A centre for international commerce and the heart of Europe’s diamond industry, Amsterdam is a unique city with a laid-back atmosphere and a vibrant tourist scene. Customers flying from Amsterdam with Qatar Airways will find Schiphol Airport just as welcoming and eclectic, but with an additional air of efficiency that makes it one of the most popular business departure points in Europe. The staff go out of their way to make the start of your journey as smooth and as hassle-free as possible.

If your ideal getaway is one spent luxuriating on tropical shores, then the Indian Ocean’s Seychelles is the perfect destination.   

The most obvious attractions on the Seychelles islands are its glorious beaches. White sand is caressed by blue waters so clear, you can see to the very bottom of the coral reefs below. 

Check the price of flights to Seychelles further below and book Economy or Premium Class flights to Seychelles with Qatar Airways to experience the a dream-like destination.

A centre for international commerce and the heart of Europe’s diamond industry, Amsterdam is a unique city with a laid-back atmosphere and a vibrant tourist scene. Customers flying from Amsterdam with Qatar Airways will find Schiphol Airport just as welcoming and eclectic, but with an additional air of efficiency that makes it one of the most popular business departure points in Europe. The staff go out of their way to make the start of your journey as smooth and as hassle-free as possible.

Transportation and parking

The airport is just under five miles from the centre of Amsterdam, and is well served by public transport systems. A railway terminal is located in the centre of the airport under Schiphol Plaza, and journeys from the centre of the city to the airport by train take approximately 15 minutes.

Buses are plentiful and connect the airport to Amsterdam and all other major Dutch cities. Taxis can be pre-booked by your hotel concierge or hailed, and many hotels also offer a free shuttle service to the airport. Parking is good, with two short-term car parks close to the terminal, and a long-term car park some 4km from the airport, connected by a free, 24-hour shuttle service.

At the airport

Customers flying from Amsterdam with Qatar Airways will usually leave from concourse D or G. The single terminal is split into three different departure halls, so it’s important to ensure you leave plenty of time to get to the correct departure point for your flight. Security at the airport, as in all European departure points, is very tight, so allow extra time to clear check-in and security checks.
 
Facilities and amenities

It’s easy to get connected at the airport, with free Wi-Fi throughout and internet kiosks in departure areas 1 and 2, as well as specialist multimedia telephone outlets that can also be used for SMS messaging. Food lovers are well served with an excellent selection of vendors serving both on-the-go snacks and more substantial meals. Retail outlets range from luxury goods to Duty Free and travel accessories. Massage and hairdresser services are available for pre-flight pampering, and a prayer room provides quiet space for devotions.

An island paradise that can be found in most people’s travel wish-lists, Mahé is the largest of the Seychelles islands and a hugely important tourist destination. A warm and welcoming island, Mahé’s largest city is Victoria, the nation’s capital.  The tallest peak on the island stands at just 905m above sea level, and the vast majority of travellers booking a flight to Mahé with Qatar Airways are travelling to this fabulous destination for its famous beaches.

However, the island’s capital of Victoria is also starting to develop as a centre of commerce and attracting a steady stream of investors and entrepreneurs. The island will always primarily be a tourist destination, and with the endless sandy beaches and crystal-clear ocean, it’s easy to see why.

Tourist attractions

The key attraction of Mahé is its fabulous beaches, but there are some sights on the island away from its palm-tree-lined, sandy shores. Head inland and you’ll come to the Morne Seychellois National Park, which covers 20% of the island’s land mass and includes the country’s highest peak, Morne Seychellois. Here you can wander through mangrove forests and dense jungle. Some parts of the forest are only accessible by foot, so it is best to employ the services of an official guide who really knows the area before you venture in too deep.

A great way to familiarise yourself with authentic island life is to take a wander through Victoria’s covered market. It may be small, but it’s full of colour, the smell of spices, and noise, and is a great place to pick up pareos (wrap-around skirts) and comfortable cotton shirts. It’s also the city’s main fish market, and early in the morning you’ll see everything from barracuda to parrot fish on sale.

One of the island’s main exports is tea, and at the SeyTé tea factory and plantation you can see how this popular beverage is grown, harvested, and processed. The plantation also has a gift shop, where you can try different teas.