Practical information for Praslin and La Digue

Plugs and voltage

Seychelles uses the British three-pin plug (Type G) on a 240 V, 50 Hz supply. Tourism Seychelles lists a British 3-pin power adaptor in its packing advice, and the World Standards plug and voltage table gives Type G, 240 V and 50 Hz for Seychelles (both checked 16 September 2026). Check that chargers and hair dryers accept 240 V before you plug them in.

Time zone

Seychelles is on UTC+4 all year and does not use daylight saving time. The IANA time zone database (release 2026d, checked 16 September 2026) lists Seychelles as Indian/Mahe, an alias of the Asia/Dubai zone, which has a fixed offset of four hours and no daylight saving rules.

Languages

Creole, English and French are all national languages. Article 4 of the Constitution names the three, and says anyone may use any of them for any purpose. Tourism Seychelles describes Creole as the everyday language, with the same status as English and French.

Mobile networks, SIMs, eSIMs and wifi

Cable & Wireless Seychelles and Airtel both run mobile networks, and MCB's ATMs can top up prepaid credit on either. Cable & Wireless says its SIM cards are sold only at its customer service centres, in line with government regulations, and its list includes Grand Anse Praslin, La Digue and an "Airport Booth" (the page does not say which airport). Its prepaid Starter Pack costs SCR 100 and includes SCR 25 of airtime (Cable & Wireless, checked 16 September 2026).

For an eSIM, Cable & Wireless issues a QR code at a customer service centre, charges the same as for a physical SIM, and needs an eSIM-compatible phone. It adds that a prepaid eSIM can also be booked through the Seychelles Electronic Border System before you leave home. Its 5G page links to a coverage map for Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, and notes that Samsung 5G phones cannot yet use its 5G network. We found no official source on public wifi on either island, so ask your accommodation what it provides.

Money and cash machines

MCB lists three ATMs on Praslin (its Grand Anse and Côte d'Or branches and Praslin's Amitié airport) and one on La Digue, at its La Passe branch; all take Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and UPI cards (MCB, checked 16 September 2026). For exchange rates, see the Central Bank of Seychelles' published average rates of authorised dealers rather than any figure quoted in a guide.

Drinking water

Mains water on both islands comes from the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC). PUC runs a desalination plant on Praslin and another on La Digue to top up supply, and says it has sometimes imposed water restrictions during long dry spells (PUC, checked 16 September 2026). We found no official statement on drinking tap water, so ask your accommodation whether its water comes from the mains and whether it recommends drinking it.

Driving and hire cars on Praslin

Traffic drives on the left, and to hire a car you need to be at least 21 with a licence held for at least a year. Tourism Seychelles gives the age and licence conditions, and Papa Car Rental, a hire broker for Mahé and Praslin, gives the same (both checked 16 September 2026). Papa Car Rental also says drivers and front-seat passengers must wear seat belts, that its insurance requires drivers to be completely alcohol-free, and that a licence not written in Latin letters must be accompanied by an international driving permit. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) says a UK photocard licence can be used for three months, and that holders of an old paper licence may need to update it to a photocard or also carry a 1968 international driving permit. See our car hire and bicycle hire guides for how to get around each island.

Emergency numbers

Dial 999 for police, fire or an ambulance. The FCDO gives 999 for all three, and +248 428 8000 for reporting an incident to the Seychelles police (checked 16 September 2026). The Seychelles Coast Guard, part of the Seychelles Defence Forces, handles search and rescue at sea, but its website does not publish a separate emergency number, so use 999.

