Snorkelling Paradise in the Seychelles

We booked our trip around 4 weeks before departure and still had a fantastic choice of lovely hotels through SeyVillas, as well as a great flight at a good price. Given how late we booked, we had not expected that. So we did not have long to wait before we were off…

Praslin

We first landed on Mahé and were then taken to the harbour to catch the ferry across. It was reassuring that whenever we arrived somewhere, a representative from Creole, the local travel agency, was always there to meet us. We then drove all over the island in our hire car and could explore each place for as long and as often as we liked. For us, the most beautiful beach was definitely Anse Lazio , framed by rocks and with turquoise water. We returned there on several days. The beach is not deserted, but it is not overcrowded either. If you find a quiet spot, you almost feel as though you have the place to yourself. While we were swimming, a tiny baby turtle even swam past us.

Anse Lazio, PraslinAnse Lazio, Praslin Anse Boudin was excellent for snorkelling. There is a sign by the roadside saying ‘Best Snorkelling Point’. We saw not only lots of colourful fish there, but also a sea turtle. We would also recommend a trip to St Pierre. You can snorkel all around the island there. As well as the many colourful fish, we saw a large ray and a shark. However, as it is also very easy to snorkel straight from the beach in the Seychelles, it is worth considering whether the excursion offers good value for money.

Snorkelling paradise of St. Pierre Snorkelling paradise on Curieuse Island

La Digue

We travelled to La Digue by ferry again and were then driven to our accommodation. The journey did not take long, as the island really is not very large. Unfortunately, we could not check into our room straight away, so we hired bicycles instead. They were delivered to our accommodation shortly afterwards, allowing us to pack our things and set off.

Our highlights on La Digue were Grand Anse and Petite Anse. We saw rays leaping out of the clear water there. As the road crosses a hill, getting there by bicycle is a little strenuous. However, it is well worth the effort, and there are small stalls selling fresh juices along the way where you can stop for a break. Because the island is so small, restaurants, takeaways, supermarkets and so on are all quick to reach by bicycle. We often bought our meals from takeaways, as they are considerably cheaper than restaurants. Although the food is packaged ‘to take away’, there is usually somewhere to sit and eat on the premises.

We were initially a little disappointed by Anse Source d'Argent , as we arrived at low tide and the water was a long way out. We had already read a lot about the beach and ‘its fame’, so our expectations were quite high. When the tide came in later, it did look truly beautiful with the rocks, but we still preferred some of the other beaches.

Mahé

To return to Mahé, you first have to take the ferry to Praslin and then change there for the ferry to Mahé. Our ferry crossing was a little chaotic, as far too many people wanted to board the ferry to Praslin and eventually it was full. As many passengers needed to catch the ferry to Mahé, the crowding became worse and worse. However, the Creole staff explained that the next ferry would arrive within a few minutes and that the ferry to Mahé would wait for us.

Sunset at the Beach House, Mahé Once we arrived, we were delighted with our bungalow, which was separated from the sea by just one road and was only a few minutes’ walk from Beau Vallon. We hired another car locally so that we could explore every corner of the island at our own pace. Sunset Beach is not far from our accommodation. It is rather hidden, as you have to follow a narrow path through the forest from the road. As a result, it was once again very quiet, and we could relax, paddle and snorkel at this lovely beach. Our favourite beach was Anse Soleil , with its turquoise water. As there are no dedicated parking spaces, you have to park by the roadside. This is possible, but spaces are limited. That was probably why it was not too busy, and it was a wonderful place both for swimming and snorkelling. We saw enormous fish as well as lots of rays.

By chance, we also discovered the restaurant ‘Maria’s Rock Cafeteria’, where you can enjoy raclette. For around €18, you can cook meat, fish and prawns yourself on a hot stone. It is served with rice, salad and absolutely delicious sauces. We would recommend booking a table, as it was quite busy.

Anse Soleil Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and were amazed that the beaches really were as idyllic as those pictured in travel brochures. We have travelled extensively, but we had never seen so many breathtaking beaches before.

And finally, one last tip: I would definitely recommend visiting the islands in this order – Praslin, La Digue and Mahé – as this means you do not have to take another ferry on your final day and can travel directly to the airport. It also means that on the first day, when you are tired after the flight, you only need to take one ferry to reach Praslin.