, since requirements and costs are updated from time to time. Your passport should have several months' validity beyond your planned stay, and you may be asked for proof of accommodation and onward or return travel.

Arrive in daylight if you can. The last inter-island ferry of the day leaves in the late afternoon, and a delayed long-haul flight can strand you on Mahé for the night. If your trip is short, consider spending the first night on Mahé and moving on the next morning rather than racing a connection.

Pack for heat and humidity, and note that the islands use UK-style three-pin plugs at 240 V. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and ferry or flight disruption is worth arranging before you go.

From SEZ you can reach Victoria in about 15 minutes by taxi, or take the public bus for less. From Victoria's port, inter-island ferries run to Praslin and La Digue; from the domestic terminal, short flights connect to Praslin. Which you choose depends on time, budget and how rough the sea is.

For the detail on ferries, buses, car hire and domestic flights, see the getting-around page. If your first stop is the capital, the Victoria guide covers the market, the port and where to sleep.