Dream Beaches on Every Island and a Break from Everyday Life

For us, it was the perfect start to our trip. La Digue is beautiful and the ideal place to relax. There are not many cars on the island, so the best option is to hire a bicycle locally and explore the island’s beaches. You feel yourself slowing down as soon as you arrive because you realise that life moves at a different pace there.

Our accommodation was La Digue Self Catering. It is a simple, very reasonably priced place offering everything you need, including bicycle hire. The rooms are very well equipped and clean. They have a full kitchen with all the necessary utensils and a large fridge. Breakfast consisted of fruit, yoghurt and toast. Simple, but perfectly adequate.

We travel a great deal and have already seen many wonderful beaches, but the beaches on La Digue really are unique. Every photo looks like a postcard. We particularly liked the three neighbouring beaches, Grand Anse, Petite Anse & Anse Cocos. Grand Anse is easy to reach by bicycle, and from there you can walk to Petite Anse in just a few minutes. The walk to Anse Cocos is a little longer, around 20 minutes, but it is well worth it. My tip: make sure you take plenty of water and water shoes. If it rains, the path can become wet, and water shoes give you sturdy footwear that is also suitable for slippery ground.

Another thing we particularly loved about La Digue was the giant tortoises, some of which simply wander across the road and provide a lovely photo opportunity. Giant tortoise on Mahé We spent one day cycling to L'Union Estate . There, you can feed giant tortoises, pass vanilla plantations on the way to the beach and enjoy wonderful views.L'Union Estate Park, La Digue

The beach there is very beautiful and is also suitable for snorkelling. By chance, we spotted the ‘La Reserve’ pizzeria as we passed it on our way back. It is in a courtyard facing the sea. The pizza was absolutely delicious and the prices were fair. We liked it so much that we went straight back again the following day.

After four nights, we took the ferry back to Praslin. The crossing takes only 10 minutes. Our accommodation, Indian Ocean Lodge was very good. Breakfast was served as a buffet with a good selection. All the accommodation is right on the beach, less than 10 metres from your door. Unfortunately, we were a little unlucky with the weather. However, even when it rains, you can visit Vallée de Mai, the local national park. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can admire the coco de mer, the world’s largest nut, which is found only in the Seychelles. It takes an hour to walk from the accommodation to the park. If that is too far, you can take the bus for just 7 rupees.

Coco de Mer, Praslin

Our final stop was Mahé, where we had booked the loveliest accommodation of our trip: STORY Seychelles. The accommodation is relatively expensive, but it is first-rate. It is only a few years old, very modern and extremely well maintained. There are bars and several restaurants. The swimming pool is very attractive and spacious. Swings and hammocks hang by the beach, and sun loungers are also available free of charge.

There are supermarkets and restaurants in the immediate vicinity. One recommendation for a good restaurant is Baobab Pizzeria at the end of Beau Vallon. They serve excellent pizza at fair prices, and you can enjoy beautiful sunsets from there in the evening. My highlight was a turtle we saw while snorkelling.

Sunset on Mahé

We booked the transfer package through SeyVillas and would happily do so again. Everyone we dealt with was helpful and friendly, and all the transfers ran punctually.

Finally, three tips for your suitcase:
A rain poncho, in case it suddenly rains, and a sealable plastic bag for your mobile phone and other valuables
Earplugs for the night, as even the sound of the sea can be surprisingly loud
Water shoes