Dream Trip to Paradise

This year, we decided at very short notice to escape the grey German autumn and fly somewhere warm for another two weeks. The Seychelles had been on our travel wish list for quite some time. We definitely wanted to explore several islands, and we soon came across SeyVillas online.

We landed on Mahé and then travelled straight on to Praslin by ferry. Thanks to SeyVillas, we enjoyed fantastic views during the 1-hour crossing, as we followed their recommendation to book seats on the upper deck.

On Praslin, we stayed at Villa Bananier by the powdery white Anse Volbert. We thought the location was excellent, as supermarkets, the beach, takeaways and a bus stop are all close by. We used the public bus to explore Praslin, which was very affordable and also allowed us to mingle with the locals. The driving is quite adventurous, but you tend to be much more relaxed when you are on holiday. One day, we travelled to Anse Lazio and set off from there on a hike to Anse Georgette.

It certainly worked up a sweat, as the trail leads uphill and downhill, sometimes through overgrown jungle terrain and across small streams. But those breathtaking views made it more than worth the effort! We would only recommend doing this tour with a guide, as the trail is difficult to find and very challenging.

Next, we travelled to La Digue. Even the sight of this small island as we approached by ferry and entered the harbour created an idyllic atmosphere. That impression continued: La Digue feels like a village. You get around by bicycle, as there are only a few cars on the island. We stayed at Zerof Self Catering Apartments, and the garden and tranquillity were truly enchanting. One afternoon, we wanted to visit the Snack Bellevue restaurant.

The route turned out to be a steep climb, as the bar is situated on a mountainside. Once we reached the top, we were rewarded with a fantastic view of Praslin and Ile Ronde. Of course, we could not miss what is probably the most photographed beach, Anse Source d'Argent. It was absolutely magical, and we still cannot get those images out of our minds.

For the final stop on our island-hopping trip, we took the ferry back via Praslin to Mahé. We hired a car there so that we could explore the Seychelles’ largest island at our leisure. Driving takes some getting used to, as the roads are winding and narrow, and the traffic is very hectic. Our apartment was in Beau Vallon, 5 minutes from the beautiful Beau Vallon.

We drove all the way around the island along the coast and saw numerous beaches, including Anse Intendance, Anse Takamaka, Baie Lazare, Anse à la Mouche, Anse Boileau, Grand Anse, Anse Lisette, Anse Nord d'Est and Anse Royale. We spent a wonderful day at the latter, as the small island just offshore makes it an excellent place for snorkelling.

Anse Royale, Mahé Driving along Sans Soucis Road is very, very adventurous, but the magnificent view from Mission Lodge Lookout is worth every nervous moment.

Mission Lodge Lookout Every Wednesday evening, the Sunset Market at Beau Vallon attracts both tourists and locals. We loved the lively atmosphere among the street-food and souvenir stalls, while also enjoying the wonderful colours of the sunset. We deliberately saved our excursion to Sainte Anne Marine National Park for the final day of our holiday.

Here, we experienced the full Seychelles feeling once again: snorkelling among lots of colourful fish, relaxing and strolling along sandbanks in wonderfully shallow, warm water, enjoying a delicious Creole barbecue and, as the final highlight, watching Aldabra giant tortoises in their natural habitat.

It truly was an unforgettable holiday in paradise!

Anse Severe