Our Unforgettable Seychelles Trip

When I was just 21, some friends showed me a film about the Seychelles. The footage completely captivated me – this archipelago clearly was something very special... It had to be my next destination!

Unfortunately, I broke my leg and was unable to spend my next holiday in the Seychelles. Then I met my husband, and other things took priority, such as building a house and raising our children. Today, I am 56 years old and still happily married. Our children are grown up, and now my husband and I have finally fulfilled my dream together and travelled to the Seychelles – all with the help of SeyVillas!

Happy holidaymakers! Manfred among the rocks at Grand Anse Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue

We had already visited Mauritius 2 years earlier, but my husband, who is 1.90 metres tall, still has nightmares about the non-stop flight. So we needed an alternative: Emirates with a stopover in Dubai! That was an excellent suggestion from the SeyVillas member of staff. The time quite literally flew by, and we were thoroughly spoilt on board: Wi-Fi, delicious food, chilled drinks at all times and plenty of legroom.

When we arrived on Mahé, a tour guide and our transfer were already waiting for us, and off we went from one hotel to the next until we reached Bord Mer Villa – our hotel on Mahé. We received a warm welcome and were given room no. 3 on the ground floor, which had a spacious bedroom with a large double bed, a large bathroom with a shower, air conditioning, a TV lounge, a fully equipped kitchen, a veranda with lovely garden views, a laundry service and complimentary Wi-Fi.

The sea was only a few steps away. Although the property is beside the road, this did not bother us at all. We just had to remember that traffic drives on the left when crossing. As this accommodation puts you right in the heart of everything, with the market, takeaways, restaurants and shops all within easy reach, there is no need for a car. The bus stop is also within easy walking distance.

Anse Major Hiking trail to Anse Major Hiking trail to Anse Major Private beach – Anse Major On the second day, we went hiking along the beaches of Beau Vallon, Bel Ombre and Anse Major. We then followed the road towards the rainforest, which is truly and uniquely beautiful. Sturdy footwear is essential, though – definitely no flip-flops – and the reward at the end was a little dream beach all to ourselves.

We returned by water taxi, which gave us a completely different perspective of Mahé. The Palinuro-blue water and wave-sculpted rock formations were a sight I will never forget – truly unbelievably beautiful! We also visited Victoria, although in the temperatures there, it is much nicer to be on the beach.

Water taxi ride Water taxi journey Water taxi ride Beau Vallon Beach Bau Vallon Beach

On the fourth day, the ferry to La Digue was waiting for us, and we were so lucky – the sea was incredibly calm, the sky and its picture-perfect clouds were reflected in the water, and fish were leaping out of the sea! I simply could not get enough of those colours or the endless expanse of water.

In the harbour at La Digue, the water changed from blue to green, and I cannot say which colour was more beautiful. A chance photo of the crystal-clear water in the harbour even revealed a ray beneath the surface when we looked at it later.

Ferry trip to La Digue The harbour of La Digue Anse La Reunion on La Digue

La Digue feels like another world – peace and quiet, birdsong in the rainforest and bicycles everywhere. We were immediately taken by taxi to our new accommodation; the ox carts are legendary, but unfortunately they no longer exist. At Zerof Guesthouse, we had a room above the in-house shop for 5 nights. We received a warm welcome. The hotel is currently undergoing a generational handover. The older generation are still very active in the business, but the younger generation have already taken over the management.

We had booked half board here, which turned out to be a stroke of luck. Every evening there was a generous buffet with grilled fish, various curries and far more food than we could possibly eat.

Fortunately, we had a triple room, so on the second night I was able to move to the single bed. Sadly, the mattress on our double bed had suffered considerably over the years, which affected how comfortable it was. Unfortunately, the toilet flush in our room was also unacceptable and urgently needed improving.

Of course, after unpacking, our first destination was probably the most photographed beach in the world: Anse Source d´Argent! I fell under its spell too and took what felt like a thousand photos. The snorkelling here is wonderful, and there is plenty to see in the shallow water. I was even lucky enough to spot a sea turtle.

Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue On the second day, we hired bicycles and rode to Anse Patates and the so-called ‘stingray beach’, both of which are well worth visiting. While snorkelling, we had the wonderful experience of seeing another sea turtle as well as other large, colourful fish.

