Our Seychelles Dream

After more than 20 years, we finally fulfilled our dream of visiting the Seychelles. At the beginning of April, we flew with Emirates via Dubai to Mahé and, later that same day, took the ferry via Praslin to La Digue. On La Digue, a beautiful accommodation with a tropical garden and pool awaited us: La Digue Holiday Villa. Each morning, we were treated to a generous breakfast, which set us up perfectly for our first day of the holiday.

Ferry from Mahé to Praslin La Digue Holiday Villa accommodation We hired bicycles for our entire stay, which is highly recommended on La Digue. As there are some steep slopes, make sure that the brakes work properly. It is best to bring your own bicycle lights, as the locals do not tend to use them and it was important to us that we could at least be seen. Cyclists and pedestrians should also remember that traffic on the island keeps to the left.

Our first trip took us around the northern tip and along the eastern side of the island to Anse Fourmis. The beaches were deserted and made wonderful subjects for photographs. On the way back, we went snorkelling at Anse Severe at high tide and saw beautiful fish for the first time. There are several fruit bars along the road that are perfect for a relaxing stop.

Over the following days, we explored the rest of the island and travelled through L’Union Estate Park to Anse Source d'Argent. Many weddings are held here. The traditional ox carts are specially decorated for the bridal couples.

Ox cart on La Digue During a hike up the island’s highest peak, Nid d’Aigles (333 m), we enjoyed a delicious fruit cocktail at Belle Vue Restaurant, took in the breathtaking views and watched fruit bats active during the day. We also cycled to Grand Anse. This beach faces the open sea without a protective offshore reef, making it much wilder than the island’s other beaches. The warning signs should always be taken seriously. The current is very strong and should not be underestimated. From there, we followed the well-signposted path via Petite Anse to Anse Cocos. This almost deserted beach was our favourite. We used palm fronds to create a shady spot. It is important to take plenty of water and sun protection on this trip.

Grand Anse We took a day trip to Praslin, where we visited Vallée de Mai National Park and Anse Lazio in the north of the island.

After nine wonderful days on La Digue, we moved on to Mahé. Our accommodation, Fleur de Sel, was right by the sea. As arranged, our hire car was delivered to the accommodation the following morning. If you wish to explore Mahé, hiring a car is essential. For us, Anse Intendance in the south-west is the most beautiful beach on the island. Canoes were available for guests to use free of charge. Barbecues could also be arranged for guests on request. Jardin du Roi is also well worth visiting. (Admission: 125 Seychelles rupees per person.)

Conclusion:

La Digue was our favourite because everywhere can be reached by bicycle within just a few minutes, and there is hardly any car traffic compared with the other islands. The beaches are wonderfully varied, ranging from calm to wild, and all are breathtakingly beautiful. Self-catering is easy here. There are small and large supermarkets, fruit stalls, takeaways and restaurants around every corner.

The Seychelles are a wonderful destination and are also very suitable for children of all ages. No vaccinations are required, there are no dangerous animals or diseases, and the people are incredibly friendly and helpful.