Mahé – I Have Seen Paradise
Hello to all you travel enthusiasts, sun lovers and sea addicts!
We had to wait more than three years to return to the Seychelles. Last time, we travelled by catamaran and visited Mahé, Praslin and Curieuse. It was an absolute dream, and this time we were determined to enjoy a lovely hotel holiday on Mahé and visit La Digue. Even though we only had one week’s holiday, returning to this paradise was well worth the long journey. When we asked SeyVillas about a stylish hotel with tourist attractions and activities nearby, they immediately recommended two options on Beau Vallon Bay.
„Le Méridien Fisherman's Cove“ won us over, and once we arrived, it exceeded our expectations. The hotel is situated at the eastern end of the bay and boasts breathtaking views, tasteful décor and exceptionally friendly service. Directly in front of the hotel, you can explore a colourful underwater world with a snorkel and fins.
Although Beau Vallon is considered a ‘tourist hotspot’ here, it simply cannot be compared with typical holiday destinations. The hotels are hidden by the tropical vegetation and only become visible when you are standing right in front of them. There is plenty of room for water sports enthusiasts, beach walkers and anyone seeking peace and quiet while simply gazing out to sea.
We chose this area because we had booked breakfast only, allowing us to stroll to different restaurants in the evenings and get to know the country and its people, both locals and tourists. The Seychellois are such open, contented and genuine people that they turn most visitors into smiling, happy souls too. Of course, things move at a slightly slower pace, and the word ‘hustle’ is probably unknown here…but the coffee or beer you ordered will arrive – with a smile! All the organised excursions, whether by ferry or bus, and the information provided worked perfectly. Even the local buses were punctual. The timetables and routes are easy to understand, so you can affordably ‘rattle’ your way around the entire island – an experience that is great fun. Food in restaurants is rather expensive, but supermarket prices are perfectly reasonable. Anyone wishing to self-cater can do so very easily. We already knew this from our sailing holiday. Once you have visited one of these little corner shops and had juice, ginger, rice, candles, washing powder or instant coffee – or all of them together – passed to you over the counter, you suddenly appreciate it and find the service wonderful.
The flora and fauna reminded us of the tropical houses at our zoos. The sounds and scents are something we otherwise only encounter there. We have already mentioned the beautiful underwater world, but the colourful little birds also make wonderful subjects for photographs. At dusk, we could always rely on the flying foxes gliding past before landing in the trees by the beach. You need to keep your camera with you at all times!
Our evening walks along the beach were always interesting – the setting for a candlelit dinner, a party illuminated by torches, the barbecue stalls along the way…
Our excursions took us to Victoria, the small and charming capital, and by ferry to La Digue. These were also wonderful days, full of impressions – and that scenery, those beaches.
Of course, you find yourself thinking there is still more to see here and there, but for a one-week holiday, this was enough for us. And our bay, with its magnificent hotel, was still the most beautiful place of all!
We will definitely return, because you can never get enough of the Seychelles.
Benno and Simone
