Christmas and New Year’s Eve in the Seychelles

After a pleasant flight with Emirates and a calm crossing with SeyFerry, we were glad we had chosen La Digue as our first island, as it remains very unspoilt and is therefore ideal for anyone looking to relax. Nural from Le Surmer was waiting for us at the ferry terminal to take us from the harbour to the property. Everything had already been beautifully prepared for us. The apartment was very clean and even fitted with mosquito nets. We also hired our bicycles there for €6 per day, which were perfectly adequate for the small island. The gears could have done with some repairs, as there are one or two small inclines to tackle when crossing the island, for example on the way to Grand Anse.

We were thrilled by the vast, unspoilt beach and the metre-high waves, which were perfect for surfing. As there was little shade, we made our own sun shelter out of palm fronds. As we also enjoy snorkelling, the next day we cycled to Anse Source d'Argent. Once you have paid the entrance fee, you can explore the extensive grounds, with their plantation house and large fields, by bicycle before reaching some of the most beautiful beaches, which truly made our hearts soar. While snorkelling, we saw the most beautiful fish, rays and even several sea turtles. On the way back, we stopped at the ‘Rey and Josh’ takeaway for something to eat. The food is fantastic and costs around €4–5. As we prepared our own breakfast at Le Surmer, we went shopping every day. This was no problem, as there are well-stocked small grocery shops on every corner. The only thing you have to do without is freshly sliced cold meats such as salami. However, the fruit stalls more than made up for this with fresh bananas, mangoes, papayas and passion fruit.

Fruit stalls On Christmas Eve, we took a snorkelling excursion from the harbour on La Digue to Petite Sœur, Grande Sœur, Coco Island and Félicité. There, we were able to admire fish, including sharks, right by the beach in the shallow water.

Grande Soeur Our time on La Digue was already over, and after a 30-minute crossing we arrived on Praslin. We collected our hire car at the ferry terminal and drove to YASAD Luxury Beach Residence. The apartment was very modern and clean. Unfortunately, there were only bar stools at a counter for breakfast, which we found rather uncomfortable. However, the owner, Nora, was very friendly and helpful. A frying pan was missing, and she brought us one immediately. On Praslin, we were particularly enchanted by the Coco de Mer palms in the Vallée de Mai.

Anse Takamaka We discovered that Anse Takamaka was a wonderful place for snorkelling. On our final day at Yasad, the gecko came to say goodbye before we set off for Mahé.

Gecko at Yasa There, we chose to stay at Coco Blanche, which is beautifully situated in a well-maintained garden. Unfortunately, the supermarket opposite was closed for the Christmas holidays, so we had to drive a little further to do our shopping. Our favourite place for dinner was Kafe Kreol at Anse Royale. We ate there several times, and with everything from freshly made pizza to the catch of the day, there was something to suit every taste. Our favourite spot for snorkelling was Anse à la Mouche. We bought our fresh fruit at the weekly market in Victoria. Sadly, it was then time to say goodbye to the Seychelles, but we will be back.