Between Turquoise Dream Beaches and Evergreen Palm Forests

We spent a total of 6 nights at Villas des Alizes – our enchanting accommodation on Praslin. It was situated directly on the long beach of Grand Anse, with wonderful views of the island’s jungle-covered mountains and across to Mahé. We immediately felt at home and were welcomed with the warm smiles so typical of the Seychellois.

Rather than hiring a car, we decided to travel by bus like the locals. As there are only three bus routes covering almost the entire island, it was fairly straightforward. Our first journey by public transport took us to Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or). As soon as we arrived, we were blown away by the sea’s vivid turquoise colour. After a walk along the beach and a delicious lunch from a traditional local takeaway, we spent the rest of the day by and in the sea, forgetting all our worries.

Cote d'Or on Praslin The following day, we visited Fond Ferdinand. This nature reserve is far less well known than Vallée de Mai, yet it is home to the same flora and fauna, as well as a breathtaking viewpoint. Another advantage is that visitors can join one of three daily tours with a local guide, all included in the admission price. We learnt many fascinating facts about the famous coco de mer, vanilla plants, cinnamon trees and much more.

Of course, we also spent a day visiting Praslin’s two best-known beaches: Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio . To allow us to walk to the first beach, our accommodation phoned the Constance Lemuria hotel, which is located directly on Anse Georgette, and registered our visit. This meant we could stroll conveniently from the bus stop through the hotel grounds to our destination. As soon as we arrived, we had yet another ‘wow’ moment. The gentle sound of the sea, the finest white sand and striking granite rocks lining the edge of the beach awaited us. We spread out our towels, jumped into the water and felt as though we were in paradise.

A few hours later, we set off on a moderately challenging, hour-long hike to the other dream beach, Anse Lazio . The route is quite manageable, although we recommend sturdy footwear because of the uneven ground and steeper sections. Anse Lazio is equally well worth seeing and is distinguished by the characteristic granite formations stretching along the entire beach. While snorkelling, we spotted a small shark among the many colourful fish. What a day!

Our accommodation on Praslin offered to arrange a guided tour to Curieuse, home to the Curieuse Marine National Park and its famous giant tortoises. We gratefully accepted the offer and did not regret it. Quite the opposite: the tour was an absolute highlight of our holiday.

First, we were collected from our accommodation and travelled by boat to the beautiful Anse St. José beach. After a refreshing swim there, we set off on foot to explore the island on a short hike. We had a highly enthusiastic guide who explained in detail all the plants and animals we encountered along the way. When we reached the other side of the island, we caught our first glimpse of the giant tortoises. And they were even larger than we had imagined! Originally brought to Curieuse from the Aldabra Atoll by sailors, it was immediately apparent that they thrive on the island and at the tortoise sanctuary. The busy nursery is further proof of this – be warned: the tiny baby tortoises are unbelievably adorable!

After spending some time admiring the tortoises, we enjoyed a delicious barbecue on the beach before leaving the island. We were then taken to two excellent snorkelling spots, where we could discover the underwater world around Curieuse and Praslin. Fortunately, we not only saw plenty of colourful fish but also a large ray in the wild. Finally, we were taken back to our accommodation, feeling immensely grateful for such an unforgettable excursion.

Anse St Jose, Curieuse

One highlight followed another! The next morning, we set off on a day trip to La Digue, the third-largest island in the Seychelles after Mahé and Praslin. We caught the Cat Rose ferry at 9.30 am and arrived around 15 minutes later. For the equivalent of €20 – 300 Seychellois rupees – we hired two bicycles, the best way to get around the island. Cars have also been permitted for a few years now, but bicycles remain the main form of transport.

First, we cycled to the famous Anse Source d'Argent. The beach is officially said to be the most beautiful in the world, which is why many well-known television adverts have been filmed here, including one for Bacardi. We cycled southwards until we reached the entrance to L'Union Estate . You have to pass through this farm – and pay an admission fee of 100 rupees per person – to reach the beach. It is certainly worthwhile, as you can admire La Digue’s famous vanilla plantations before discovering the dream beach beyond. It is adorned with beautiful granite rocks, sculpted into abstract shapes by wind and water over the years. After walking through the shallow seawater, we found a small stretch of beach where we simply enjoyed the moment. This was exactly how idyllic we had imagined our holiday would be!

Later, we cycled to Grand Anse on the other side of La Digue. You can hear the thundering waves for which the beaches in the west of the island are known from quite some distance. We relaxed here too, watching the surfers ride the waves. In the afternoon, we continued to the northern tip of La Digue, where we settled down at a beachside restaurant. From there, we headed to the harbour and caught the final ferry back to Praslin at 5.00 pm.

After a wonderful week on Praslin, Curieuse and La Digue, we spent the second half of our holiday on Mahé, where we treated ourselves to a few days of luxury at the Kempinski Seychelles Resort Baie Lazare . The hotel is nestled in the beautiful bay of Baie Lazare and offers numerous amenities to delight any holidaymaker (a large pool area, spa, lovely rooms, excellent service, and so on). Even nature lovers are well catered for here. A hiking trail has been created on the neighbouring granite outcrop known as ‘Mount Kempinski’, which you can climb to enjoy the breathtaking view over the bay. As you can probably tell, we wholeheartedly recommend the resort!

Baie Lazare On Mahé, we spent several days relaxing on the beach or by the pool and simply enjoying the hotel. However, our desire to explore led us on two more excursions. We spent half a day driving our hire car to the capital, Victoria. For the first time, we had the impression that the Seychelles could also be quite lively. In the mornings, many local residents head into the centre to buy fruit, vegetables, herbs, fish and other fresh delicacies. It was fascinating to visit the market and watch all the colourful activity. Afterwards, we walked to the Clock Tower and the Hindu Temple - Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar, both of which impressed us with their distinctive architecture. Although Victoria is relatively small, we felt that our visit was very worthwhile.

Our second trip by hire car took us along Sans Soucis Road, which winds through steep, densely forested mountains in countless hairpin bends, connecting the two sides of Mahé. However, the road itself was not our actual destination; that was the Copolia Lodge Trail (admission costs 100 rupees per person). The trail runs for around 1 km through lush, uneven terrain. We recommend sturdy footwear and allowing approximately 2–3 hours for the return hike, including photo stops. Any exertion is soon forgotten when you see the view awaiting you at the end of the trail. From Copolia Peak, you can see not only Victoria and the offshore islands of Cerf and Saint Anne, but also the man-made Eden Island, with its numerous luxury villas and catamarans. It is particularly fascinating if you are lucky enough to watch an aircraft coming in to land, as the airport and its runway are also clearly visible from above. We were truly overwhelmed and, once again, incredibly grateful for this dream holiday!

View from the Copolia Trail After almost two weeks in the Seychelles, our holiday drew to a close and we began our journey home. Looking back, we can confirm without a doubt that the islands really are every bit as beautiful as the enticing photographs and videos suggest. Nowhere felt overcrowded, everything was consistently clean, and the people were exceptionally friendly and warm. Every excursion and every single day was a highlight in its own right. We can therefore wholeheartedly – and quite literally – recommend the Seychelles!

Anse Lazio, Praslin