Frequently Asked Questions

No — if you hold a UK photocard driving licence, you do not need an International Driving Permit for Seychelles. The FCDO confirms the photocard is accepted for up to three months. The only exception is an old-style paper licence: if yours has never been exchanged for a photocard, you must obtain an IDP before travelling.

Seychelles drives on the left, as a legacy of British colonial rule. Hire cars are right-hand drive — the same as UK vehicles. UK drivers do not need any adjustment period; the road rules feel entirely familiar.

In towns and villages the limit is 40 km/h; on open roads between settlements it rises to 65 km/h. There are no motorways on Praslin — the only 80 km/h dual carriageway in Seychelles is on Mahé. Speed limits are enforced and should be treated as mandatory.

There are exactly two — both operated by SEYPEC, the only fuel brand on the island. One is in Baie Ste Anne and one in Grand Anse. Both close at 18:00 on Sundays and public holidays. There is no fuel available north of the Vallée de Mai, so fill up before heading to northern beaches.

Extra caution is essential after dark. There is no street lighting outside the main villages, no pavements, and pedestrians walk on the road. Land crabs and stray dogs are also more active at night. The cross-island pass over the central ridge is particularly hazardous without daylight — it is strongly advisable to complete any long or cross-island drive before sunset.

The blood-alcohol limit is 0.08% (80 mg per 100 ml), matching the England and Wales limit. Police conduct random roadside breath tests, and exceeding the limit can result in a court summons, arrest, licence suspension and a heavy fine. If you are driving on Praslin, do not drink alcohol.

No. Seychelles was a British colony and continues to recognise UK photocard licences directly. Your full UK driving licence is accepted by hire firms on Praslin for up to three months, with no International Driving Permit required. Bring your photocard licence and, if your licence was issued before 1998 and you still have a paper counterpart, carry that too — though most firms work with the photocard alone.

Both are straightforward. The Air Seychelles inter-island flight from Mahé takes around 15 minutes and delivers you to Praslin Island Airport (PRI), where hire firms meet you in the terminal. The Cat Cocos fast ferry takes about an hour from Mahé and costs from around €56 one way, arriving at Baie Ste Anne jetty where firms can also collect you. The ferry is generally cheaper and offers sea views; the flight saves time if you are connecting to an international arrival. Your hire firm can meet you at either point, and an asymmetric arrangement — jetty pickup, airport return, or vice versa — is usually available at no extra charge.

For peak season — December to March, July to August, and the Easter fortnight — book 4–6 weeks before travel. Praslin's hire fleet is small and cannot grow at short notice, and automatics sell out first. Off-peak (April to June and September to November) you can often book 2–4 weeks ahead, but leaving it to the last week is a gamble in any season. If you find the island cars fully booked via an aggregator, it is worth contacting local firms directly, as inventory is not always fully listed online.

Yes, for most visitors. The Côte d'Or resort strip is walkable, but the Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio — the two sights most UK visitors come specifically to see — are not accessible on foot from the main hotels without a very long walk on roads with no pavement. A taxi return to Anse Lazio costs roughly €40–90 for the round trip. A full-day hire at around €40–60 covers that cost and gives you unlimited travel for the day. If you are visiting for three or more nights and want flexibility, hiring a car for the majority of your stay makes clear financial sense.

Many of the established local firms do operate without a credit card hold on collection — firms such as Doffay and Capricorn are known for this model. However, 'no deposit' does not mean no liability. You remain responsible for the standard insurance excess (typically €500–€2,000) in the event of damage, unless you purchase an excess-reduction waiver at around €8–30 per day. Always read the damage and liability terms carefully before signing, regardless of whether a deposit is taken. The no-deposit model is a convenience, not a blank waiver.

No. Hire cars on Praslin are island-bound and cannot be taken on the ferry to La Digue or any other island. La Digue itself is car-free — the main transport there is bicycle or ox-cart — and Curieuse is a day-trip destination with no visitor roads at all. For both islands, drive your hire car to Baie Ste Anne jetty on Praslin, leave it in the car park there, and take the boat across. Most hire firms are familiar with this arrangement and will confirm it is perfectly normal.

Yes. Praslin Island Airport (PRI) is one of the two main pickup points on the island. There is no formal hire desk inside the terminal, but your chosen firm will meet you outside arrivals with a name board within minutes of your flight landing. Give them your flight number in advance so they can monitor any delays.

In most cases, yes — asymmetric routing between Baie Ste Anne jetty and Praslin Island Airport is available and usually included at no extra charge. Confirm this arrangement when you book. It is one of the more practical options for visitors arriving by Cat Cocos ferry and departing by Air Seychelles inter-island flight.

