Dream Island La Digue

We spent most of our first holiday in the Seychelles on La Digue.
The reason was that La Digue, as the smallest of the inhabited islands, seemed the most relaxed to us, and we were absolutely right. We thoroughly enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere and the friendly people on La Digue. As there are only a few cars, the island is wonderful to explore on foot or, if you prefer, by bicycle.

Our personal highlight was the free-roaming giant tortoises, which can be found at Anse Severe and near the restaurant Chez Jules. Incidentally, the tortoises are very fond of bananas, which you can buy cheaply from the local vendors’ stalls in La Passe. We ate at Chez Jules very often and loved it every time!

On La Digue, we stayed at the O'Soleil Chalets near Anse Severe. We felt very comfortable there and were completely satisfied. As we were staying in self-catering accommodation, we regularly stocked up on everything we needed at the island’s 2 larger supermarkets, STC and Gregoires, which are diagonally opposite each other. We did not want to carry water and other drinks that far, so we bought them from the smaller shops in La Passe. You can also buy samosas there – pastries filled with fish, vegetables or meat – which are absolutely delicious as a snack between meals.

We also ate out several times. We can recommend:

Chez Jules – our absolute favourite restaurant!
Zerof Restaurant – a buffet 3 times a week. It was delicious and very reasonably priced.
Fish Trap – right by the jetty. You can sit on the beach and enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset. A little more expensive, but good.
Le Bon Coin – beautifully situated on the beach. The food was very good, although it was not exactly cheap.
La Digue Pizzeria – very good pizza to eat in or take away. Fairly inexpensive.
Snack Bellevue – a very strenuous climb, but with a fantastic view. We went there for lunch, and the food was delicious.

All the beaches on the island are beautiful. We particularly liked Anse Cocos, with its natural pool where you can swim. The walk there is a little strenuous – wear sturdy shoes – but it is worth it. We also took a trip to Praslin to visit the Vallée de Mai and were very impressed.

During our stay on Mahé, we stayed at Au Fond de Mer View and were delighted with both the accommodation and the magnificent sea view from the balcony.
We had a hire car, which allowed us to explore the island quite well. Mahé was also beautiful and has fantastic beaches, but after the peace and tranquillity of La Digue, it felt rather hectic to us. We also thought it was a shame that you really need a car, as getting around on foot is difficult due to the lack of pavements.

A visit to the Takamaka Rum Distillery is well worthwhile, including a guided tour followed by a tasting. We can also recommend La Plaine St. Andre, the restaurant located on the distillery grounds. The terrace has a lovely atmosphere, and the food was very good. However, it was not cheap either.

The booking and organisation through SeyVillas, as well as the local transfers provided by Creole Travel Service, went smoothly, and we would book through SeyVillas again without hesitation.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the Seychelles and will certainly be returning.

Arne & Wencke