10 Days in Paradise

Our fairly spontaneously booked trip to the Seychelles began at 04:00 in Dubai. After a stopover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we landed on Mahé in the afternoon. Unfortunately, a delay meant that our plan to take the public transfer to the ferry and catch the 15:00 bus was no longer possible, as the bus leaves promptly and only runs at 15:00. However, a taxi got us from the airport to the ferry terminal within 20 minutes, allowing us to catch the last ferry to Praslin at 16:30. Given the time of year, the sea was a little rough and the swell rocked the ferry up and down quite considerably. Nevertheless, we felt very safe aboard the Cat Cocos. We finally arrived at around 17:30. Initially still a little disorientated, we left the Jetty ferry terminal and crossed the bridge. There, we were told that our accommodation, Chalets Cote Mer, was even within walking distance!

177|Chalets Cote Mer We climbed a few steps and followed a beautifully planted path, reaching our accommodation within 5 minutes. I can highly recommend the hotel, both for its proximity to the Jetty and for its lovely grounds. After a welcome drink, we were shown to our room. It was also beautifully decorated with flowers and had a very attractive new bathroom.
There was seating outside the room where we could relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings and sea view. That evening, we decided to dine at the hotel restaurant. There was a choice of two main courses: fish or meat. The menu also included a starter and dessert. For €25, excluding drinks, we were treated to a wonderful meal. The restaurant also offers magnificent views over the sea, making it the perfect place to end the evening with a good glass of wine – or rum; the Takamaka coconut rum is highly recommended.

177|Chalets Cote Mer The hotel was also a good base for various excursions and trips to the beaches. A hire car can be booked directly on site for €50 per day. However, we opted for the bus and travelled to Anse Lazio on our very first day. The bus journey costs just 5 rupees per person, around €0.30, and is a little adventure in itself!
We liked Anse Lazio best of all. In our opinion, it offers that authentic Seychelles feeling, with gorgeous white sand, rocks on either side and excellent swimming. There is also plenty for snorkellers to discover.

75|Anse Lazio A walking trail of around 1 hour 15 minutes also leads to Anse Georgette. We initially wanted to take the coastal route through the jungle, but it is genuinely very difficult to find. Instead, we went over the hill and reached the beach via the entrance to Constance Lémuria Resort. It is important to register with the resort one day in advance, as otherwise you will not be allowed through. Registration is free.

Another tip is Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve. It offers the same variety of plants, particularly coco de mer palms, as the well-known Vallée de Mai. At Fond Ferdinand, however, the guided tour is already included, there are far fewer visitors and admission costs around half as much. Our guide also gave wonderful explanations of the different plants and took us to a fantastic viewpoint. Another advantage is that you can walk from Chalets Cote Mer to the park entrance. There are, of course, a few uphill and downhill sections, but you will arrive in around 40 minutes. It is important to bring water, as there is nowhere to buy any along the way or at the park.

Fond Ferdinand Fond Ferdinand Praslin also has some excellent restaurants if you do not fancy dining at the hotel. You can reach them from the hotel by bus or taxi. However, taxis are quite expensive, so hiring a car for the whole day may offer better value.

Another excursion was a diving trip with the Octopus Diving Center. The diving centre is very well organised and therefore highly recommended. The other diving school, Whitetipdivers, is said to be very similar, so it is likely to be an equally good choice.

Bellevue You should definitely also take an excursion to Curieuse Island, combined with snorkelling at St Pierre! The many giant tortoises and the short walk through the mangrove forest are unique and make for a fantastic experience. You can also feed and stroke the tortoises. After walking through the forest, you can enjoy the beach during a lovely barbecue. With a little luck, you may even spot sea turtles near St Pierre Island! You will also see plenty of colourful fish and beautiful coral.

Giant tortoise on Curieuse After our stay on Praslin, we continued to La Digue, where we also spent 4 nights. La Digue should definitely be included in any Seychelles holiday, and you should spend at least 4 days there. The island and its many beautiful beaches are easy to explore by bicycle, which you can hire locally for 300 rupees per person for 3 days. We can also highly recommend the tour with Sunny Trails! It takes you along beaches and through the jungle to wonderful places, such as Anse Marron, which you would not otherwise get to see.

10|Anse Marron Finally, we spent another 3 days on Mahé. Hiring a car is highly recommended here. It makes both the journey to your accommodation and exploring the island much easier. You can comfortably drive around the island and visit the various beaches in a single day. We also stopped at the Takamaka distillery, although it is not worth buying the rum there. It is cheapest in the duty-free shop at the airport, where it costs around 15% less!

The Seychelles will certainly remain in our memories for a very long time. With such a wealth of natural beauty and beaches, it is one of the most beautiful destinations we have visited so far!