Dream Holiday Above and Below the Water

After a chaotic journey there (we missed our connecting flight in Dubai), we arrived on Praslin around 7 hours late. We would like to take this opportunity to give Creole Travel Services a big compliment. We can only recommend booking the transfer package directly through SeyVillas. We were always collected on time, either by private car or minibus. Even when we arrived late at the airport, someone was waiting for us and managed to get us to the final ferry of the day to Praslin just in time.

On Praslin, we stayed at the Exotic Guest House. The accommodation far exceeded our expectations – it was tastefully furnished, with a lovely bathroom and a gorgeous terrace, particularly on the upper floor. It is not ideal for anyone who has difficulty walking, though, as the climb up the hill to the accommodation is quite strenuous and sweaty. The owner, André, whose private home is on the same property, will drive guests anywhere within a 1 km radius free of charge, so there is no need to carry heavy shopping, for example. André is a fantastic host in general, and it was always lovely to have a chat with him.

The accommodation is by Anse Volbert – a beautiful bay where you can also have a good splash about. The absolute highlights, however, are Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette. To reach the latter bay, you need to hike through the rainforest from Anse Lazio for around 1.5 hours. Although the hike is demanding and sweaty, we would definitely recommend it. The return route then takes you across the golf course at the Lemuria Resort.

Anse Lazio, Praslin Fruit bat on the hike to Anse Goergette, Praslin Our time on Praslin passed far too quickly. As well as relaxing on the beach, we went diving with Whitedip Divers, visited Vallée de Mai and went to Curieuse to see the giant tortoises. André organised our crossing to Curieuse. The giant tortoises are an unforgettable experience. You do not need to be a tortoise enthusiast to be fascinated by these wonderful creatures. They also enjoy being stroked on the neck.

Giant tortoise, Curieuse Diving

On La Digue, we stayed at Pension Michel. We would highly recommend it as well: lovely bungalows, very friendly staff and delicious food. We ate dinner at the guesthouse almost every evening. The Creole menu was always delicious and offered good value for money. It was also lovely to chat with the other guests over dinner in the evenings.

La Digue is a must when visiting the Seychelles. There are several bays with the typical granite rock formations. Besides the best-known bay, Anse Source d'Argent, we also found Anse Patates and Grand Anse particularly beautiful. At the latter, you can have great fun in the waves, although it is too dangerous for swimming.

Anse Patates, La Digue We explored the whole of La Digue by bicycle, which you can hire directly from the guesthouse. There was just one slight disappointment for us: we found the island considerably more touristy than expected. The beaches seemed much busier than those on Praslin. Of course, they are still nothing like the crowded beaches of the Mediterranean.

Our final stop was La Résidence on Mahé. It is fairly basic, so after our two previous, very lovely places to stay, we were initially a little disappointed. It was clean, though. A hire car is essential here. At the time of our trip, there was only one restaurant within walking distance.

You also need to drive to reach the island’s beautiful beaches, as we did not find Anse à la Mouche, right on the doorstep, particularly appealing. Nevertheless, we would choose this part of the island again, as Anse Takamaka, Anse Intendance, Grand Anse – where we had the entire beach to ourselves – and Petit Anse are all within easy driving distance.

Grand Anse Mahé Shark spotted while diving If you stay in Beau Vallon Bay, you always have to contend with the heavy traffic through Victoria. Driving takes some getting used to, however, as the roads are very narrow and there always seems to be a sheer drop on the passenger side. Crash barriers and road boundaries are apparently still largely unknown in the Seychelles. The ‘Dive Resorts Seychelles’ dive centre at Anse à la Mouche is also excellent. There is a great atmosphere, fantastic dive sites, and the owner, Leo, even speaks German.

Those of you who do not dive can skip the next section. For all divers: the Seychelles are a must. We saw something special on almost every dive, often including sharks, various rays, turtles, octopuses, scorpionfish, stonefish and countless shoals of tropical fish. The boat trips are very short, making them manageable even for those of you who suffer from seasickness. You always put your gear on before leaving the shore. It is all wonderfully relaxed, as everything in the Seychelles generally is. Just do not expect brightly coloured coral.

We have been on quite a few long-haul trips, but we have never encountered so many different, gorgeous beaches, and the underwater world was every bit as impressive as that of the Maldives, for example. We also always felt very welcome and safe, which cannot necessarily be taken for granted on long-haul trips. Our personal favourite island is Praslin. We found it quieter than the small island of La Digue. There were plenty of restaurants within walking distance in the evenings, and all the island’s main attractions were also easy to reach by bus.