Seychelles – A Dream Come True

After almost a year of intensive planning, we set off with Emirates on 11 March 2017 for our dream holiday. We arrived on 12 March 2017 and took the Cat Cocos ferry from Mahé to Praslin. As we had been awake for more than 24 hours, we slept through the ferry journey. When we arrived on Praslin, we collected the hire car we had booked in advance. The drive across the island to our accommodation was phenomenal. The views of the jungle were truly unique.

At the Beach Villa Guesthouse, we were welcomed with a refreshing drink and shown to our accommodation. As soon as we arrived at the Beach Villa, we noticed how warm and friendly everyone was. This impression certainly continued over the following days. It felt like staying with an aunt and uncle. The owner cooks dinner for her guests herself, and the food is delicious.

The next day, we went on an excursion to Vallée de Mai. It was magnificent and very impressive. It is definitely worth visiting if you are on Praslin. We took a guided tour through the national park, which allowed us to learn more about Vallée de Mai.

We then explored the island by car. Of course, an excursion to Curieuse Island was also a must. We travelled to the tortoise island on our accommodation’s own boat. Our first encounter with the tortoises was very impressive. Afterwards, we walked through the mangrove forest to the other side of the island, where a large BBQ with red snapper, chicken and homemade salads awaited us. We then continued to St Pierre Island for some snorkelling. It was an eventful day.

A visit to Anse Georgette was also on our itinerary. It is one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen and a wonderful place to relax.

Naturally, we also took a bus trip to Anse Lazio. It is something you should experience at least once and was a real adventure. Anse Lazio is also a beautiful beach, with turquoise water and white sand. Praslin is definitely worth visiting.

On 17 March, we continued by ferry to the island of La Digue. When we arrived at the harbour, we were collected in the accommodation’s own golf buggy. On the way to Etoile Labrine, it felt as though the people here lived on their own little continent. Our first impressions of the island were incredible. At the accommodation itself, we immediately felt welcome. We were greeted with lemongrass tea, and the owner gave us some initial information about the property and the island. We were then shown to our accommodation, which was beautifully decorated. We explored the grounds before setting off on bicycles to get our first impressions of La Digue. In the evening, we enjoyed dinner at the accommodation. They cook for their guests, and the food was excellent.

33405 The next day, we visited Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos. The beaches are beautiful. The routes across the rocks to Petite Anse and Anse Cocos are well worth the effort. We spent some time at Anse Cocos before making our way back.

A visit to Anse Patates was also on our itinerary. Unfortunately, the waves were too high for us to go snorkelling, but it was an impressively beautiful location for photographs. We also encountered several tortoises while cycling. An excursion with Jonathan from Liberty Charter to the islands of Marianne, Félicité and Grand Soeur was another highlight. On the way towards Marianne, we spotted dolphins in the distance. When we arrived on the island, a delicious BBQ was prepared for us. We then continued towards Félicité and Grand Soeur, stopping to snorkel at each island. The underwater world of the Seychelles is impressive.

Of course, a tour to Anse Marron was also a must. We did this with a guide. The tour is quite demanding, but it is well worth the effort. We crossed rocks, squeezed through rocky crevices and made our way through the jungle before reaching the breathtaking beach. A platter of fresh fruit snacks was served to us there. On the way back, the tour ended at Anse Source d'Argent, another beautiful beach on La Digue. Our route back to the accommodation took us through L’Union Estate Park. That evening, we enjoyed one final dinner at Etoile Labrine. Of all the islands, La Digue impressed us the most. You feel completely free there, especially because you can explore the island by bicycle. It is one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen.

On 22 March, we took the ferry to Mahé. When we arrived at the harbour, we collected another hire car that we had booked in advance. The road up to the accommodation was quite steep. The Lemongrass Lodge is situated quite high up on a mountain, so a hire car was essential. The lodge itself is very cosy and designed in a maisonette style. Meals can be booked as an optional extra. We tried the BBQ one evening, but it was not really to our taste. We also arranged our own breakfast.

That evening, we visited a bazaar at Beau Vallon Bay. It takes place once a week and offers plenty of Creole specialities to discover. There was also live music and a selection of cocktails.

Of course, a visit to the capital, Victoria, was a must. We also visited Sir Selwyn Clarke Market. After passing the large fish stall and numerous vegetable stalls, we browsed the spices to see what we could take home with us. Naturally, souvenirs for those back home were also on our list.

The Takamaka rum distillery was also worth visiting. We visited the waterfall at Port Glaud, as well as Anse Intendance and Anse Takamaka. Unfortunately, the waves at Anse Intendance were too high for swimming, but the beach itself is beautiful. At Anse Takamaka, we enjoyed a large Creole BBQ at Chez Batista, featuring many local specialities and live music.

Overall, we did not enjoy Mahé quite as much. It felt hectic compared with Praslin and La Digue. If we travel to the Seychelles again, we would not include Mahé in our itinerary.

Nevertheless, it was a dream holiday filled with unforgettable experiences. It was one of the most beautiful holidays we have ever had, and we will most certainly visit the Seychelles again.