Dream Holiday in the Seychelles
On Praslin, the Vallée de Mai amazed us from the very first day, with vegetation we had previously only seen in the tropical greenhouse at a botanical garden, as well as the legendary Coco de Mer. Our excursion from Praslin to Curieuse Island was also an experience we will always remember: during the lovely walk across the island, we spotted giant tortoises, while red crabs peeped out from their holes all over the mangroves, only to scuttle sideways back inside. Snorkelling in the clear waters off Saint Pierre gave us a glimpse of the colourful underwater world. We took the boat trip with a smaller operator recommended by our hotel: they shared plenty of interesting information, lovingly prepared a barbecue buffet and took us to another snorkelling spot. Our small hotel, Britannia, was an excellent choice. It is ideal for anyone seeking peace and quiet and more personal accommodation. We often enjoyed the swimming pool and its clear water, usually having it all to ourselves in the evenings while the fruit bats from the nearby colony circled above us. A hire car is recommended here.
Even waiting at Praslin harbour for the ferry to La Digue was time well spent: zebra fish darted about in the clear water, a barracuda cruised around impressively, and every now and then a sea turtle surfaced.
Our accommodation on La Digue, the Zerof Guesthouse, was affordable and simple, situated directly above the takeaway and restaurant, which has live music on Wednesdays and Sundays. It is right beside the reserve for the Seychelles paradise flycatcher, and we were even able to watch one nesting. There was also plenty of activity to see in the fruit bat colonies, both with and without binoculars. And, of course, there were the picture-perfect beaches, with granite boulders rising beautifully from the turquoise water. Coming across giant tortoises while cycling was another new experience.
Life on the main island of Mahé is less tranquil, but no less interesting. At Le Jardin Du Roi Spice Garden, we saw numerous useful and spice plants as well as endemic species, while Morne Seychellois National Park offered wonderful hiking; the small capital, Victoria, is also well worth a visit. Snorkelling in St Anne Marine National Park was a particular highlight for us – seeing so many species in such a short space of time was truly unforgettable. The Crownbeach Hotel is perfect, with beautifully landscaped grounds and a magnificent view of the sea and the lovely beach with its granite boulders. The water here is shallow and suitable for very young children, although swimming is only possible at high tide during the second half of the day. There is a small, well-stocked supermarket directly opposite the hotel. Takeaways, a pizzeria and smaller restaurants are located 5–10 minutes away by car in the direction of Anse Royale. A hire car is definitely worthwhile, including for exploring the northern and southern parts of the island.
Although we booked this trip at short notice, everything went perfectly thanks to the individual components arranged by SeyVillas: accommodation, transfers, flights and hire car. Thank you very much!