If you have given your hire firm your flight number or ferry arrival time, they can usually monitor delays. For arrivals expected after about 22:00, you should pre-arrange the exact pickup and reconfirm via WhatsApp the day before. No firm on Praslin runs a walk-in desk, so late arrivals without prior arrangement risk finding no representative available until the next morning.

Flying is faster — around 15 minutes versus one hour on the Cat Cocos ferry — but the ferry costs from approximately €56 one way compared to Air Seychelles inter-island fares, which are often higher. The ferry is the budget-friendly option and is perfectly practical in calm weather. If you suffer from seasickness, flying is the more comfortable choice. Both options offer kerbside hire car collection on arrival in Praslin.

No, although some firms set a minimum hire period — Seaview, for example, applies a minimum 3-day rate. Because taxis on Praslin cost roughly €20–45 per journey, many visitors find that a part-stay hire covering 3–4 active days is both practical and cost-effective. If you plan to visit Vallée de Mai, multiple beaches, and the ferry dock for La Digue, those days add up quickly.

Most Praslin hire firms offer hotel or guesthouse delivery, though a transfer fee of around €10–15 each way usually applies. This is useful if you are arriving late, staying in a remote property, or simply prefer to settle in before driving. Confirm the exact delivery address when you book and make sure you or another named driver will be present to receive the car and sign the paperwork.

No. La Digue is essentially car-free — private cars are not permitted on the island and there is no car ferry service. You leave your Praslin hire car at the Baie Ste Anne jetty and cross as a foot passenger on the Cat Rose ferry. Once on La Digue, bicycle hire (around SCR 100–150 per day) is the standard way to get around.

The Cat Rose inter-island ferry charges €15 per adult one way, plus a €1 port tax per person. Children aged 2–11 pay €7 one way. Return fares are double. Book ahead during July, August and the Christmas peak, as the Cat Rose fills quickly on popular sailings.

Parking is free but unsecured — there is no attendant, no CCTV and no dedicated car park. Treat it as ordinary street parking: lock the vehicle, leave nothing of value visible inside and check that your hire-car agreement has no restrictions on extended roadside parking. Spaces fill before the 09:00 sailing in high season, so arrive at least 30 minutes early.

The Curieuse Marine National Park entry fee is SCR 300 per adult; children under 12 are free. This fee covers both Curieuse Island and the neighbouring snorkel stop at St Pierre islet. Note that the marine-park fee is collected separately at the ranger station and is almost never included in the boat-trip price, which runs roughly €66–90 per person for a group trip.

The Curieuse Marine National Park ranger station accepts card and online payment only — no cash at all. This is park policy, not a temporary situation, and it catches many visitors by surprise. Make sure you have a working payment card with you before boarding the boat, as there is nowhere to withdraw cash on the island itself.

Aride Island Special Reserve is open from October to April only and is completely closed from May through September. Within the open season, visits run Monday to Friday. Adult entry is around SCR 650 and SCR 300 for children. You must pre-book at least 48 hours in advance, as landings can be refused due to weather or nesting conditions. Confirm your departure point when booking, as this changes depending on sea conditions.

Entry costs SCR 450 per adult. Payment is accepted in SCR, EUR, USD or GBP by cash or card at the visitor centre. The site is open daily from 08:30 to 16:30, with last entry at 15:30. An optional guided tour costs around SCR 1,000 per group.

In practical terms, yes. The final kilometre narrows to a single-track lane and buses do not serve the beach. Taxis are available but expensive and not always easy to book for a return journey. Having your own hire car gives you far more flexibility, including the ability to arrive before 09:00 to secure a parking space in peak season.

Phone or email Constance Lémuria 24–48 hours before your visit to register as a non-guest. Daily non-guest numbers are capped at about 30 people, so early booking is wise in peak season. On arrival, park outside the resort gate, sign in, and walk 15–25 minutes across the golf course. Bring water and food — there are no facilities for non-guests at the beach.

Use the official trailhead car park, which charges SCR 100 per car (card accepted). It fills quickly in peak season — typically by 09:30–10:00. From the car park, a 200 m shaded path leads down to the beach. There is no on-road parking beyond this point, so if the car park is full you will need to wait for a space or return later.

Between May and October the south-east trade winds affect the south-west coast, making Grand Anse rough and often covered in sargassum seaweed. The leeward beaches — Côte d'Or and Anse Lazio — remain calmer during this period. A hire car lets you drive across the island in under 20 minutes to whichever beach has the better conditions on the day.

The Seychelles black parrot is found only in and around the Vallée de Mai. Your best chances are early morning or late afternoon, when the birds feed in the upper canopy. Listen for their distinctive call — a clear, hollow whistle — before you spot them visually. An optional guided tour (around SCR 1,000 per group) can significantly improve your chances, as guides know the birds' favourite trees.