Keep Calm and Relax in the Seychelles
Hello, we’re Matteo and Elisa, and here we’d like to tell you about our wonderful trip to the Seychelles. We hadn’t intended to take our holiday during the winter this year, but after hearing stories from friends who had just returned from their honeymoon in the Seychelles, we were inspired to go. We threw ourselves into searching online for useful information to organise our trip, and SeyVillas proved extremely helpful with everything from the islands and accommodation to excursions and car hire.
Mahé
Our journey began on Christmas Day, after a 10-hour flight with a stopover in Dubai. We had barely had time to acclimatise after stepping off the plane when someone was already waiting outside the airport to hand over our hire car. Getting used to driving on the left was not particularly easy at first (watch out for the local bus drivers, who race along at incredible speeds!).
After leaving our suitcases at the Marie Laure Suites Guest House B&B, where we stayed for 2 days, we set off towards Anse Major. Although the route, the Anse Major Trail, appeared straightforward, it still put us to the test, partly because of the tiredness accumulated during the journey and partly because of the blazing sun overhead. After walking for around an hour among granite rocks, roots and overhanging branches, a beautiful view of Anse Major suddenly opened up before us.
A car is an excellent way to explore the island. We managed to visit quite a few places, including Victoria, Morne National Park, L’Islette and the Port Glaud waterfalls, Anse Intendance, Police Bay and Anse Soleil.
L’Islette is a small islet just a short distance from the beach, which you can reach on foot at low tide, perhaps while enjoying a delicious smoothie and some fresh coconut. Trevor, a very kind local, explained how to reach the waterfalls, which are a 5-minute walk from Port Glaud.
Praslin
We reached Praslin in just 15 minutes on an Air Seychelles twin-propeller aircraft. It was definitely preferable to the roughly 90-minute boat crossing and the risk of rough seas! We also recommend hiring a car on this island, as it is more convenient and allows you to reach any place or beach.
One of the island’s most beautiful beaches is Anse Lazio, a long, wide stretch of white sand surrounded by palm trees and granite boulders. There is no better place for sunbathing and snorkelling.
Another beach that should not be missed, in our opinion, is Anse Georgette. You can reach it in several ways: by boat excursion, through the Lémuria Golf Club Resort (advance booking is required, with a maximum of 30 people per day), or along a scenic route of around an hour that takes you over Mont Plaisir. Of course, we chose the third option, and although the exertion and heat really put us to the test, the views from above made all the effort worthwhile.
Do not miss the giant tortoises on Curieuse Island or, if you enjoy snorkelling, the islet of Saint-Pierre.
Spend a couple of hours exploring Vallée de Mai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the only place in the world where the rare palm that produces the famous Coco de Mer grows. It is a symbol of the Seychelles and also appears on the stamp placed in your passport.
La Digue
This was our favourite island of all, especially because of the colours of the sea and the dazzling white beaches. The only ways to get around are by bicycle or on foot, allowing you to relax and immerse yourself completely in nature.
We explored the island from top to bottom, stopping at every beach. Among our favourites were Anse Patates, Petite Anse and the secluded gem of Anse Marron. La Digue’s most famous beach is Anse Source D’Argent, which charges an entrance fee of 100 Seychellois rupees. The beach has white sand and is fringed by granite boulders, but the very shallow water makes it unsuitable for swimming at this time of year.
Find a guide and ask them to take you to Anse Marron. The route takes around an hour, beginning at Grand Anse and following the southern part of the island through dense vegetation, hard-to-reach coves and idyllic beaches with crystal-clear water. A true tropical paradise!
If, like us, you enjoy snorkelling, a boat excursion to the nearby islands of Grande Soeur, Ile Cocos, Félicité and Marianne is an absolute must.
Our 13 days passed quickly — far too quickly! It was an unforgettable trip, thanks in part to the local people, who were always friendly and willing to help us and provide information.
We recommend consulting SeyVillas and letting them guide you through the organisation of your trip. It will be an unforgettable experience!
Matteo & Elisa