A quick trip to paradise...
We had been told that paradise did not exist...but we had not believed it...and we were right, because we had arrived in the Seychelles…
Praslin
After a full 13 hours of travelling, with a short stopover in Abu Dhabi, we arrived on Mahé. Our domestic flight was waiting to take us to Praslin, where our wonderful holiday would begin.
We flew to Praslin on a small Air Seychelles plane to spend our first 5 days in this paradise. When we arrived, a lovely young woman from the SeyVillas team was waiting to take us to the taxi that would bring us to our hotel. A short drive past palm trees and beaches brought us to the guesthouse Villa Bananier, a lovely, peaceful little hotel near Anse Volbert, where we could begin enjoying the island. If this was how our holiday was starting, things could only get better!
Praslin is the second-largest island in the Seychelles and has countless beaches, many of which are truly fabulous and well worth visiting. We hired a car so that we could explore the whole island. The first beach we wanted to see was Anse Lazio, Praslin’s most famous beach.
A true natural wonder, with enormous granite rocks and incredibly fine white sand. Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or) is also truly beautiful, as is Grand Anse. All you have to do is explore until you find the perfect place to take a refreshing dip in these splendid waters and enjoy the island and its sea.
But Praslin has much more to offer, with plenty of excursions available. On our second day, we visited the Vallée de Mai, a small rainforest (the smallest in the world!), where the coco de mer grows, the famous coconut known for its enormous size. On the third day, we went snorkelling at St Pierre and visited Curieuse Island, a magnificent island where you can see more than 150 giant tortoises.
The local people are cheerful and friendly, and they listen to music from morning until night. If you have any problems, you only need to ask, as they are always happy to help.
La Digue
After a few days, we moved on to the second island of our trip, La Digue. This island is much smaller than the first, but has even more character, and you will easily fall in love with it!
When we stepped off the ferry after a 20-minute crossing, another SeyVillas representative was waiting for us. She gave us more information about our accommodation and explained how to get there. The Bamboo Chalets offer the perfect blend of traditional Seychellois accommodation and the Western style we are used to. Surrounded by greenery, it was a comfortable place to spend another 4 days among these beautiful islands.
We decided to hire bicycles straight away, directly from the guesthouse, as they are the island’s most popular form of transport, and set off to explore. We were very lucky, because our stay on La Digue coincided with the 3-day Assumption Day celebrations around 15 August. The evenings were therefore lively and full of activity, and it was wonderful to experience them alongside the local people.
Before leaving home, I had booked an excursion with an experienced young Seychellois guide, who took us snorkelling at Sister Island, Coco Island and Felicité. While we were near the latter, we had the pleasure of swimming with a sea turtle.
We were also lucky enough to take a helicopter flight and admire La Digue’s beautiful beaches and the small surrounding islands from above.
On La Digue, we visited one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Anse Source d'Argent. It is a true natural wonder, especially when viewed from the sea. Step into the water and admire the magnificent scenery that the Seychelles have to offer.
Cerf Island
The last island we stayed on was much smaller than the others. Cerf Island is a tiny island near Mahé, where nothing but peace and relaxation awaited us at Takamaka Beach Villas.
There are only two restaurants with adjoining resorts on the island, along with a few small but charming guesthouses. It is the perfect combination of beauty and relaxation. From Cerf Island, we took a trip to Moyenne, a small island just a few minutes away by boat. We also went snorkelling between the islands, where we saw a magnificent lobster resting peacefully in Sainte Anne Marine Park, as well as the breathtaking regrowth of coral that had been slightly damaged by El Niño…
Small canoes are available on the island, which you can use to reach the neighbouring islands or paddle along Cerf’s coastline. Near the island’s little church, we found a path leading up to its highest point, where the breathtaking view made the climb more than worthwhile.
If you wish, you can then descend to the opposite side of the island, where the sea is truly spectacular and delights all the senses.
On our final day, we decided to explore Mahé, as our flight was not due to depart until 20:00. We therefore got up early, took the first available water taxi and hired a car so that we could see Mahé as well. The city market is an absolute must, filled with all the delicacies these islands have to offer.
We hope everyone has the chance to enjoy a holiday like this at least once in their lifetime!!
