getting there and visa stuff
yaar flew from mumbai to mahe on air seychelles via air india codeshare, round trip cost me like 32k inr last min bc i was procrastinating. directish flight abt 5 hrs, not bad but teh legroom was shit for tall desi like me. from delhi its more like 35-40k. visa? indians get it free on arrival at mahe airport, just show return ticket, hotel booking, 6 months valid passport n enough cash proof. stays 90 days max, no hassle tbh. but lines were long af at immigration, felt like eternity after jetlag.
where i stayed
crashed at le relax hotel in beau vallon first 3 nites, 8k inr total for basic room with ac n sea view sorta. beach right there, convenient yaar. but water pressure sucked, shower was a joke n they charged extra for wifi? wtf. then shifted to praslin for anvil hotel near anse volbert, 12k for 4 nites, better food but mosquitoes ate me alive n no hot water half teh time. overpriced for what it is, bro shoulda airbnb-ed for half price. location decent tho.
food and what to eat
local creole stuff like massal fish curry n grilled parrotfish, tried at street stalls near victoria market mahe, 300-500 inr per thali inclding rice n chutney. cheap n spicy-ish but portions tiny for indian stomach. street octopus curry was bomb till it gave me food poisoning day 2, shitting non stop yaar, blame teh unhygienic stalls. finer dines like rouche ecrivan on praslin was 2k inr for crab ladob but meh, too touristy. avoid booze, beers 400 inr each n cocktail wrecked my wallet. carry maggi n curd from home, dun rely on local dairy.
spots worth your time
1. anse intendance mahe – wild beach with big waves for body surfing, free entry n empty ish. best for chilling solo, but currents strong, almost drowned bc im idiot.
2. morne seychellois national park hike – summit view decent, sweaty 3hr trek, 100 inr entry. saw some birds n monkeys but rainy af, slippery paths yaar.
3. anse lazio praslin – white sand proper, snorkel gear rent 500 inr/hr. turtles n fish galore, worth it ngl.
4. valle de mai praslin – coco de mer palms, UNESCO whatev, 500 inr entry. overhyped lil path walk, mosquitos n tourists everywhere, skip if u hate crowds.
dun bother with la digue – ferry 2k inr roundtrip n bike rental extra, too crowded n bike rides overrated for teh money. victoria market ok for souvenirs but bargaining nil.
budget breakdown (inr)
total for 7 days solo: 1.46 lakh. flights 32k, stay 20k, food 15k (incld poison recovery meds), ferries/taxis 12k, entries/activities 8k, beers n misc 10k, sim card n laundry 3k, rest wasted on overpriced taxis coz no bus timetable. daily avg 21k, burned extra 15k on impulse crab feasts. coulda halved if group travelled.
mistakes i made
1. booked flights last min, paid 10k extra yaar.
2. trusted street food day 1, puked for 2 days – next time boil everything.
3. no insect repellent, praslins bugs feasted on my legs, scarred now.
4. rented snorkel gear without checking, leaky mask ruined best spot.
5. forgot cash converter app, atms charged 500 inr fees everytime.
tips for indian travelers
passport holders get free visa on arrival no worry, but print eticket n booking proofs. carry usd cash for exchange better rates than airport ripoff (1 usd ~13 scr). irctc app dun work there, download airtel africa sim 500 inr works ok. indian food scarce, stock parle-g n masala from home. taxis overcharge desis, use bus (50 inr/ride) or haggle hard. monsoon june-oct rainy, go feb-may dry. ayushman card useless, buy travel insurance 2k inr must for hospital bills. group up for ferries save 50%. yaar pack reef-safe sunscreen, locals fine u if not.
plan your trip
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