A Holiday in Tropical Paradise

Arrival, accommodation and arrangements with SeyVillas

Our journey began at Frankfurt Airport. Our Condor flight departed on time and landed ahead of schedule on Mahé on Saturday morning. Our first glimpse of the towering granite hills shrouded in mist was breathtaking. We collected our hire car directly from the airport and drove to our accommodation, Le Domaine de Bacova, in Pointe au Sel. SeyVillas had informed our accommodation of our arrival time in advance. Although we arrived at our accommodation at 6.30 am, they were already expecting us and we were able to settle into our apartment. We were very happy with our accommodation. Our host and his staff were very friendly and always helpful. We felt completely at home. Our apartment was cleaned daily, and on some evenings we returned to find fresh coconut and papaya from the garden waiting for us in our kitchen.

Exploring by hire car

A hire car is a must on Mahé. It allows you to explore the island independently and discover plenty of secluded beaches along the way. Driving on the left feels unfamiliar at first, but you soon get used to it. Mahé has a great deal to offer and is underestimated by many visitors. The island boasts secluded beaches, wonderful hiking trails through the rainforest, the world’s smallest capital with its bustling market, and excellent diving and snorkelling spots. You definitely should not miss the beaches in the south. Anse Takamaka, Anse Intendance and Police Bay are just some of the southern beaches well worth seeing.

Anse Takama, Mahé The beaches in the north are also worth a visit.

The north of Mahé Although many beaches look inviting for swimming, you should take the warning signs at some of them seriously. Many beaches are not protected by an offshore reef and therefore have dangerous currents. SeyVillas can advise you on suitable beaches for swimming and snorkelling. Our favourite beach was Fairyland Beach (Relax Beach). Here, we could snorkel and swim in the calm water.

Fairyland Beach A hire car also allows you to reach many wonderful viewpoints, such as Mission Lodge Lookout. You can get there via Sans Souci Road. We had to stop several times along the way because the road offers wonderful views of the small surrounding islands.

Another recommendation for Mahé is a horse ride with Turquoise Horse Trails. Damien’s Appaloosas are very well cared for. He takes great care to ensure that his horses are not overworked and are treated well. Riding along the beach is a must for every horse lover and is suitable for both beginners and experienced riders.

On the Turquoise Horse Trail

Day trip to Praslin

As we wanted to explore more than one island without changing accommodation several times, we decided to take a day trip to Praslin. In the morning, we flew from Mahé to Praslin in just 15 minutes. There, we were collected by Mario Gisiger, a German-speaking guide. We first drove to Constance Lémuria Resort. From there, we crossed the hotel’s golf course to reach Anse Georgette.

Anse Georgette, Praslin Anse Georgette is a picture-perfect beach and the most beautiful one we had ever seen. To visit the beach, you need to register with the hotel in advance. Only a limited number of visitors are allowed onto the beach each day. From the beach, we explored the surrounding hills. The climb was truly strenuous in the bright sunshine and high humidity, but the view of Anse Kerlan and Petite Anse Kerlan was worth it. The view is breathtaking, and there is even a swing at the top.

View of Anse Kerlan and Petite Anse Afterwards, we visited Fond Ferdinand. Here, we saw the Coco de Mer, the world’s largest coconut. Fond Ferdinand also has another attraction: Karl the eel enjoys being stroked and fed.

Karl the EelWe saw many more of Praslin’s highlights that day. Praslin is definitely suitable for a day trip. However, if you decide to visit for just one day, you should book a guide. Without Mario Gisiger from Edelweiss Tours, we would not have seen nearly as much of Praslin in a single day. Snorkelling and diving Mahé has many wonderful beaches for snorkelling. Beau Vallon, Port Launay South Beach, Fairyland Beach (Relax Beach), Sunset Beach and Anse Takamaka are all lovely snorkelling spots. A day trip to snorkel in Curieuse Marine National Park is also worthwhile. A Creole barbecue on the beach is usually included at lunchtime.

View from the Mission LodgeThérèse Island The Seychelles also offer some wonderful dive sites. Big Blue Divers at Beau Vallon are highly recommended. We completed our diving certification there and felt very safe, even as beginners. We had the chance to see moray eels, stingrays, eagle rays, dolphins, lionfish, starfish and much more. Snorkelling off MahéSnorkelling off Mahé.