Experience the Seychelles in Two Weeks

We did an unusually large amount of research before choosing the destination for this year’s holiday. This time, we wanted somewhere special, as it was our first holiday outside Europe. Nearly every destination we considered had something we did not like, whether it was a higher crime rate, admission charges for beaches or less interesting natural scenery. The Seychelles was the one destination where we could find nothing that put us off. There really was no reason to dampen our excitement, so we chose the island paradise in the Indian Ocean relatively quickly. As an amateur photographer and nature lover, I was promised spectacular scenery, while my girlfriend could look forward to beautiful beaches surrounded by crystal-clear water, as well as an incredibly relaxed atmosphere overall.

One thing I can say straight away: we were not disappointed. However, there is one thing you should be prepared for. More about that at the end.

Beach on Mahé Mahé

As it does for almost all holidaymakers, our Seychelles trip began at the international airport on Mahé, the main island and home to the world’s smallest capital, Victoria. We hired a car for our four-day stay so that we could explore the island. However, it is also possible to travel around very cheaply by bus.

While looking for our first accommodation, we immediately noticed how exceptionally helpful and warm the local people were. In human terms, and not only in that respect, it felt like a completely different world from Germany. The sun was also shining, and the turquoise sea gave us the impression that we had discovered the main production site for picture-postcard scenes of paradise. The weather left very little to be desired throughout the trip: we had sunshine and blue skies on 11 of our 12 days. It only rained a little on the day we left, and even that barely affected the temperature. Mahé offers many beautiful beaches, as well as high, forested mountains that can be explored on foot and a lively, atmospheric capital. Besides exploring the island in the traditional way and taking plenty of photos and videos, we had another special highlight: the Seychelles international football match against South Africa at Stade Linité. There was an impressive mountain backdrop behind the main stand, and a minor sporting sensation when the Seychelles drew against their formidable opponents from the Cape of Good Hope – football romance at its finest!

Sea off Praslin Sunset on Mahé

Praslin

After our stay on Mahé, we took a propeller plane to Praslin, around 50 km away. The flight was an adventure in itself. Once on the island, we again travelled by hire car to our self-catering accommodation, which is a good alternative to the expensive hotels in the Seychelles. You can eat at reasonable prices at the local takeaways, which usually serve all kinds of curries and fish. In fact, fish was one of my staple foods during those nearly two weeks.

The fish around the island, in the Seychelles’ diverse underwater world, are also a delight – not so much in terms of taste, but certainly visually. There was so much to experience in the almost transparent water, and for me as a Central European, it was an entirely new and fascinating world to discover. We swam with rays, dolphins, sea turtles and enormous shoals of fish of the kind you would normally only see in wildlife documentaries. These were incredible moments that have been etched into my memory (and captured on my underwater camera :-). Snorkelling is possible almost everywhere in the Seychelles, as many places are protected by an offshore reef.

Overall, Praslin is much quieter than Mahé. This was the first place where I truly felt as though I was on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean with only a handful of other people. The beaches are often deserted, and every few metres you will find another beautiful spot where you can relax or take photographs. Although Anse Lazio becomes quite busy around midday, I would still wholeheartedly recommend this beach. The water looks so incredibly beautiful that, for a moment, you might consider following the example of the many tiny crabs and digging yourself a little home in the sand so that you can stay here forever.

Busy crab

La Digue

The final stage of our trip took us by ferry to La Digue, the smallest of the three main islands. The main form of transport here is the bicycle, which allows you to reach almost anywhere on the island within 30–60 minutes. When giant tortoises cross your path as well, the feeling of being in paradise is complete. These laid-back creatures are quite happy to be stroked and photographed, and they leave a lasting impression. After meeting one, more than a few children will probably ask whether the family can welcome a new animal member.

On La Digue, we particularly liked Grand Anse, which, with its sometimes fairly high waves, is more suitable for adventurous visitors and strong swimmers. It is quite amusing when the water is so clear that you can see the fish in the wave breaking directly in front of you, even without a diving mask. However, there are also calm beaches here, as well as places that are ideal for snorkelling. At Anse Severe, for example, we were able to see dolphins and sea turtles.

Giant tortoise

Conclusion

The Seychelles is a wonderful holiday destination for every type of traveller, provided you treat nature with respect so that this paradise can remain exactly that for many years to come. You cannot go wrong with SeyVillas. Everything went smoothly for us, and whenever we had a question, we received a prompt reply. For independent travellers like us, I would also recommend combining your own planning with accommodation booked through SeyVillas.

To return to the point I mentioned in the first paragraph, you should be aware that after a holiday in the Seychelles, it will probably be difficult to find anywhere even more impressive. As a result, some of your future holidays may seem a little less spectacular by comparison.