Every Island a Little Paradise of Its Own
After an admittedly long flight, a coach transfer and two ferry crossings, it took us very little time to unwind completely on La Digue. This island is pure relaxation: you travel around only by bicycle, spot ‘cute’ giant tortoises in all sorts of places, can get coconuts on every beach (optionally with rum at sunset), discover one dream beach after another and enjoy the most delicious juices and freshest fish imaginable at Chez Jules – truly a little paradise!
Our accommodation at Villa Verte, which we had entirely to ourselves, was just as heavenly. Falling asleep and waking up to the sound of the sea, with views of uninhabited islands, was well worth the slightly higher price.
Three days is just about enough to explore La Digue, but anyone with more time should stay longer, as it is the perfect place to relax. One lovely spot is the gorgeous and usually deserted Anse Cocos. You do have to hike there, but once you arrive, you will have it almost entirely to yourself...
A trip up Nid d'Aigle is also worthwhile, preferably in the morning before it gets too warm. The views are magnificent and well worth the effort! We were also impressed by the wonderfully laid-back attitude of both the islanders and the tourists. Bicycles do not need locks, and you can even leave your snorkelling gear in the basket without anyone stealing it. Everything here is simply very relaxed ;-)
Mahé, with the hustle and bustle of Victoria, was a complete contrast, but as soon as we arrived at the exclusive Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, we felt as though we had entered another paradise.
The standard here is simply outstanding: the staff anticipate your every wish, the villas are beautifully furnished, the views are breathtaking and the house reef is full of colourful fish. We could certainly have continued relaxing here, but once we collected our hire car, our sense of adventure took over, and we explored (almost) all the beaches and several mountains on the main island. In particular, the hike along the Copolia Lodge Trail is not to be missed. The ascent is manageable and takes about an hour if you are wearing sturdy footwear. The views over the coast, and especially over Sainte Anne Marine National Park, are spectacular!
It is also well worth taking a closer look at Sainte Anne Marine National Park on a snorkelling trip. We were lucky enough to see baby reef sharks, rays, turtles, a lobster and plenty of colourful fish at close range. There are lots of operators offering these tours, and you learn a great deal about Sainte Anne Marine National Park and its flora and fauna.
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On our final day, we made a fairly spontaneous trip to Silhouette Island. The Hilton arranged everything directly, as it has another hotel there on an absolutely spectacular dream beach. The island is full of wild natural beauty, as we discovered on another hike. So, if you have had your fill of idyllic beaches lined with picture-perfect palms, you can venture deep into the jungle and admire giant trees as well as millipedes.
All in all, we saw a great deal during our 10 days and boarded the plane home feeling completely relaxed. Many thanks to SeyVillas for the excellent advice on accommodation and itinerary combinations – it certainly helped us make the most of our holiday!
However, we would only recommend hiring a car if you are familiar with driving on the left and already have experience of driving abroad. The roads and traffic can be challenging, although you soon get used to them. It was also great to find small supermarkets on almost every corner where we could buy cold drinks and snacks. Finding your way around is easy – even when hiking, as the paths are well signposted and marked. And with a little instinct, particularly on La Digue, you can still discover narrow trails leading to secluded coves...
