We Left Our Hearts in the Seychelles

Cosimo and I got married on 21 September. We barely had time to throw our wedding clothes onto the bed and fill our suitcases with snorkelling gear before dashing to the airport to finally enjoy our honeymoon!

24 September Milan Malpensa – Doha – Mahé

Travelling at night has its advantages... we left Milan in rush-hour traffic and found ourselves on the other side of the world, in a country that reminds us so much of South America, but is not!
Mahé welcomes us with rain, and my husband and I are gripped by that classic tourist anxiety: ‘Can you imagine if it rains for the entire holiday?!’

We are staying at Bord Mer Villa, in a lovely apartment directly opposite Beau Vallon beach, one of the most beautiful on the island. We begin to take in our surroundings... long white beaches, blue sea, palm trees, granite rocks, colours, scents, sensations... in the end, who cares about the weather? We are in the Seychelles!

25–27 September on Mahé

After a wonderful breakfast served on our terrace, we spend the whole day on beautiful Beau Vallon beach, where there is no shortage of activities and where my husband can float around for hours, exploring the magical seabed of the Indian Ocean.
At this time of year, the whole island is buzzing with preparations for the Regatta , three days of festivities and events that draw people from all over the island. Our stay here passes in this lively atmosphere of music, markets and street food, with a brief visit to the capital, Victoria , which is only 15 minutes away by bus.

27 September – 2 October on Praslin

Praslin welcomes us with glorious sunshine and the dazzling colours we are used to seeing in travel agency photographs.
We have chosen to stay in a bungalow at Cote D'Or Chalets, located on Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or), one of the most beautiful bays on the island’s north-eastern coast.
But there are so many beautiful beaches here! We fall in love with Anse Lazio! Getting there by bus is not only very easy, but also an adventure you should not miss!
The beach can only be reached after a 15-minute walk through the countryside. Just when it seems as though you will never arrive, at the bottom of the final descent, one of the most beautiful scenes we have seen in the Seychelles appears on the horizon. Everything looks as though it has been drawn, and even the little white clouds seem to have been placed there on purpose. A dream...

The seabed does not disappoint, and we even manage to spot a turtle and the much-longed-for little shark. Getting Cosimo out of the water is becoming increasingly difficult!

We devote the whole of 30 September to an excursion to Curieuse and St Pierre islands, within the Curieuse Marine National Park. Together with Albert, an exceptionally knowledgeable guide from Angel Tours, we immerse ourselves in the true wilderness of the Seychelles and learn more about its landscape, its origins and, above all, its special inhabitants: the giant tortoises.

It is impossible not to be won over by these gentle, wrinkled and wise giants, who blend in with the granite rocks all around them. The colours of the sea here are indescribable, and no photograph could ever do them justice. We never want to leave, but there is still so much to discover.

2–8 October on La Digue

We spend the final part of our honeymoon on what is said to be one of the most beautiful islands in the whole of the Seychelles: La Digue.
And we made the right choice! What makes this small island so special is that its 10 km² can easily be explored by bicycle. So, the first thing we do after settling into the charming little Chez Marston hotel is arrange to hire what will become our only means of transport during our stay on this pearl nestled between the shores of Africa and India.
Our first destination is, of course, Anse Source d'Argent, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and often chosen as a location for films, adverts and photo shoots.

We have been advised to set off very early because shady spots are scarce and the beach can become crowded.
So, straight after breakfast, we climb onto our trusty steeds and set off for this new paradise.
The weather is not at its best, but we have learnt to live with these sudden changes, confident that the heavy grey clouds will soon give way to the dazzling tropical sun .
We pass through the beautiful L'Union Estate and immediately understand why this part of the world is so famous... granite rocks tower above a turquoise sea, while the white beach gleams beneath the coconut palms. Are we in a film, or is this place real?
Unfortunately, my husband is the only disappointed one because the low tide means he cannot go snorkelling, but given the setting, he soon gets over it.
During our stay on La Digue, we also visit Coco, Sister and Felicité islands , where our desire to explore the seabed is more than satisfied.

Our greatest surprise is cycling through the part of the island where swimming is not possible because of the strong currents.

Although it seems absurd to be in the Seychelles without being able to enter the water, because of the strong currents that sweep around La Digue’s north-eastern coast at this time of year, we devote a day to exploring the coastline from Anse Severe to Anse Banane, going as far as the road allows and discovering one of the most beautiful landscapes of our holiday!
We also make sure not to miss Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos. The trek through the forest feels exhausting until clouds of spray, whipped up by the force of the sea, reach our arms. Swimming is not permitted, but a small natural pool has formed, allowing us to put on our masks and cool down after the demanding walk. Another magical place to remember.

We leave a little piece of our hearts here, but our journey has now come to an end. Tomorrow, two ferries and two flights will take us home, with our eyes still full of blue, our pockets full of sand and the joy of the islands still with us.