Seychelles: An Unmissable Journey
For years, we had wanted to travel to the Seychelles, and this year we finally managed to make that dream come true. As soon as we arrived, we discovered that it really was a ‘dream’; never in our lives had we visited such a wonderful and magical place!
La Digue
We landed at Mahé airport before travelling to the beautiful island of La Digue for the first part of our holiday. We spent 4 nights at the lovely, welcoming Fleur de Lys. The setting is very charming, as it looks exactly as you might imagine a little tropical cottage: several wooden apartments with green roofs, each featuring a small colonial-style veranda overlooking a beautiful garden.
La Digue is a very small island, measuring 5 km long by 3 km wide, and the best way to explore it is by bicycle. There are no cars, apart from a few taxis and some vehicles used by locals to transport goods. As you cycle around the island, you can admire magnificent scenery, from breathtaking views of the ocean, with an endless palette of blues and greens, to glimpses of lush vegetation that make you feel as though you are in the African jungle.
As there are no street lights on the island, travelling by bicycle allowed us to enjoy one of the most breathtaking and romantic sights of our holiday, which we will certainly never forget: a canopy of stars and constellations filling the entire sky and stretching all the way down to the sea.
During our stay, we visited several beaches: Grand Anse, the first one we had the pleasure of experiencing, with a long stretch of powdery white sand bordered by palm trees and rocks, and crystal-clear water; Petite Anse, which can only be reached on foot directly from Grand Anse and is even more beautiful and secluded; Anse Cocos, reached by continuing along the trail from Petite Anse, hidden behind a hill and about a 15-minute walk away, simply fantastic, with a natural pool full of fish; and Anse Source d'Argent, the best-known beach and an absolute must-see, located within L’Union Estate, where you can also see giant tortoises.
From La Digue, we went on the wonderful ‘Robinson Crusoe’ catamaran excursion, one of the recommended trips. We snorkelled at St Pierre among countless colourful fish, visited Curieuse, the island of giant tortoises, and walked through the mountains and mangrove forest. Finally, we enjoyed a memorable swim at Anse Georgette on Praslin.
This is an experience we would certainly recommend, as it will undoubtedly remain one of our fondest memories.
Mahé
After La Digue, we spent 4 nights on Mahé in the Beau Vallon area, staying at Choice Villa in a beautiful sea-view room just a few minutes’ walk from the beach. On Mahé, we hired a car because the island is considerably larger than La Digue and deserves to be explored in full.
We visited the capital, Victoria, where, after buying a few souvenirs from the traditional stalls near the replica of Big Ben, we explored the market. With its colours, scents and sounds, it is a fascinating place that we would recommend not missing.
As well as Beau Vallon, the island’s longest beach and home to its large resorts, we visited Baie Lazare in the south-west of the island and the better-known Anse Soleil, which should not be missed for the colour of the sea, the vegetation and the abundance of fish in the waters just off the beach.
On Mahé, we also dined at a few restaurants that we would particularly recommend. La Perle Noire is run by an Italian chef who skilfully combines local flavours with the artistry of Italian cuisine. We recommend the fish dishes and the house wine; you will not be disappointed by the excellent value for money. We also visited Trader Vic’s, located within H Resort, where we enjoyed local cuisine with Cuban and South American influences. It is ideal for a lively evening accompanied by live Cuban music. To round off the evening perfectly, we recommend ordering the restaurant’s signature cocktail, served in a seahorse-shaped glass.
What we undoubtedly brought home from this holiday were memories of the colours of the sea, sky and surrounding nature, the warm welcome of the people, and the unforgettable experiences we shared and will never forget. We fulfilled our dream of seeing the Seychelles, so what is our new dream? Without a doubt, to return very soon!!!
Stefano and Caterina
