An unforgettable holiday among dream islands

Our Emirates flights were excellent in terms of service and courtesy, although the journey was rather long due to the wait during our stopover in Dubai.

Our first stop was La Digue, where we stayed at Moonlight Beach Villa: very good accommodation, virtually on the beach and just two minutes from the harbour and village centre. We received a warm welcome, and the room was very spacious, with a sea-view balcony and separate shower and toilet rooms. The furnishings were very simple, the cleaning impeccable, and bicycles could be hired for 100 rupees per day, although more careful maintenance of the bikes would be appreciated!

The manager’s friendliness and helpfulness were truly exceptional and allowed us to appreciate the warm, informal atmosphere of the place even more. The adjoining restaurant, 10|Au clair de lune, serves a generous breakfast of exotic fruit, fruit juices, bread, butter, jams, eggs cooked in various ways, bacon, milk, coffee and tea. Lunch options include salads, fruit and sandwiches, as well as dishes prepared to order. The dinners were excellent, featuring fish and meat cooked Creole-style; for me, it was the best Creole fish restaurant on the island.

We visited all the island’s wonderful beaches, and our favourites were definitely Anse Source d'Argent, with its large park, and Grand Anse.

At Anse Source d’Argent, the park you pass through before reaching the beach, L’Union Estate Park, is particularly impressive. It is well maintained, with a remarkable vanilla plantation and an enclosure for giant tortoises. At the entrance to the park there are refreshment kiosks, as well as several places where you can buy local products. The staff at these stalls were exceptionally kind and cheerful.

Following the recommendation of a very courteous waitress, who also speaks Italian, we took a boat trip around the island. This gave us the opportunity to go snorkelling, see from the sea the beaches we had already visited on land, and stop near the islands of Felicité, Coco and Sister Island while enjoying the priceless scenery!
We went for long swims in these places and enjoyed several snorkelling sessions, spotting numerous species of fish. Unfortunately, the coral reef, which was probably once magnificent, is now greyish due to ‘El Niño’, which caused considerable damage in this area several years ago.

To enjoy a more complete experience of the island, we also tried having dinner or lunch at ‘Chez Marston’, at Gregory’s, at various takeaways, and at the local fruit stalls near some of the beaches. They were all satisfying and reasonably priced. One notable feature of the takeaways and fruit stalls, as well as a sign of their quality, is that they are also popular with local people, who clearly appreciate what is on offer.

We spent the second part of our stay on Cerf Island. Transfers between the islands are rather complicated, as you always have to travel via Praslin and Mahé because there are no direct connections.

On Cerf Island, we stayed at Villa de Cerf. The property has just 4 rooms, all very spacious, equipped with every comfort, tastefully furnished and spotlessly clean. It is set in a well-maintained tropical garden and has a large patio where breakfast and dinner are served, as well as a swimming pool with sun loungers, mattresses and complimentary towels. The meals, for which we mainly chose very tasty and carefully prepared Creole-style fish, were cooked to order, served at agreed times, and brought to us by extremely kind and helpful staff.

The small island is very beautiful, with long beaches overhung by lush vegetation and clear water, especially in the morning at low tide. There are opportunities to go snorkelling and spot numerous fish. From the resort’s jetty, which is illuminated in the evening, you can see various fish as well as small sharks.

Obviously, the island is not suited to those looking for a lively nightlife or plenty of entertainment, but it is perfect for peace and quiet, walks along the beach, swimming and snorkelling. Directly in front of ‘Villa de Cerf’, you can snorkel in the marine park, which is rich in fish.

Excellent for a period of complete relaxation.

Our visit to the capital, Victoria, did not particularly impress us. Like all modern cities, it is home to offices, banks, public services, hotels, including luxury properties, and restaurants, as well as second homes and tourist residences. As a result, it has lost some of its ‘local’ character and taken on a more standardised and, if I may use the term, anonymous appearance.

We had previously visited the Seychelles, including Praslin, Curieuse and Silhouette, with a brief and rather hurried visit to La Digue. This time, therefore, we chose to stay longer on La Digue and Cerf Island, which better suit our desire for relaxation and tranquillity in surroundings that are still fairly well preserved and not overly developed for tourism.

On Praslin, of course, we had been impressed by the Vallée de Mai and its Coco de Mer palms, while on Curieuse we were enchanted by the beauty of nature and the magnificent giant tortoises.

Nevertheless, we were entirely satisfied with our choice this time, and I would recommend that anyone who loves peace and quiet, beautiful seas, fish and wonderful beaches spend at least a few days on La Digue and Cerf Island.

Massimo