Honeymoon in Paradise!
Once the wedding celebrations were over, we had a day to recover and then set off for the Seychelles on our honeymoon!
We departed from Milan and reached Mahé in around 13 hours on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
After collecting our luggage, we found representatives from Creole waiting for us at the airport, who kindly accompanied us to the harbour.
From there, we boarded a lovely Cat Cocos, a small ferry connecting the various islands, and sailed across the Indian Ocean in front of a breathtaking sunset. Before long, we reached the island of La Digue, the first stop on our honeymoon.
On La Digue, time seems to have stood still, and four-wheeled vehicles are extremely rare; in fact, the taxi that took us to our chosen accommodation was one of only five on this small island.
When we went out to sample some Creole specialities, we were immediately struck by the lack of street lighting, which means you need to take a little extra care when walking along the roads of La Digue. On the other hand, millions of stars lit up the sky above us... a truly romantic sight, especially when viewed by the sea!
The following morning, after picking up two bicycles, we began our tour of the island!
Cycling along the narrow lanes lined with lush vegetation, we came across Anse La Réunion: dazzling white sand inhabited only by a few tiny crabs, calm water in every shade of green, towering palms and thriving plants of countless varieties! It was impossible to resist the urge to dive in! One thing to bear in mind, however, is that there may be small fragments of coral from the reef protecting this coastline on the seabed, so make sure you wear reef shoes when entering the water.
The second stop on our tour was Anse Source d'Argent, which is accessed through L'Union Estate for a fee of around €7.
Despite being a major tourist attraction, it never feels overcrowded in the way that Italian beaches often do.
Our first tip is to photograph it from the sea, perhaps while wading among a few batfish, enormous yellow and blue fish that swim peacefully towards the shore, seemingly unaware of any human presence.
Our second tip: watch the sunset from the beach... you will witness a truly unique spectacle!
You cannot leave La Digue without visiting the beaches in the south, including Grand Anse
and Petite Anse!
The path leading to them is a continuous series of climbs and descents, but if you become too tired, the wonderful fresh fruit juices prepared by the friendly owners of the roadside stalls will come to your rescue. They are truly exceptional and well worth trying.
Once you reach Grand Anse, the sight before you is magnificent: a vast expanse of white sand adorned with lush vegetation, bordering a powerful, deep-blue ocean.
This stretch of coastline is not protected by a coral reef, and the strong currents make it difficult to swim safely. However, with a little caution, you can still have fun playing in the majestic ocean waves close to the shore!
A walk of around 15 minutes to the right through the tropical forest brings you to the smaller but no less enchanting Petite Anse. Here, you can enjoy a wonderfully fresh coconut, opened for you on the spot by the owner of a small beach stall, and relax with the gentle sound of the waves in the background.
Cycling along the coast north of La Digue’s harbour, you will come across a series of beautiful beaches, including Anse Severe, Anse Banane, Anse Patates... here you can enjoy a peaceful swim and stop to watch giant tortoises ambling slowly across the dazzling white sand.
The second stop on our honeymoon was Praslin. This island is larger than La Digue, so we hired a small car to get around, which is essential if you want to explore its more secluded corners!
One of these is certainly Anse la Blague, in the south-west of the island: a long beach of fine sand beside an unspoilt sea! We spent a wonderful day here in complete solitude, apart from the occasional fisherman appearing with his catch of tropical fish.
The most famous beach on Praslin is undoubtedly Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or), where most tourists can be found and, consequently, various beach vendors offering excursions.
We took the opportunity to sail with them to the islands of Curieuse Marine National Park. Curieuse is a protected reserve where you can see tortoises of all sizes, from tiny hatchlings to the largest century-old specimens. Following a trail through the forest, you can also discover a distinctive ecosystem of mangroves, enormous red crabs, ancient trees and colourful birds.
After a delicious Creole lunch prepared on a barbecue on the beach, we continued our excursion with a stop at St Pierre Island. This is an ideal place for snorkelling: swimming among countless brightly coloured fish is a thrilling experience!
The beaches in northern Praslin are also certainly worth mentioning: Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette. The latter, in particular, can only be visited by prior arrangement with the Constance Lémuria Resort, as reaching it involves following a route through the resort’s golf course.
These are beautiful beaches, just like picture-postcard images of the Seychelles. There is no coral reef and the water is slightly deeper than elsewhere, making them wonderful places for a proper swim. However, be mindful of the tides: our advice is to visit in the morning at low tide, as the water rises with the afternoon high tide and the waves reach the shore with enough force to cover almost the entire beach... after all, there is no resisting the power of the ocean!
The third stop on our honeymoon was the island of Mahé.
When we arrived at the harbour, a friendly young man from Creole was waiting for us. As well as being our driver, he also acted as our guide, sharing some interesting facts about the capital, Victoria, and the various beaches we passed on the way to Baie Lazare, in the south of the island. This was where our accommodation, the Kempinski Seychelles Resort Baie Lazare, was located.
We really wanted to pamper ourselves here, making the most of the resort staff’s exceptional kindness and enjoying kayaking and snorkelling around the bay.
We also had the opportunity to attend a traditional Creole dinner, where we were treated to a variety of local dishes: excellent fish cooked over the barbecue according to a local recipe, Creole rice and a meat stew made with Takamaka rum, the island’s famous vanilla-flavoured rum.
The Seychelles are a magical place, where unspoilt nature reigns supreme, the pace of life is slow and relaxation is guaranteed... and thanks to SeyVillas and their professionalism, you will not even need to worry about organising your trip. All you need to do is pack your passport and suitcase.
Have a wonderful holiday!
