Island Hopping Beneath the Palms

After a smooth landing at the small island airport on Mahé, we took a shuttle bus to the port of Victoria and from there caught the ferry to the first stop on our journey: La Digue. La Digue is a small but delightful island that can easily be explored by hired bicycle. On our first day, we cycled along the west coast, past the harbour, heading north and continuing as far as Anse Patates. It was there, right at the start of our holiday, that we took some of the most beautiful photos of our trip. You will also come across the occasional giant tortoise roaming around La Digue, which is more than happy to be fed by tourists.

On the second day, we went on the Grand Anse, Petite Anse & Anse Cocos hike. You should always pay attention to the warning signs here, as swimming is extremely dangerous due to the strong currents. Only at the far end of Anse Coco is there a natural pool surrounded by rocks where you can swim and snorkel.

On the third day, we once again set off on foot, this time heading inland rather than towards the harbour. At the Belle Vue junction, the route climbs towards Nid d'Aigle. We followed the small road uphill, passing many beautiful houses. From the Belle Vue restaurant, the route continued along a steep, narrow trail. Once at the top, we were rewarded with a wonderful view over the western side of La Digue. After successfully making our way back down, we rounded off our final day at Anse Severe.

Giant tortoise

The Seychelles are best known for their picturesque, unspoilt beaches, and Praslin is where you will find many of them. After a short ferry crossing followed by a brief bus journey, we arrived at our accommodation by Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or), with its long stretch of white sand.

During the following days of our stay on Praslin, we took the bus to the final stop, shortly before Constance Lémuria Seychelles, and then followed a narrow path on foot to Anse Georgette. If you take this route, you should make sure to 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 hike. We also visited Anse Lazio and Petite Anse Lazio several times to soak up the sun, go snorkelling or simply swim.

If you would like to see even more of Praslin, you can spend a few hours exploring Vallée de Mai or Fond Ferdinand. The walk through the jungle alone is magical, making you feel as though you have stepped straight into The Jungle Book. You can also admire the famous Coco de Mer there.

Our holiday was not quite over yet. For our final two days, we took the ferry back to the main island of Mahé. We stayed near the airport, as our flight was due to depart very early. We spent our time sightseeing in the capital, Victoria, followed by a swim at Beau Vallon. We also visited Anse Royale. Close to Anse Royale is our insider tip: the Takamaka Rum Distillery . Free guided tours of the building and botanical garden are offered three times a day, and we were delighted to encounter giant tortoises once again. Afterwards, you can take part in a rum tasting and spend a few more hours enjoying food and cocktails on the estate.

For us, this was one of the highlights of our trip before we flew back to Germany early the following morning, well rested and with many wonderful memories.