A Dream Solo Trip
Hello everyone,
Like everyone here, I too had the chance to enjoy an unforgettable holiday in the Seychelles. I decided to take this trip very spontaneously and only booked a week in advance. That spontaneous decision was one of the best I have ever made. What is more, I travelled alone. I treated myself to this trip as a gift before my studies and everyday life started again in October. As many people here share their experiences of travelling as a couple, and the Seychelles are generally known as a honeymoon destination, I would like to show you a different way of travelling around the Seychelles and help ease any fears you may have about travelling alone.
First of all, it is important to know that my trip to this dreamlike archipelago was also my first ever trip without friends or family. I wanted to make the most of the advantage of travelling alone – being completely free to decide on activities and everything else myself – while still having the reassurance that the essentials were taken care of. After all, I did not want to take on too much! SeyVillas handled all the less enjoyable parts for me, arranging every transfer and accommodation booking. I would also like to say another huge thank you to the team for organising and arranging my ‘spur-of-the-moment idea’ of planning an island-hopping trip within just one week so brilliantly. So there I was on the plane, feeling optimistic and safe in the knowledge that everything had been organised and that the only thing I needed to worry about was planning each day.
The best of both worlds
The first island I visited was Praslin. In terms of size, it offers a happy medium between Mahé and La Digue, but the absolute highlight was the beautiful hotel beach at Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or), with its famous horizontal palm tree. And now for the million-dollar question: as a solo traveller, how do you get a few nice photos of yourself at this ‘Instagram spot’? Well, you can either ask one of the other friendly tourists on the beach – most of whom were German, incidentally – or do what I did and simply use your smartphone camera’s self-timer. I had also brought along a small travel tripod and a Bluetooth remote shutter.
While on Praslin, I also visited Vallée de Mai National Park. It is certainly a lovely place, and seeing the famous Coco de Mer is practically a must. However, the hefty admission fee of around €30 may come as a bit of a shock. Here is a little insider tip: the well-known waterfall often featured in photos associated with the Vallée de Mai is not actually within the park grounds. It can be visited free of charge about 500 m down the road (photos 3 and 4). Many locals and hotel staff also recommended the other large national park, ‘Fond Ferdinand’. It is not yet as well known as the Vallée de Mai, but it is cheaper and boasts an incredible viewpoint. Yes, that is another advantage of travelling alone. You are far more likely to strike up conversations with local people when you do not constantly have a familiar partner by your side.
Picture-postcard scenery
My second stop was La Digue. Like many travellers before me, I found this island to be the highlight of my trip. You can reach everything very quickly by bicycle, and even though it was high season, visitors were spread out well, so fortunately the island still feels a long way from mass tourism. If you would like to see giant tortoises roaming freely, you should stop by the Bikini Bottom Bar in the north-west of the island. Two of these gentle giants spend most of the day there.
Otherwise, you can spend the whole day exploring the various beaches and bays, passing through dreamlike stretches of forest and jungle on foot or by bicycle. During my time on La Digue, I stayed in a guesthouse, which I can wholeheartedly recommend. Local tips are worth their weight in gold, particularly on this small island, and it would be such a shame to spend all your time at a resort or on the hotel beach.
A luxurious finale
My final stop was Mahé. The main island is considerably busier than its smaller sisters, providing a wonderful contrast to La Digue. You could easily spend several weeks here and probably still not have explored everything. Mahé is also home to most of the luxury hotels and resorts, making it the perfect finale to a trip to the Seychelles for many people, myself included. I stayed at Savoy Resort & Spa, a dreamlike hotel right on the famous Beau Vallon. I spent my final few days relaxing and treating myself before it was time to return home.
To conclude, I can only recommend that everyone visit the Seychelles at least once in their life. The country is breathtakingly beautiful and also very safe, which was a major advantage for a solo traveller like me. Whether you travel alone, as a couple or with the whole family, the islands are so diverse that there is something for everyone!
