Seychelles has a lot to offer as a holiday destination

The country has a rich culture, and the locals are happy to include you in the ‘island life’. From gorging on fresh seafood to enjoying Creole music, we tell you how to spend that holiday in Seychelles.

Although it's known mainly for its breathtaking beaches - the Anse Source d'Argent has consistently featured in the lists of top beaches in travel magazines - the resort destination of Seychelles has a lot to do off-shore. The country has a rich culture, and the locals are happy to include you in the 'island life'. From gorging on fresh seafood to enjoying Creole music, we tell you how to spend that holiday in Seychelles.

Coast
When you're in Seychelles, it's hard to ignore the sea - even the landing strip at the airport is flanked by the calm, blue waters. The first thing you'll notice though is the sheer variety of shades that the water takes. From gin-clear in the shallows and turquoise tides to aqua-marine waves and deep cobalt on the horizon, the coasts make for stunning pictures indeed. There's not much of surf in these waters, but leisurely activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, fishing and swimming are best enjoyed here. Seasonal squalls of light rain mean that the skies are cloudy, but on clear days the equatorial sun is perfect for those interested in getting a tan.

Food
Since a majority of the people living in Seychelles are Creole, the food is influenced by a lot of cultures. There are shades of Indian, French and Chinese flavours in the cuisine. Agriculture is limited on the islands and local foods include vegetables (yam, tomatoes, breadfruit), spices (vanilla, cinnamon), fruits (pineapple, papaya, love apple) and of course, lots of seafood. Cooking methods range from Indian-inspired curries to spice-rubbed grills and these are accompanied by rice or bread. Along with the usual suspects - Indian Ocean fish such as red snapper, tuna, marlin and dorado - you must make it a point to try the local catch (jackfish, rainbow runner and job fish). The islands also have a German-style brewery that makes a local beer called Seybrew. This is a good partner to the fresh vegetables and seafood. The perfect island drink - rum and coke - can be enjoyed with a local twist with the Takamaka Bay dark rum.

Culture
In the tiny archipelago of Seychelles the question 'Where are you from?' can take you a long way. Most inhabitants of the islands have exotic ancestry - a mix of French, Indian, African, Chinese and British. And these Seychellois are a friendly lot. The pace of life on the islands is laidback and languid, which sets the mood for relaxation. The culture varies from island to island - busy and commercial on Mahe; quaint and sleepy on La Digue; quiet and meditative on Silhouette; verdant and untouched on Praslin. Most locals speak French and Creole fluently, but you'll find those who're comfortable with English in abundance too. During the evenings, there is local Creole music and dancing at restaurants and clubs. Baila and sega dance and music are popular with the locals and tourists alike. Look out for Georges Payet's band - the musician is a local celeb who'll happily share his music if you give him your pen drive.

(The writer visited Seychelles as a guest of the Seychelles Tourism Board)