14 Days Like a Dream
For our first trip to the Seychelles, we decided to spend 14 days on Mahé. We stayed at the guest house Fleur de Sel on Anse Royale and felt as though we were in paradise.
With direct access to the sea and a sea view as soon as we got up in the morning, we immediately felt at home and were able to completely unwind.
Although the village and all the essential shops and amenities, including a supermarket, bank and restaurants, are within walking distance, we were very pleased to have a hire car. It gave us even more freedom to explore new beaches and bays each day or, for example, to drive to the nearby Le Jardin Du Roi Spice Garden. There, we were greeted by a breathtaking view from the mountains down towards the coast, as well as an incredible variety of vegetation and plants we had never seen ‘for real’ before. Alongside cotton, coffee, pepper, nutmeg, mahogany and orchids, you can also admire the Coco de Mer palm here.
We were also fascinated by the resident giant tortoises, which even allowed us to stroke and feed them. This was one of many excursions that we would wholeheartedly recommend to everyone.
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Here, you can not only admire the traditional local architecture and buy souvenirs, but also watch the artists at work on their crafts. On the way from Anse Royale to the Craft Village, you also pass the home of Takamaka Rum, the Takamaka Rum Distillery. Even if you do not want to join a tour or tasting, it is worth taking a look inside the distillery’s usually open rooms free of charge or exploring the grounds with their Takamaka palms.
Our favourite beaches for swimming, snorkelling and relaxing are on the west coast.
We particularly enjoyed starting the day at Anse Takamaka.
During the European summer, swimming is not permitted there due to the strong currents. However, the bay is so beautiful that, even without swimming or snorkelling, you can easily spend some time relaxing in the shade of the palms, simply watching the waves or the little crabs disappearing into their holes. From Anse Takamaka, you can continue north along the west coast to Baie Lazare, which became our favourite place for snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing during our holiday.
Further north, at Anse à la Mouche, you can watch the lively comings and goings of the Seychellois in the evening, see the fish leaping out of the water in the evening sun, or spot a heron perched on an old fishing boat waiting for its catch.
We especially enjoyed spending Wednesday afternoons at Beau Vallon. After a long sunbathing session, we would drink fresh coconut water on the beach and soak up the evening atmosphere.
Every Wednesday from 16:00, a food market is set up along the beachfront. When you start to feel hungry towards the evening, you can buy delicious Creole food from the stalls and take it back to the beach to enjoy at sunset. The combination of the delicious food and the sun’s spectacular display of colours is simply beautiful.
We would also wholeheartedly recommend dinner at the Boat House at Beau Vallon. A Creole all-you-can-eat buffet is served there every day from 19:30. Although it is not particularly cheap, it is genuinely worthwhile and an absolute must during a stay there.
We are incredibly happy to have seen and explored this beautiful corner of the world, and we have come home with so many memories, experiences and impressions – we will definitely return.
