A True Picture-Postcard Paradise

First stop: 4 nights on the island of Praslin. Our accommodation, the Beach Villa Guesthouse, had its own terrace and a small shared garden and was beautifully situated right on Grand Anse beach.

Grand Anse Beach on Praslin, in front of the Beach Villas Guesthouse From here, you can enjoy magnificent sunsets. Breakfast, with eggs, fruit and toast, plus coffee or tea, was good. In the evenings, we usually picked something up from the inexpensive takeaway nearby, which, like the supermarket, was within easy walking distance. This part of the island is a good starting point for walks such as the Pasquiere Track, which crosses the island and leads to stunning, deserted coves.

Pasquère Trail across Praslin

The public bus travels along the coastal road and around the island for approximately €0.30. Along the way, you can catch more wonderful glimpses of turquoise water and white sandy coves. A trip to Curieuse to see the giant tortoises, followed by a snorkelling stop at St Pete, is an absolute must.

Curieuse

4 nights on La Digue: Here we stayed at the Bois d`Armour Guesthouse, which is not on the beach but surrounded by greenery in a relatively central location on this small island. The room was spacious and had a small separate kitchen. However, the property does not have air conditioning, which is something I would bear in mind next time. Here too, the welcome was friendly and helpful. On La Digue, bicycles are the main means of transport, and we were able to hire ours directly from the accommodation for €6 per day. The paths run almost all the way around the island as well as across it, so you can explore a different part of the island each day. In my opinion, the best and most beautiful cove for swimming is Petite Anse, which can only be reached on foot. Here, you will find powder-soft sand without pieces of coral or seaweed, and the water is pleasantly deep, reaching chest height. The fairly strenuous climb up Mount Belle Vue, the island’s highest viewpoint, is also worthwhile. In general, the island is very peaceful and relaxing.

The Romance Bungalows are separated from the popular tourist beach of Beau vallon only by the main road. We had an exceptionally friendly host here who went to incredible lengths to help us. Breakfast was also excellent, with fruit, pancakes, eggs and freshly squeezed juice. Our room was enormous. Admittedly, the bathroom was not the most modern, but it was just about okay. This northern part of the island is also easy to explore by public bus. The route follows the coast again, travelling through the capital, Victoria, before returning to Beau Vallon. Once again, the journey rewards you with some incredibly beautiful views. Compared with the other islands and beaches, this area is really lively. There is a kind of beachfront promenade with one or two stalls selling food, fruit and cocktails. The fishermen sell their catch directly on the beach. Even here, however, there are not many people out and about after 21:00.
TIP: In the small supermarkets, which are often run by Indian families, there is usually a display case or box somewhere beside the till containing samosas. These are small filled pastries that taste incredibly good and, at SR 4–5, are very inexpensive.

Mahé, Beau Vallon