The Most Beautiful Islands in the Seychelles
Our journey began in Hamburg at the end of July. We flew with Emirates via Dubai to Mahé and from there continued straight on to Praslin in a tiny plane. I can only recommend flying from Mahé rather than taking the ferry, as it makes the journey considerably easier (provided you are travelling straight on to another island after arriving). Instead of having to take a taxi from the airport to the harbour, you simply walk 500 m to the other side of the airport and continue your journey from there.
Praslin
When we arrived on Praslin, our host collected us and took us to our accommodation. She also immediately gave us some very helpful tips for exploring the island. For example, it is perfectly possible to get around without hiring a car, as buses run frequently and cover the entire island. However, they are often very crowded, and you should not necessarily rely on the last bus, as you may not be allowed on if it is full. The journeys can also be rather fast-paced and are not for anyone with a sensitive stomach. Overall, though, the bus is a very affordable alternative to a car.
Praslin is a beautiful island and a must for anyone holidaying in the Seychelles. Do not miss Vallée de Mai National Park or a boat trip to Curieuse, the tortoise island.
Although you see giant tortoises on every island, the experience on Curieuse is quite different: the tortoises roam freely rather than being confined to an enclosure, yet you are still guaranteed to see plenty of them. You also take a short walk across the uninhabited island to a truly idyllic beach, where a meal is prepared for you.
For me, by far the most beautiful beach on the island – perhaps even in the entire archipelago – is Anse Georgette. However, it can only be reached through hotel grounds, and visits must be arranged with the hotel in advance.
La Digue
From Praslin, we continued on to La Digue. Life on La Digue is different and considerably more peaceful than on the other main islands. The roads and ‘townscape’ are also quite different, in a positive way. The island has a wonderfully relaxed feel, and you should definitely hire a bicycle to explore it.
La Digue has fantastic beaches, a lovely atmosphere and excellent snorkelling. We simply set off from the beach and immediately saw several sea turtles, as well as plenty of colourful fish, of course – absolutely magical! A snorkelling trip by boat is also highly recommended, particularly a visit to the reefs around Félicité and Coco Island. The island is also well suited to hiking.
Mahé
Finally, we visited the main island of Mahé. It is beautiful, but nowhere near as relaxing as Praslin or La Digue. It is worth hiring a car for a tour of the island, as travelling by bus takes quite a long time and the island is simply much larger than the others. The beaches in the south are certainly worth visiting. Not only are they less crowded, but they also have a rather different character from those on the other islands. Although many beaches are unsuitable for swimming because the waves and currents are too strong, you should set aside a day to explore them. Mahé offers several good hiking trails, but be prepared for hiking to be very strenuous due to the heat and high humidity!
Overall, I would recommend spending most of your time on Praslin and La Digue, and slightly less on Mahé.
