The Trip Forever Etched in Our Memory, ‘SEYCHELLES LOVE’

We travel a great deal, and the Seychelles had been a dream of ours for several years. We finally took the plunge and treated ourselves to this destination, which will remain in our Top 10 – right near the top of the list – of all the trips we have taken.
If we had to sum it up in a few words, we would say warmth in every sense: the heat, but also the warmth of the people, who are very welcoming; magnificent beaches, as well as wonderful hikes for those who do not want to spend all their time on the beach. Decent food and delicious fruit juices…

Here is a brief account of our stay:

We began with Praslin (5 nights):
We used public transport to do everything we had planned, but we also walked to reach some of the beaches.
On the first day, we visited Anse Lazio (starting with one of the very best beaches), then walked through the forest to Anse Georgette

We did not hire a guide; we asked for directions at Anse Lazio, and local people we met along the way showed us the route, which is not easy to find. It took around 2 hours of hiking to reach another sublime beach, and we then left via the golf course.
The following day, we visited Curieuse Marine National Park and Saint Pierre, a giant natural aquarium: it was fantastic! We had lunch on Curieuse Island. It is definitely worth doing!
Anse Consolation On the third day, we went to Anse Consolation. We had this beautiful, unspoilt beach entirely to ourselves for 4 hours. We took the bus, which dropped us off 3 km away. Walking those 3 km is fairly strenuous because it is very steep, but it is honestly well worth the effort.
Curieuse Island On our final day before leaving, we went swimming at 7.30 am at Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or). The fishermen were arriving with around 50 small sharks that they were going to sell. We were able to chat with them without any difficulty.

We continued our stay on La Digue (4 nights):
Before leaving, I had seen online, on YouTube, that it was possible to take a guided hike from 9 am–3.30 pm.
When we arrived, SeyVillas helped us arrange the hike with the guide I had seen: Rondy. It was indeed the same hike shown on YouTube.
Rondy was fantastic, spoke several languages and prepared a fruit platter for us, along with small pieces of smoked fish.
We swam at Anse Marron, which was magnificent! He also told us about the country and its traditions… Thanks to those conversations, we went out that evening to try bat, in the form of a traditional Seychellois bat curry.

The restaurant owner was also excellent. He chatted with us at length and spent 30 minutes preparing the dish, even though it normally had to be ordered in advance!
The only slight problem was that it was very spicy, despite the owner saying that he had made it suitable for tourists!
On the second day, we hired bicycles, and my husband tried fishing at Anse Patates. Some young local people came over to chat with us, and they offered me a coconut to drink from, as it was not yet ripe. It was another wonderful opportunity to connect with local people!
We spent another day hiking from Grand Anse to Anse Cocos, surrounded by magnificent scenery.
At this time of year, in October, there are strong currents on this side of La Digue, so swimming should be avoided except in the natural pools, such as at Anse Marron and Anse Cocos – and only in the pool itself.

Anse Patates

We ended our stay on Mahé (3 nights):
We travelled by local bus, as my husband was injured and could not drive, while I was a little apprehensive because the Seychellois – including the bus drivers – drive quite fast, and the road network is not particularly good. We therefore chose to travel like the locals and did not regret it, as it allowed us to chat with people and see everyday Seychellois life, with very few tourists on the buses.
We stayed at Beau Vallon, which was very well located for reaching the central bus station and travelling to any destination we chose (€1 per journey for 2 people). You can take a great many bus journeys for the cost of hiring a car!
However, the timetables are rather unreliable, and the bus shelters or roadside bus stops are not marked. You therefore need to ask local people regularly where you are and where to get off. We always found someone willing to help us with a smile!

On the first day, we visited Anse Royale, opposite Souris Island, followed by Anse Takamaka. They are beautiful coves, but beware of the currents!
On the second day, we went to Anse Soleil. As we travelled by bus, we had to walk and the route was uphill, but if you do not mind a little exertion, it is always a pleasure to dive into the water afterwards!
On our final day, we visited Port Launay and Port Glaud, opposite Thérèse Island, as well as the waterfall. We regretted not having enough time to walk across at low tide, but it is definitely something worth planning and doing. The water is crystal clear, and you can walk to the island opposite and then have a meal there. When the tide comes back in, there is a small shuttle boat. What a shame we missed it!

The waterfall

Overall, it was a fantastic stay. We did not manage to do everything, but there is something for everyone: those who simply enjoy the beach, and those who like to combine hiking, beaches and meeting local people! The option we chose, ‘Hotel or guesthouse + breakfast included’, meant that we did not need to eat at lunchtime and only had dinner in the evening, as the breakfasts were so generous!
Having all the transfers arranged by SeyVillas was a real convenience. Everything went smoothly, and it meant we did not have to worry about any of it. I genuinely recommend this option to all my friends!