This archipelago of 115 islands and just over 100,600 Seychellois in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa (some 1,314 miles east of Kenya) was a British colony from 1794 to 1976 – having been uninhabited before it was first settled by the French beginning in 1770 – and while a bit remote but treasured especially by nature lovers and honeymooners for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, lush tropical forests, and spectacular marine life. Both English and French are still widely spoken, and the largest and most population islands are Mahé (site of the national capital Victoria), La Digue, and Praslin.
Tourism got started in 1971 with the inauguration of the international airport, and pains have been taken in the decades since to keep it “sustainable,” to benefit the Seychellois as well as protect the environment. It also helps that it´s fairly pricy as destinations go, meaning it´s definitely in "luxury travel" territory, and many upscale resort brands have outposts here, including Anantara, Banyan Tree, Four Seasons, Hilton, Raffles, and Six Senses (although having said that, there´s also a fair choice of budget options, as one Tripatini blogger wrote about a couple of year ago). And here´s a quick rundown of some of the country´s highlights
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