Victoria Mahe

A permanent Kiosk selling maps and souvenirs is close to the pier. You can walk from the pier, passing the port authority offices then through a covered walkway to the road. It's about 300m to the car park where Taxis can be found. There will likely be temporary tent-like curio shops in operation at the car park. Turn right and head downtown. The Clock tower is 1.5km from the pier..

The ships dock at Port Victoria. The town center can be reached on foot in about 20 minutes or via a short taxi ride. Taxis are generally available at the pier.

There is a local free map offered as you get off the ship. Sim cards are sold at the port but are pricey.

Talking about pricey: Everything is very pricey here!

When it is busy at the dock, rides for short distances are difficult to obtain. Just wait till the rush is over.

Printable map to take along.

Mahe is the largest island in the archipelago and the location of the capital, Victoria. Ringed by steep, magnificent mountains, few capitals can claim a more beautiful backdrop.

The town features a mixture of modern and indigenous architecture; it is the center of business and commerce thanks to the extensive port facilities.

Noteworthy sites in Victoria are the museum, cathedral, government house, clock tower, botanical gardens and an open-air market.

The Botanical gardens are a 20 minute walk from the ship (opposite direction from downtown). There are Giant Tortoises you can walk amongst. Entrance is a little over 18 Euros per person.

The town does not have a long history as it was only discovered in the early 17th century by a British East India ship. The first settlement begin in 1770 when a group of French citizens and slaves loaded off here and started agricultural activities. In the first quarter of 19th century, Britain took over the charge of Seychelles from the French and ruled here till 1976 when the country became independent. In this period, French language and culture lived on, despite strong British influences. The country today is led by Albert Renè of Seychelles People's United Party, now in his 24th year of rule.

Taxis are a popular means of transportation for both short trips and day rental and can be obtained almost anywhere.

No meters in use. Prices quoted seemed fair. A 3 hour tour of the northern section of the island for 70 Euro or $90US.

If you want to venture further away: many transportation options can be found here.

With 68 pristine, white sand beaches, Mahe boasts more beaches and tourist facilities than any of the other Seychelles Islands. Beautiful and remote Mahe with its green-clad mountains and palm-fringed beaches is indeed an island of abundance; pleasant surprises are around every bend in the trail.

For the most beautiful view of the west coast, stop at the Seychelles Tea and Coffee Company high on the slopes of Morne Blanc Mountain.

Good buys include straw items, paintings by local artists, spices, island tea, red and black coral jewelry, T-shirts, wood carvings and the coco de mer double coconut (very heavy). A variety of small shops are found in the Victoria town center. An open-air market is held in the main section of Victoria every morning.

The islands' currency is the Seychelles rupee (SCR). ATM machines usually have the best conversion rates, however, airports and banks also conveniently exchange money. 1 Euro= 8 rupees.

Languages spoken in the Seychelles are Creole (the official language), English and French.

Walking around downtown there are almost no open WiFi connections - Those that are open such as one near the post office either connect but offer no internet or simply won't connect. The Seychelles Yacht club welcomes visitors for drinks and food and offers free Wifi - Not if its busy with lots of guests check to see if you can get a connection before purchasing - ask at the counter for the password.

Shopping hours Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0800-1200. Some shops close weekdays 1200-1300.