A Perfect Paradise in Every Way

After arriving on Praslin, we first checked into our accommodation, Villa Confort. It is a really charming little place with just five rooms. We booked the Superior Room and found a small, lovely room decorated with lots of hibiscus flowers, as well as an incredibly comfortable bed. The little pool was also perfect for cooling off. Breakfast was typically Seychellois: omelette, fresh fruit, toast, jam and butter, coffee and juice. Our host was extremely friendly and went out of her way to help in every respect. When we asked, she even did our laundry for us.

As soon as we arrived, she asked whether and on which day we would like to visit Anse Georgette, as you cannot gain access without registering in advance. The beach belongs to the luxury Constance Lémuria Resort and is located at the far end of the hotel’s golf course. We had really been looking forward to this beach, as it was on our must-see list. And with good reason – it was by far the most beautiful beach we visited during our holiday in the Seychelles. After registering at the entrance to the luxury hotel, there is still a walk of around 20 minutes through the hotel’s golf course. It is rather sweaty in the high temperatures and humidity, but what awaited us genuinely exceeded our expectations. Fine white sand, crystal-clear water and impressive rock formations. We were pleasantly surprised that there were no sunloungers or parasols at all, as this meant that nothing spoiled the appearance of this perfect dream beach. It does mean that there are relatively few shady spots, but that was not a major issue because the beach is never overcrowded due to the limited number of outside visitors. The snorkelling here is also wonderful, and this was where we had our first encounter with a beautiful sea turtle. It was not at all shy, so we were able to follow it for a good 10 minutes before it suddenly disappeared in the strong underwater currents – so a little caution is advisable.

Incidentally, we discovered another beautiful beach on the way to Anse Georgette – Anse Kerlan. It is usually deserted and offers lovely views of the islands of Cousin and Cousine. There are plenty of good places to park along the roadside.

As the stretch of beach close to our accommodation had a lot of seagrass, we did not spend any time there and instead explored the island in a hire car. This turned out to be absolutely the right decision, as it allowed us to make the most of our precious holiday time. There is also a bus that travels around the island, but naturally this gives you much less flexibility. We loved simply setting off, taking in the beauty of the island and stopping wherever we liked the look of a place. It is also much easier to reach the somewhat secluded Anse Lazio by car, and this beach should definitely be on your must-see list. Driving on the left and along some very narrow roads takes a little getting used to, of course, but the low volume of traffic means that it is not really a problem.

Road on Praslin Road on Praslin Unfortunately, it did rain on a few days, so we needed an alternative plan to our usual sunny-day activities. A visit to the national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Vallée de Mai’ was particularly suitable. The canopy in this vast rainforest is so dense that you barely notice the rain. The lack of direct sunlight also makes it easier to take good photographs, as you will often be pointing your camera upwards to capture the Coco de Mer growing on the palms – the world’s largest nut.

After five wonderful days on Praslin, we took the ferry across to La Digue. When we arrived at the harbour, an exceptionally friendly member of staff from Pension Michel was already waiting to drive us and our luggage to the accommodation, which took only around five minutes. On the way there, we were immediately captivated by the atmosphere of this small island. Like everyone else, we would have loved to jump straight onto a bicycle and start exploring, but first we wanted to settle into our accommodation for the next six nights.

We were given one of the eight rooms, which had its own terrace, a modern bathroom and a large bed. We particularly liked the property’s beautifully landscaped garden, which was a lovely place to relax. Our host was always cheerful and occasionally expressed this through gentle singing – you could tell that the local people love and enjoy living here. Breakfast was also delicious, especially the baked banana. Every morning, the breakfast table and the rest of the property were decorated with fresh flowers.

Bicycles can be hired for a small fee. They are not the newest, but they are perfectly adequate for this small island. The location of Pension Michel is ideal. The nearest supermarket is only a few steps away, the entrance to L’Union Estate Park, which leads to Anse Source d'Argent, is three minutes away by bicycle, and several restaurants are also within easy reach. Anse Source d'Argent was our first destination, as it is one of the Seychelles’ most popular beaches. We went early in the morning to secure a shady spot, as these are scarce. Unfortunately, we did not find the beach particularly suitable for snorkelling, as the water remains quite shallow even at high tide. Nevertheless, the enormous granite boulders that divide the beach into several sections make it truly impressive and well worth seeing. You should also be sure to try the fresh fruit cocktails served towards the far end of the beach, accompanied by relaxed lounge music – simply delicious.

Cocktail stand at Anse Source d'Argent You should set aside a day to visit the three consecutive beaches of Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos at a leisurely pace. You can reach the beautiful but wild Grand Anse by bicycle after a few uphill and downhill stretches. Enjoy the wonderful scenery, but take care if you enter the sea – the current can be very strong. The approximately 15-minute walking trail to Petite Anse also starts here. It is signposted at the beginning and leads over rough and uneven ground, so sturdy footwear is advisable. Once you arrive, you will find a truly gorgeous sandy beach that receives even fewer visitors than Grand Anse. The sea is wild here too, with high waves. As there are virtually no naturally shady spots, small shelters have been made from palm leaves to provide some shade. To reach Anse Cocos afterwards, you need to walk for another 15–20 minutes from Petite Anse, but it is worth the effort. Like the other two beaches, Anse Cocos is quite wild, but you will be rewarded with a wonderfully secluded beach.

Petite Anse As La Digue is very small, you should definitely explore the island by bicycle at least once. However, it is not possible to cycle all the way around it. We particularly liked the north and simply had to stop at Anse Patates. We could already see the turquoise water around this stretch of coast from our bicycles. The beach itself is relatively small and unfortunately offers very little space at high tide, but at least there are palm trees providing shade.

Anse Patates To sum up, we can only say that we had a dream holiday in the Seychelles and will be looking back on it fondly for a long time to come.

Thanks to SeyVillas’ excellent and highly detailed hotel descriptions, finding the perfect accommodation was much easier, and once we arrived, our expectations were more than exceeded.