Dream Holiday in the Seychelles

Booking, organisation and transfers:

We had long been thinking about a holiday in the Seychelles, and now it was finally time to make it happen. We did not want an ‘off-the-peg holiday’ either: we wanted to visit the islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue and choose our accommodation and airline individually. Having had good experiences on previous holidays, we deliberately chose a tour operator specialising in the destination. That is why we opted for SeyVillas. It proved to be a good decision, as the website provides extensive information about a wide range of accommodation as well as travel tips, and all our questions were answered quickly and helpfully by email or telephone. All the staff had visited the Seychelles and the various islands themselves, and gave us expert advice tailored to our preferences regarding accommodation, meal options, transfers and all our travel preparations. SeyVillas also allows you to choose your airline freely. As the seats, service and entertainment offered by European airlines are simply dreadful, we deliberately chose Emirates. After flying from Frankfurt with a stopover in Dubai, we landed on the main island of Mahé. There, we were welcomed by Creole staff and transferred to the ferry at the harbour. After a one-hour crossing, we arrived on Praslin and were taken to our hotel. All our subsequent transfers later in the trip also ran smoothly, were always punctual and caused no problems. Creole staff were present at every accommodation and were always on hand to answer any questions with expert advice.

Praslin:

Our first stay in the Seychelles was at the Berjaya Praslin Resort on Praslin. It is quite a large hotel complex for the archipelago, beautifully situated and with a very good restaurant attached. Several small supermarkets and cash machines were located nearby and could be reached within a few minutes on foot.

The deluxe rooms were very spacious and equipped with everything we needed, although some of them were in need of refurbishment. We had booked half board and were very pleased with it. Breakfast included a variety of hot and cold dishes, with pancakes and omelettes freshly prepared to order. A cereal station, fresh fruit and juices completed the selection. Dinner was served in the adjoining ‘Pizzeria’ restaurant, located directly on the beach. Each day featured a different theme, with a regional, fresh and delicious buffet offering soup, salads, various fish and meat dishes, as well as a dessert buffet.

Berjaya Hotel Before leaving home, we had booked an excursion to Curieuse, the tortoise island, through SeyVillas. Collection from the hotel went smoothly, and a minibus took us to the other side of the island, where the boat trip to Curieuse began. Due to the weather, two planned diving and snorkelling stops where we could snorkel independently were moved to the morning. A diving or snorkelling excursion is definitely a must during a holiday in the Seychelles. You are rewarded with a magnificent underwater world and an incredible variety of fish in every size and colour.

After diving, we continued to the Curieuse Marine National Park, where lunch was waiting for us right on the beach. It consisted of various grilled fish, grilled chicken, rice and several salads, followed by bananas and watermelon for dessert. After a short break, we crossed the island to the tortoise sanctuary. Along the way, our guide provided all sorts of information about the local flora and fauna. Unfortunately, the change to the itinerary meant that we did not have as much time at the tortoise sanctuary. Being able to see and touch the Aldabra giant tortoises is a very special experience. The description ‘gentle giants’ is absolutely fitting for these incredible animals, which can live for up to 200 years. Visitors are free to move around the sanctuary, which also includes a breeding centre. The animals may be touched and stroked, something they clearly enjoyed. This excursion is highly recommended and an unforgettable experience.

Giant tortoise on Curieuse As on the other islands, traffic on Praslin drives on the left. The roads are very challenging, sometimes extremely narrow with poor visibility, and demand a fair amount of concentration. Even so, it is worth exploring the island independently by car. We drove all the way around the island. We visited Vallée de Mai on a guided tour and then explored the park ourselves. Afterwards, we visited several beaches, with Anse Lazio being our favourite. The beaches in the Seychelles are among the most beautiful in the world, yet they are all different, so everyone has to discover their own dream beach.

La Digue:

The transfer from Praslin to our next hotel on La Digue also went smoothly. The Patatran Hotel was simply wonderful. The rooms were lovingly furnished, clean and attractive, with a fantastic view of the sea. There was also a generous breakfast selection, including freshly made crêpes and omelettes, fruit and more. Dinner alternated between à la carte and buffet service; both were appealing, and the staff in the restaurant and throughout the hotel were very friendly and attentive. Our hotel had its own small and beautiful dream beach, which was excellent for snorkelling and diving. However, it was always important to take the tides, waves and currents into account. The underwater world here was also fantastic: alongside many different species of fish, we saw a sea turtle, various rays and smaller sharks, barracudas and squid.

On La Digue, the main means of transport is the bicycle. We hired the hotel’s bicycles and used them to explore the entire island. In the morning, we visited L'Union Estate & Anse Source d'Argent. It was already quite busy at that time of day. However, the other beaches are scarcely less impressive than this much-praised one; almost every beach in the Seychelles is a dream beach. In the afternoon, we cycled to Grand Anse. We were almost alone on this very wide and beautiful beach, although swimming is best avoided because of the strong currents.

Pool at the Patatran Mahé:

Our final stay was at the Bliss Hotel in the north of Mahé. The rooms were very attractive and clean, with a very modern style, and each room was individually furnished. Half board was also worthwhile here. The breakfast and dinner selection was not as extensive as at the previous hotels, but it was still very tasty. Meals were served in an open-air restaurant directly above the sea, with fantastic views. In the evening, we could choose from a changing selection of fish and meat, which was then freshly grilled and served. We could enjoy the sun setting directly over the sea as we ate, creating a truly wonderful atmosphere. The small beach was also lovely, and snorkelling was possible here too, although there were nowhere near as many fish or species as at the other beaches.

We booked a hire car through the Creole representative and explored the whole island here as well. At the Takamaka Rum Distillery , we were shown how Takamaka rum is made. Afterwards, we visited several beaches, including Beau Vallon and Police Bay. There are plenty of dream beaches and wonderful photo opportunities here too. In the island’s interior, we drove along Sans Soucis Road and stopped at the various viewpoints. Unfortunately, the Tea Factory was closed at the time, but it has lovely grounds overlooking the coast. The climb up Morne Blanc (667 m) is also highly recommended, as the views from the top are superb. Afterwards, we visited the Mission Lodge Lookout. The tour around the island was well worth it and gave us a wonderful overview of Mahé. The island can also be explored using the inexpensive public buses. We took the bus to Victoria, shopped at the Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market and looked around the world’s smallest capital city. Afterwards, we visited the Botanical Gardens as well; insect repellent is recommended.

Conclusion:

We came home after a wonderful holiday filled with many fantastic beaches, and La Digue particularly captured our hearts. The Seychelles are a breathtakingly beautiful destination. Every bay and every beach has its own special appeal, and we have already put the Seychelles on our list for another holiday.