Our Island-Hopping Adventure
First of all, we can say that the Seychelles are a dream destination, and the consistently spotless beaches really do look just like the pictures – we have never seen more beautiful or secluded bays.
Praslin, La Digue & Mahé
Our island-hopping trip began on Praslin. We stayed in the clean and spacious apartments at Cote de Ór Chalets – just two minutes from the perfect, long Anse Volbert beach.
As honeymooners, we were even surprised with a wonderful breakfast. There are several shops and excellent restaurants nearby – Laurier, with its unique buffet on certain days of the week, is highly recommended. We also found a hidden bakery down a side street where we could buy very fresh, inexpensive bread rolls. Travelling by bus is very cheap, but we preferred to hire a car for exploring the island (around €50). In our opinion, the most beautiful beach is Anse Lazio in the north-east.
We then continued to La Digue, where the friendly ladies from Creole met us at the small harbour and took us to our accommodation, Cabanes des Anges.
We simply have to recommend this place: the new and immaculately maintained property, with its pool, modern and spacious rooms, breakfast served on our private balcony and complimentary bicycles, was the perfect choice! Everything is easy to reach by bicycle. As it gets dark early, you should remember to bring a torch, especially since most of the bicycles do not have lights. The beaches were all superb, but if you travel in September, you should bear in mind that swimming was not possible along the south-eastern coast, including at Anse Cocos and Grand Anse, because of the very high waves. On the other hand, you can get an excellent view of the locals’ fascinating ‘octopus-catching methods’ :-)
Tip: In the gardens in front of Source d’Argent beach, you can buy fresh vanilla for just a few rupees from an inconspicuous little stall!
Our third and final stop was Mahé. The best beach for swimming is the long Beau Vallon, where the seabed slopes very gently and the water is extremely calm.
Twice a week, a market is held directly behind the beach, selling freshly prepared hot dishes and homemade cakes ‘to go’, all at very reasonable prices by Seychelles standards. We stayed at Savoy Resort & Spa, which was newly built directly on the beach in 2014. We had absolutely nothing to complain about – the extensive breakfast buffet was superb, and Wi-Fi was complimentary. Hiring a car is recommended for exploring the island, although the bus is perfectly adequate for a trip to Victoria.
Driving along Sans Soucis Road, across the island and through the rainforest, is an experience in itself. The Tea Factory is also well worth a visit – you can watch tea being produced and stock up on all kinds of tea.
All in all, the Seychelles are an unforgettable destination, with plenty to discover in addition to magnificent beaches and beautiful natural scenery.
