Seychelles – A Holiday in an Island Paradise

The Seychelles had been on my girlfriend’s and my to-do list for quite some time. At the end of last year, we began planning the trip in more detail and came across the SeyVillas website. We opted for a classic island-hopping trip from Praslin via La Digue to Mahé, including all transfers and flights. We also took advantage of the opportunity to book three excursions through SeyVillas. The website was so simple and clearly laid out that planning our individual trip was a breeze.

We started by travelling from the airport on Mahé to the ferry for Praslin. After just under an hour, we arrived at the port on Praslin. From there, a transfer took us directly to our first accommodation, Beach Villa Guesthouse, on Grand Anse. We received a very warm welcome with a fresh towel and a chilled juice. We can say straight away that we would wholeheartedly recommend all three of our accommodations. The staff were always attentive, and everything was very clean and tidy.

The second day of our trip already brought our first excursion, aboard a glass-bottom boat with Geoli Charters. The excursion included snorkelling around Curieuse and St. Pierre, followed by a barbecue in the company of the impressive Aldabra giant tortoises.

Curieuse, Aldabra giant tortoise For the rest of our time on Praslin, we hired a car. We used it to visit the Fond Ferdinand nature reserve in the south-east of the island, which offered not only an impressive rainforest but also beautiful views across Praslin.

Praslin, view from Fond Ferdinand We drove past Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or) to Anse Lazio, where we were able to swim, snorkel and simply enjoy the day at one of Praslin’s most beautiful beaches.

On the penultimate day of our stay on Praslin, we travelled to the final bus stop, just before Constance Lémuria Seychelles, and then followed a narrow path on foot to Anse Georgette. It is worth mentioning that you should definitely bring plenty of water and sturdy footwear. However, the view of Anse Lazio and the beach at Anse Georgette more than made up for the climb and the walk.

In our opinion, Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette are among the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles.

After almost a week, we continued our journey to La Digue by ferry. Once again, the entire transfer went smoothly. Our accommodation for the next 5½ days was Le Repaire Boutique Hotel, a small but very attractive and well-maintained hotel not far from the harbour. On arrival, we were once again welcomed with a cool towel and refreshing iced tea.

Here too, we had an excursion planned for our second day, which we had booked in advance through SeyVillas. As the weather was not ideal for snorkelling that day, the excursion was initially cancelled. We were offered either a refund or the option of simply returning the following day. Naturally, we chose the second option. After quickly adjusting our plans, we hired two bicycles instead.

La Digue is a small, manageable island that is easy to explore freely by bicycle. That day, we cycled along the west coast, past the harbour and northwards, continuing all the way to Anse Banane in the far east. Along the way, we made frequent stops at quiet beaches and to see the free-roaming tortoises.

La Digue giant tortoise On the third day, our planned excursion was able to go ahead. We travelled by motorboat to snorkelling spots around the small island of Coco Island and the island of Felicité. Snorkelling here was a truly memorable experience. As well as small reef sharks, barracudas and many colourful fish, we were able to swim and dive with sea turtles.

Over the following days, we also visited the three beaches Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos.

La Digue, Anse Cocos We visited L'Union Estate , a former coconut and vanilla plantation, and made our way to Anse Source d'Argent.

On our final day, we kayaked along the west coast to Anse Source d'Argent once again. We rounded off the evening with a glass of red wine at Anse Severe. At sunset, I took advantage of the romantic atmosphere and proposed to my partner. It was the perfect ending to our stay on La Digue.

La Digue, sunset at Anse Severe But our holiday was not over yet. We were now heading back to Mahé for the final three days. As expected, the transfer once again went perfectly.

On Mahé, we stayed in the north-west at Bliss Hotel. Once again, we received a warm welcome with iced tea and a coconut. Our booked Junior Suite had direct access to the beach and a wonderful sea view from the veranda. We were even able to spot dolphins from there on our third evening.

Mahé, view from the Bliss Hotel Our third pre-booked day excursion was also scheduled during our time on Mahé. We travelled by bus to the south of the island. Along the way, we visited the capital, Victoria, with its colourful market and ‘Little Ben’. We then continued to Mission Lodge Lookout, a former boarding school for enslaved children with spectacular views. Afterwards, our journey took us to Tea Factory, past the ‘Pineapple Studios’ and on to the excursion’s final stop, ‘Cap Lazare’, where we enjoyed a Creole buffet.

We spent the final day of our trip at the hotel and on the beach, where we had time to reflect on all the experiences of the previous two weeks.

Our overall verdict on the trip is entirely positive, from the transfers and accommodations to the islands’ wonderful flora and fauna. If you are looking for paradise, the Seychelles are the perfect place.