Our Island-Hopping Adventure

To experience as much as possible on all the islands, it is worth having your own means of transport. On La Digue, the smallest of the three islands, we decided to hire two bicycles, as the distances are short and there are hardly any cars. By bicycle, we could reach everywhere quickly while enjoying the island’s natural beauty at a leisurely pace. We could also stop at short notice by the roadside to have a fresh juice from one of the many stalls.

On Praslin and Mahé, however, hiring a car is essential and highly recommended, even though many places can be reached by bus. We certainly did not want to miss the flexibility of having a car. As time is a very relative concept in the Seychelles, we did not mind having to travel along some routes several times due to the inadequate signposting. Unfortunately, some signs can only be seen from one direction and are also very small, so keep your eyes peeled. The route to Jardin du Roi, the Spice Garden, and the route to the starting point for Trois Frères are both worthwhile challenges. To see the Coco de Mer, the national symbol, growing in the wild and learn more about it, we joined a guided tour of the Vallée de Mai on Praslin.

Diving and snorkelling excursions were worthwhile on every island, although it is worth remembering that visibility is not at its best during the German summer. To enjoy a variety of dive sites, we chose a different dive centre on each island. The reefs offer plenty of variety and, in July, are surrounded by deep green waters.

This increases the likelihood of spotting a whale shark at Sharks Bank. Unfortunately, we did not see one, but we were rewarded with a giant stingray. All the free local maps available in shops and restaurants mark numerous good snorkelling spots. Our favourites were Anse Source D‘Argent and the reef off Félicité Island.

In our opinion, excursions are a must for every visitor to the Seychelles. Small islands such as the Sister Islands, Île Cocos and, above all, Curieuse, the island of the Aldabra giant tortoises, are well worth visiting. You can feed the animals fruit, leaves and flowers, and they enjoy being stroked on the neck and head.

There is no shortage of culture in the Seychelles either. Alongside Creole cuisine and a long colonial history, we also had two local producers on our itinerary. Seytea, which is sold exclusively in the Seychelles, is produced on Mahé. Takamaka Rum has also been distilled again for the past 14 years, following an old tradition.

We signed up for guided tours at both factories and afterwards treated ourselves to traditional dishes in the adjoining restaurants. The guides are very friendly, answer every question about the production process and lead an enjoyable rum tasting. Anyone still keen to experience more of the culture can visit the various art galleries and talk to the artists about the inspiring natural surroundings.

There was something for each of us, making it a wonderful holiday.

Best wishes, Nicole and Achim