A Special Light for Special Islands

Praslin

We quickly realised that we wanted to go island hopping in the Seychelles. Our first stop was Praslin. The hotel Chalets Cote Mer was right by the jetty, so the journey there after arriving by ferry took just 4 minutes. We particularly loved the infinity pool and the warm, friendly owners.

On our second day, we hired a car for €45 to explore the island. It does not take very long, as the island is not particularly large. But despite driving on the left, it is great fun discovering lots of places that you would not see by bus.

In general, travelling by bus in the Seychelles is very cheap. It costs just 7 rupees per person per journey. And you can actually get anywhere on Praslin by bus. In our opinion, the most beautiful beach on Praslin was Anse Lazio.

Anse Lazio The view of the turquoise water and the smooth, weathered red granite rocks is truly beautiful. I was particularly fascinated by the way the light played across the scenery. Absolutely amazing. On the left-hand side of the beach, there is the Honesty Bar, which is in the shade and therefore very pleasant. When it came to choosing a nature park, we opted for Fond Ferdinand. It is cheaper (130 rupees per person) and less crowded than Vallée de Mai. The price also includes a guide who explains everything to you during the ascent, which takes around 90 minutes. We also took a boat trip to Curieuse Island, which is home to many giant tortoises as well as a breeding centre.

Giant tortoises on Curieuse There are plenty of restaurants around Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or), where you can enjoy wonderful walks, especially in the evening.

La Digue

Our second island was La Digue. We stayed at Le Repaire Boutique Hotel, which was another excellent choice. Just as on Praslin, we were made to feel very welcome here. The pizzeria located directly in the hotel is good, although a little expensive, as the ingredients are imported from Italy. After 7 days of Creole food, we fancied something different and practically devoured the pasta, pizza and, above all, the fresh green salad.

The best way to get around La Digue is by bicycle, which you can hire almost anywhere for 100 rupees per day. We absolutely loved the island. There were cheerful people everywhere, and it is such a small, charming place.

We spent most of our time at Anse Severe. For us, it was the most beautiful and best beach on La Digue. At lunchtime, we would always head to the Takamaka Cafe for a drink or a light bite.

Takamaka Café One particular highlight was the hike from Grand Anse to Anse Cocos, with Anse Source d'Argent as our final destination. As the 5-hour coastal route is difficult to find, we joined a guided tour, which was absolutely outstanding.

Natural pool on La Digue Everyone will have to decide for themselves whether it is worth paying to enter L'Union Estate to reach Anse Source d'Argent. We did not find the park itself particularly interesting when we walked through it on our way out after the hike.

You can book various snorkelling trips at the harbour. We chose Shamyl, a young local whose love for his island and the sea is obvious. He came into the water with us, explained everything and even brought a sea turtle over to our small group. On another day, we went on a ‘hike’ to the highest point, ‘Belle Vue’. I am usually at home in the mountains, but the heat, even early in the morning, made the route quite exhausting. At the top, however, there is a restaurant waiting with cold beer and a magnificent view.

For takeaway food, we can recommend Mi Mum, to the left of the harbour. It is inexpensive and delicious. Once again, we were also struck by how exceptionally friendly the islanders were. It is a truly wonderful island and deserves far more than just a day trip.

Mahé

The final island on our fantastic Seychelles tour was Mahé. In our opinion, you should stay at Beau Vallon or at least nearby. It is the longest and most beautiful beach on Mahé.

Beau Vallon Here too, we hired a car for a day, this time for €60. That is easily enough time to explore the island. A tip: hire your car on a Sunday. The roads are quieter then, and there are no traffic jams in Victoria. In our opinion, the waterfall is a must-see. It is a truly beautiful place and, incidentally, admission is free on Sundays.

Waterfall on Mahé There are also several takeaways at the far end of Beau Vallon. Sit down there on a Sunday or public holiday and enjoy watching Seychellois families going about their day. It is wonderful, and you will soon find yourself chatting with the locals. Really lovely.

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Seychelles to everyone. We had a fantastic time, with beautiful light and atmosphere in so many special places.