Hospitals and clinics

Praslin has a government hospital at Baie Ste Anne and a clinic at Grand Anse; La Digue has St Mary's Hospital. The Ministry of Health lists these hours and numbers (checked 16 September 2026):

• Baie Ste Anne Hospital, Praslin: consultations, X-ray, dental care, family planning and a pharmacy. Monday to Friday 7.30am–4pm, Saturday 7.30am–12pm. Tel +248 4232333.
• Grand Anse Praslin Clinic: consultations, family planning and X-ray. Monday to Thursday 7.30am–4pm, Saturday 7.30am–12pm. Tel +248 4233414.
• St Mary's Hospital, La Digue: operational since 23 October 2023, with consultations, X-ray, family planning, dental care and a pharmacy. Monday to Thursday 8am–4pm, Saturday 8am–12pm. Tel +248 4234255.

The main hospital, with an accident and emergency department, is in Victoria on Mahé. The FCDO says tourists must pay for medical treatment, so carry travel insurance that covers evacuation.

Pharmacies

Government pharmacies operate at the Baie Ste Anne, Grand Anse Praslin and La Digue health facilities. A Ministry of Health opening-hours sheet uploaded in June 2023 lists Baie Ste Anne as Monday to Friday 8am–6pm, Saturday 8am–5pm and Sunday 8am–2pm; Grand Anse Praslin as Monday to Friday 8am–4pm; and La Digue as Monday to Friday 8am–4pm plus Saturday from 8am (the sheet prints the closing time as 12am). The sheet is three years old, so phone ahead. The FCDO notes that the legal status of some medicines differs between countries, so check the rules on any medicine you bring before you travel.

Public holidays in 2026

Seychelles has 17 public holiday dates in 2026, including two new holidays: Abolition of Slavery Day and an extra day for the 50th anniversary of independence. Office Holidays lists: 1 and 2 January, 1 February (Abolition of Slavery Day) and 2 February, 3 April (Good Friday), 4 April (Holy Saturday), 6 April (Easter Monday), 1 May, 4 June (Corpus Christi), 18 June (Constitution Day), 29 and 30 June (Independence Day), 15 August (Assumption Day), 1 and 2 November (All Saints' Day), 8 December (Immaculate Conception) and 25 December (checked 16 September 2026).

State House confirms that Cabinet approved 1 February as a national public holiday, and that Tuesday 30 June 2026 was declared and gazetted as a public holiday for the 50th anniversary of independence. Seychelles Nation reported that because 1 February fell on a Sunday, Monday 2 February automatically became a public holiday; Office Holidays notes the same Sunday rule, which is why 2 November is also listed.

Etiquette and the law

Nudism is not accepted, and topless sunbathing is uncommon. The FCDO says nudism is likely to cause offence and that drug penalties can include life imprisonment, even for possession or in transit. The FCDO says same-sex sexual activity is legal but attitudes vary, and same-sex marriage is not recognised. Tourism Seychelles suggests packing at least one smarter outfit for evenings.

Drones

Register any drone weighing 200 g or more with the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) before you fly it. The SCAA says the Civil Aviation Regulations 2017 require this, that registration is currently free, and that flying in controlled airspace or restricted areas needs a separate flight authorisation. Its drone office is on drones@scaa.sc and +248 4391715 (checked 16 September 2026).

Mosquito-borne illness

Dengue, chikungunya and Zika have all been present in Seychelles since 2024, so protect yourself from mosquito bites, especially during the day. Seychelles Nation reported on 5 February 2026 that a Ministry of Health press release of 4 February confirmed all three had been present since 2024, with dengue still spreading and chikungunya cases rising in the rainy season. TravelHealthPro, the UK's travel health service, says the mosquitoes that spread chikungunya, dengue and Zika mainly bite in the daytime. It adds that pregnant women should talk to a health professional about Zika before travelling (checked 16 September 2026).

Sun and sea safety

Whether a beach is safe to swim from depends on the season, and few beaches have lifeguards. The FCDO says west coasts are generally unsafe during the north-west monsoon (around December to March) and east coasts during the south-east winds (around May to September). It adds that beaches do not always have safety information, so ask locally and follow any warning signs. Tourism Seychelles recommends SPF 50 or higher, sunscreen that does not harm coral, and a UV swim shirt. Our beach guides note the currents at individual beaches on Praslin and La Digue.