On the third day, the heavens opened, but there was a brief break in the rain around midday. We took advantage of it and cycled to Grand Anse for a swim. However, dark clouds soon gathered again and the rain began pouring down, so we did not even bother getting dressed. Our clothes were already soaked through anyway, so we simply got back on our bicycles in our swimwear and returned to our accommodation.

We had worked hard and cycled uphill for much of the outward journey, so we could now enjoy freewheeling downhill. Despite the rain, it was not cold – it was still 27°C... wonderful! The following day, we cycled to Grand Anse again. This time the sun was shining, and the area looked completely different. We continued to Petit Anse, and if you keep your eyes open, you can spot beautiful large red crabs that make excellent photo subjects.

Crab on the beach Generally speaking, you can swim at the beaches without concern, and there is little reason to fear sharks or anything similar. Nevertheless, you should still take care because the currents can sometimes be strong. At Cocos Anse, as well as Petit Anse and Grand Anse, there are warning signs in several languages because of the strong currents.

Grand Anse Grand Anse Waves at Grand Anse Bird at Grand Anse

And so we continued by ferry to Praslin, which felt like the wild island to me. Once again, the transfer went smoothly, and we soon arrived at the Islander Guesthouse. After a very friendly welcome, including refreshing towels and a fresh fruit cocktail, we were given a room upgrade. A wonderful suite, painted in the colours of the island, tastefully furnished and with a lovely terrace, was to be our accommodation for 6 nights – it was absolutely fantastic! We had booked breakfast only, which was served on the beach.

Sunset on the beach Praslin at night The adjacent Capricorn restaurant is widely praised, but we cannot necessarily agree. On our first evening, we ate fish and chicken curry there, accompanied by half a litre of rosé wine, for a total of €63, which we found a little too expensive. In terms of flavour, I honestly have to say that the takeaways at Beau Vallon on Mahé are every bit as good as the high-end restaurants.

Dining in the restaurant Delicious takeaway dish The beach by our hotel, where we spent most of our time on Praslin, was very secluded, peaceful and ideal for snorkelling. However, the waves were also quite strong on some days.

On Praslin, we visited the Fond Ferdinand nature reserve, home to the famous coco de mer. This reserve is smaller and less well known than the famous Vallée de Mai, but it is just as beautiful and also has a cheaper admission fee. It is definitely worth a visit. The guided walk takes you through the rainforest to a mountain summit, where you have a wonderful panoramic view.

To get there, you can take the bus towards the south of the island for just 35 cents. However, you should be prepared for a rollercoaster ride. Driving there in a hire car is not advisable, as the route seems rather dangerous, with sharp bends and sheer drops without barriers.

One thing you absolutely must not miss on Praslin is seeing the world’s fourth most beautiful beach, Anse Lazio. The beach lies in a bay, with powder-soft sand and granite boulders at either end. Snorkelling here is an absolute highlight!

Even happier holidaymakers! Of course, we took the bus again to explore the whole island. That was how we came across what, for us, was the world’s best secluded beach – Anse Boudin, opposite the island of Curieuse. Naturally, this beach also offers icing-sugar sand and clear water, with red, gently sloping rocky outcrops at one end – a wonderful combination of blue, green and red! We had the beach entirely to ourselves, while boats anchored and visitors filled the beaches across the water on Curieuse.

Anse Boudin Birdwatching

And so our time here also passed, and we flew from Praslin back to Mahé. We were lucky that it was not raining and visibility was good, so from above we could see the broad beach on Cousin as well as Eden Island near Mahé.

Eden Island from above Mahé from above On Mahé, we had booked the Divers Lodge with breakfast, which was much closer to Bord Mer Villa than we had initially thought. The accommodation was clean, and fresh bed linen was provided every day. Unfortunately, it was slightly out of the way, and in the evenings we had to walk back along a very dark road. This hotel is ideal for divers, as it is right next to the diving school. The staff did not seem very motivated, although this did not bother us.

During our final 2 days, we also treated ourselves to a walk to the northern tip, discovered more beautiful coves and twice enjoyed delicious fish takeaways with beer. Alcohol is generally very expensive in the Seychelles, but takeaway meals cost around €6–€9 per person and are tasty, generous and healthy.

Tip: It really made sense to begin and end our holiday on Mahé, as the journeys to and from the Seychelles are already very long. This meant we could fully enjoy the wonderful crossing to La Digue!

And just like that, the 17 days were over. I still listen to Seychellois music and look through the dreamlike photos we took. We can certainly imagine travelling to the Seychelles with SeyVillas again!