Two Hearts and a Baby in the Seychelles
We were looking for a dream destination to celebrate my husband’s (first) 50 years and enjoy an exotic seaside holiday with our 18-month-old little one, with the reassurance of good organisation to avoid any unpleasant surprises, especially for him.
We explored the must-visit destinations for travellers who love the world’s most beautiful islands, and the Seychelles seemed like a true paradise for couples wishing to share romantic and adventurous moments together, but who, as in our case, also had the responsibility of a young child on his first holiday away from familiar routines.
We have SeyVillas to thank for making this dream possible, with no risks or difficulties when travelling from one island to another and reaching the places where we stayed so comfortably. We were welcomed by friendly, extremely helpful multilingual staff, always ready to answer our questions about the ideal accommodation, excursions and possible changes to our itinerary.
La Digue
We chose to spend the first part of our holiday staying for 6 days at a Creole-style guest house (Casa de Leela) on the small island of La Digue, which measures just 3 × 5 km. More than half of the island is uninhabited, as it is mountainous and still covered in exceptionally lush vegetation. Everything is so green thanks to the almost daily rain, although it lasts only long enough to cool and naturally refresh the trees and plants.
We quickly became accustomed to cycling on the left. The few roads are narrow and very busy, but they are actually quite safe because there is so little private motor traffic. Within a few days, we had explored the inhabited parts of the island and its most beautiful beaches from end to end: from Anse Severe in the north, continuing as far as Anse Banane and Anse Fourmis, the last beaches that can be reached by bicycle from the north-east. Here, we came across magnificent giant tortoises roaming freely, perfectly happy to be stroked and fed by passers-by.
When we reached the beautiful park at Anse Source d’Argent, with its rows of locally grown vanilla plants, we were able to see the large population of century-old tortoises sheltering in the shade of the towering granite rocks found throughout the area. We also admired the long coral reef, which extends hundreds of metres out from the beach, while the lush vegetation overlooking the shore acts as a huge natural parasol along the water’s edge
There was no point trying to hold our little boy back out of caution when he was so delighted to jump into the water with us again and again throughout the day, constantly getting wet and then drying off in the warm air on the beach.
Finally, further south, we cycled through the centre of the island all the way to the majestic Grande Anse, with its crystal-clear colours. It is certainly not suitable for very young children, however, because of its strong, threatening currents, which can sweep swimmers dangerously out to sea. With due caution, we also ventured into those blue-green waters, and having our son with us made it feel like a little adventure.
Mahé
So as not to miss out on a more Western lifestyle, we decided to spend the final days of our holiday at a large beachfront resort offering every comfort, on the western side of the largest island, Mahé.
Once again, SeyVillas ensured that all our connections ran exactly as planned. The journey from La Digue to our destination, via Praslin, the second most important island, was therefore a relaxing experience. We sat comfortably in the ferry’s seats and managed to have a nap, rocked gently by the waves. My son took the opportunity to be cuddled in our arms and catch up on some of the sleep he had missed earlier in the excitement of the holiday.
It may sound obvious to say that it was an unforgettable holiday, but that is exactly what it was. Everything went smoothly, giving us delightful and exciting days filled with carefree moments together. Travelling with a child who cannot yet speak clearly and whose needs cannot wait can be complicated, but good organisation that plans every stage in detail transformed the whole undertaking into genuine fun. For anyone who would like them, we still have our invaluable travel lists to make sure you do not forget anything your little one might need!
Alberto and Claudia
