Dream Destination Seychelles – a Bucket List Dream Come True!

Several years ago, we started putting together a bucket list of all the places we still wanted to visit. The Seychelles were among our top 10 destinations right from the start… But it would be quite some time before our island dream came true. Then, finally, in March 2017, the time had come!

On Friday afternoon, we boarded our flight in Frankfurt and arrived in this island paradise in the Indian Ocean 9 hours later. We were determined to fly one leg of the journey, so from Mahé we took a small propeller plane over the deep-blue sea to Praslin.

When we arrived at the small, beautifully designed guest house Hirondelle, we received a very warm welcome, along with a delicious smoothie and some initial tips and information. We then changed into our everyday Seychelles attire – swimwear, T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops – and set off to explore the local area. L’Hirondelle is in a very convenient location, with a bus stop outside, Anse Volbert across the road and several restaurants and supermarkets within walking distance. The slight downside is that the busy island road runs directly past it.

Anse Volbert is a long, wide beach… It is certainly a lovely beach, but Praslin has two truly beautiful beaches to offer, and a merely lovely beach can easily be overshadowed. We discovered the first of these beautiful beaches the very next day. We took the bus to Anse Lazio for 5 rupees… From the bus stop, it is another 15–20 minutes on foot before you can admire the snow-white, powder-soft sand, sparkling turquoise sea and distinctive Seychelles granite boulders. Alternatively, you can drive almost all the way to the beach in a hire car or taxi. However you get there, Anse Lazio really is a dream beach – an absolute must for a swim, you might say. Fortunately, there are also plenty of shady spots, so you need not get sunburnt straight away.

Praslin, Anse Lazio On our second day, we booked a boat trip to Curieuse and St Pierre. It was wonderful to meet the inquisitive tortoises on Curieuse. They are used to people and very trusting. Our new friend was also more than happy to pose for a cool selfie. You can then walk to the other side of Curieuse in 30–45 minutes, passing large boulders and making your way through mangrove forests. Once you arrive, you are rewarded with a beautiful beach, water as warm as a bath and a barbecue, before continuing to St Pierre for some snorkelling.

Day three brought beach highlight number 2: Anse Georgette. We had a hire car that day and headed off to Anse Georgette. The easiest way to reach it is via the Lemuria Hotel. You may need to register through your accommodation in advance, as there is a daily limit on the number of beach visitors. The crescent-shaped bay once again has everything a true dream beach should offer: soft white sand, Seychelles granite boulders, turquoise water, colourful fish, palm trees and gentle waves. In the evening, we went to Zimbabwe to watch the sunset, followed by dinner at a small restaurant in the hills.

Praslin, Anse Georgette The following day, we visited Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve, the smaller and newer of Praslin’s two national parks. We had originally planned to walk through it on our own, but turned back after 100 metres because we could not identify much apart from palm trees. That was absolutely the right decision, as a tour started a few minutes later and the guide was excellent. It is incredible how much there is to see when you know what to look for. The highlight of the tour, however, was the view of the surrounding islands. Absolutely beautiful!

Praslin, Fond Ferdinand National Park On our final day on Praslin, we said goodbye to our favourite beach, Anse Lazio, walked back to Anse Boudin and drank the most expensive coconut of our trip. A little tip: it helps to ask the price first ;-).

And just like that, our 5 nights were over, and in the morning we continued by boat to La Digue – but that is another story.
Praslin is wonderfully diverse – from dream beaches such as Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette to hiking opportunities in two national parks featuring the world-famous Coco de Mer, as well as boat trips and welcoming restaurants serving delicious Creole and international cuisine.

Conclusion: These beautiful islands in the Indian Ocean belong on every bucket list.