Paradise on Earth

We set off on 24 December for La Digue, where we stayed for the entire holiday. It is the height of summer in that part of the world, and rain is not unusual in December. I would say we were very lucky, though, because apart from a couple of days of tropical rain and a few passing clouds, we enjoyed lovely weather and came home with a great tan.

We wanted a relaxing holiday, so we did not want to keep repacking our suitcases and taking ferries or planes several times to change islands – far too stressful for us. We also wanted nature and tranquillity. La Digue was the perfect choice, and we could not have made a better decision.

The island is 5 km long and 3 km wide, making it very easy to explore. Nature reigns supreme: coconut palms and banana trees everywhere, even along the roadside, dazzling white beaches, granite rocks and a wonderful sea. Scattered among it all are guesthouses and colourful little houses – never enormous hotels or imposing buildings – as well as the ever-smiling local people. Everything exists in harmony and symbiosis with nature.

There are very few cars – just four or five taxis – and a few ox carts, but almost everyone travels by bicycle or on foot.

In the evening, the island’s only small paved road is almost completely unlit. Silence and peace reign, with an incredibly starry sky overhead and a few torches used by tourists to find their way in the dark. This was exactly what we wanted: to experience the island as though we lived there, getting around on foot or by bicycle just as the islanders do. The island’s compact size allowed us to do just that. There are a few restaurants, which we naturally tried, but we usually ate dinner at takeaway and street-food places. The food was delicious and, above all, very inexpensive: 100 Seychellois rupees, around €8, was easily enough for both of us to eat.

Within just a few minutes by bicycle, we could travel from the beaches in the north to those in the south. This allowed us to see absolutely everything on La Digue, as we could visit several places in a single day. That might not have been possible on a larger island, whether because of the distances or the need to take taxis or minibuses. It was a true paradise.

We stayed at Bamboo Chalets, which has a large garden filled with coconut palms and fruit trees, along with 10 chalets. It is a genuinely peaceful place, just a 5-minute walk from the centre, where we stayed on a bed-and-breakfast basis. The bedroom was enormous, as were the bathroom and shower. The property was clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Breakfast became a little repetitive over 13 days, but we certainly could not complain. We are used to having cappuccino and pastries, of course, but we did not miss them, as we were served coffee, tea, eggs cooked in any style, juices, jams, toast and a plate of sliced fruit such as mango, pineapple, melon, watermelon, bananas and coconut.

The Seychelles are the realm of giant tortoises. If you are lucky, as we were, you may come across a couple quietly feeding beside the road and even take a few selfies with them. Most of the giant tortoises, however, can be found in Union Estate Park, a protected nature reserve with an entrance fee of 100 rupees, around €8. As well as these animals, you will find vanilla plantations and coconut palms, whose oil was once extracted using a mill powered by oxen. The park is also the only way to reach the magnificent Anse Source d’Argent, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Within just a few metres, you will find all the defining features of the Seychelles: enormous granite rocks, which are characteristic of these islands, coconut palms, dazzling white sand, turquoise water and a coral reef.

There are many beautiful beaches, including Anse Grosse Roche<beach>, <beach>13, Grand Anse and Anse Cocos, but our favourite was Petite Anse.

To get there, you first have to cycle for at least 20 minutes along the island’s only road, surrounded by lush palms. In some sections, it puts even a fit traveller to the test, with a few climbs that leave you out of breath. You first reach Grand Anse and think the hard work is over. Instead, you then have to follow a small path through the forest and between the rocks, which brings you to Petite Anse after a few minutes of walking.

Once there, all the effort of reaching it melts away at the sight of such natural beauty: dazzling white sand, a few ‘shelters’ made from palm leaves for shade, a sea in countless shades of blue, waves that let you have a little ‘fun’ close to shore, and the classic granite boulders. It looks just like a postcard. Despite being a large beach, around 300 m long and 50 m deep, there are very few people, so it feels deserted. We spent much of our holiday here because the colours and tranquillity of this beach were truly magical, and it often seemed as though we had the entire place to ourselves.

On our final day, because of our connecting flight, we returned to the main island of Mahé, where we stayed at Hotel La Roussette. To be honest, I think we would choose somewhere else next time. Although the hotel is well maintained and tastefully furnished, and the owner is extremely kind, we were not satisfied because the beach opposite is unattractive and the hotel is a long way from restaurants, takeaways and the centre. This means you have to travel by taxi even if you simply want to buy something. We only stayed for one night, so it certainly did not affect our holiday. It is a convenient option if you are only stopping on Mahé for a connecting flight.

Our experience in the Seychelles was wonderful: a truly unforgettable holiday. We would recommend visiting because it really is worthwhile, and we would also recommend asking the team at SeyVillas for advice. We will definitely return as soon as we can!