A Dream Come True

After a trip planned well in advance with SeyVillas, we finally arrived on Mahé following a somewhat bumpy journey via Doha. The private transfer provided by our accommodation, The Palm Seychelles, went perfectly, and there was already plenty of interest to see during the journey of just under half an hour. The The Palm Seychelles was very pretty and set uphill in a magnificent garden. Room at Palm Seychelles It was an approximately 20-minute walk to the famous Beau Vallon, but it was well worth it. There were also several very good restaurants there, such as La Plage, which serves delicious Creole dishes right by the sea with fantastic views, although it was not exactly inexpensive. There are also some relatively affordable takeaways nearby. We did not want to miss a visit to Victoria, the island’s small capital. We took the very inexpensive bus, which was a little adventure in itself due to its design and age. We saw an interesting Hindu Temple - Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar and the little Big Ben, and the covered market is also worth a visit. La Digue We then took the ferry to La Digue via Praslin. The journey was very relaxing, and the breeze provided some welcome relief during the hot, windless days. We were able to hire bicycles at the harbour, while a member of staff transported our luggage to the Cabanes des Anges. Once again, it was a beautiful apartment surrounded by lush greenery. Everything here is within easy reach by bicycle, and there is far less traffic than on Mahé. La Digue is home to world-famous beaches such as Anse Source d'Argent, where several rum adverts have been filmed. It is easily reached by bicycle through the beautiful L'Union Estate park, which charges an admission fee. Here you can see the rock formations typical of the Seychelles, framing magnificent, white, icing-sugar-soft beaches. There is no risk of going thirsty either, with beach bars serving fresh fruit juices dotted along the way. Anse Source d'Argent There are also other magnificent beaches that are quieter and wilder, such as Grand Anse, which is also popular with surfers. Near the ferry harbour at Anse Severe, we saw giant tortoises roaming freely for the first time – quite an experience. The beach itself was also, once again, very pretty and not particularly busy. The quiet road on the northern side of the island is perfect for a leisurely cycle past many beautiful beaches, and a stop at the wonderfully situated Chez Jules on Anse Banane is a must. Dinner at Le Repaire , run by an Italian expat, was a delicious finale to our time on La Digue. Anse Banane Praslin After a short ferry crossing, we reached Praslin, where we stayed at the Beach Villa Guesthouse on Grand Anse. This time, rather than a spacious apartment, we had “only” a room with a terrace and fantastic views of the sea, just a few metres away. One highlight was the very warm welcome in German and the excellent evening meal, which could be ordered on request. The world-famous Vallée de Mai, home to the unique coco de mer, the world’s largest seed, was only a short bus journey away. We entered a wonderfully shady jungle filled with coco de mer and other palms and plants. It was very impressive and fully deserving of its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An Austrian expat who is married to the guesthouse owner has a motorboat, and we joined 10 other guests on a trip to the islands of Curieuse and St. Pierre. The Curieuse Marine National Park is known for its free-roaming giant tortoises, which can be seen all over the otherwise uninhabited island and can even be fed – surely something you can only experience in the Seychelles! At St. Pierre, the rocks and palms created a picture-perfect scene that looked almost unreal and “artificial” – a feast for the senses. The snorkelling here was wonderful, and we saw plenty of colourful fish despite there being quite a few other snorkellers. Of course, Praslin also has many famous beaches, such as Anse Lazio, which is considered one of the best in the world. Here, powder-soft sand meets turquoise waters and distinctive granite boulders – a dream come true. We saw many more beaches that were almost as magnificent, but mentioning them all would make this report far too long. Unfortunately, the 11 days flew by and it was time to head home. Looking back, we regret spending only 3 days on La Digue, as it was our favourite island, although the others were also very much worth visiting. It was a unique experience that we had dreamed of for a long time and will certainly remember for many years to come.