On our bucket list since 1985 – finally, we can tick it off!
This year, the time had finally come: a summer holiday in the Seychelles. Turquoise-blue water and breathtakingly beautiful beaches.
First of all, we have to say that planning our trip through the SeyVillas portal worked brilliantly. After entering the duration of the trip and the number of islands you would like to visit, SeyVillas suggests a suitable itinerary.
You then select the right accommodation on each island, depending on your budget. You can also add the transfer package, which is highly recommended, and SeyVillas can arrange the flights too, if you wish.
Finally, on 5 August 2024, we flew with Emirates from Frankfurt am Main via Dubai to Mahé. When we arrived at the airport, we received a warm welcome from Creole Travel Services, SeyVillas’ local partner agency.
They are your local point of contact throughout the trip and, if you have booked the transfer package, they also ensure that you are collected on time at each destination. As Praslin was our first island destination, we still had to make the crossing by ferry. Alternatively, we could have booked a flight transfer, which must be arranged before departure. This is worth considering during the south-east monsoon, as the Indian Ocean shows its somewhat rougher side at this time of year, with waves reaching 3–4 metres. This prompted one or two passengers to call loudly for ‘Jörg’.
Thankfully, we were spared this and arrived on Praslin in good spirits after around 1.2 hours. Creole Travel Service was waiting for us again and took us by minibus to our first hotel, Coco de Mer & Black Parrot Suites, in the south-west of Praslin. We received a very warm and refreshing welcome there, with a welcome cocktail and a cool towel.
Our room, one of the Black Parrot Suites, was simply overwhelming. It was enormous, with a large balcony and a wonderful view. We loved ending our evenings here, listening to the sound of the sea, or watching the sunset from the hotel’s infinity pool.
On Praslin itself, it is worth hiring a car, which can also be arranged directly through SeyVillas, so you can explore the island and its bays independently along the coastal roads.
The next day, we took the complimentary hotel shuttle bus to one of the must-see beaches on Praslin. Anse Lazio
in the north of the island is simply paradise: white, spacious and a superb snorkelling spot. We were even lucky enough to encounter a sea turtle there. 
After five days, we continued to La Digue. Once again, everything went perfectly with the transfer, including the short 15-minute ferry crossing.
When we arrived on La Digue, we were taken to our accommodation at Agnes Cottage. 
La Digue itself is a beautiful, smaller island with many wonderful beaches and bays. Not all of them are suitable for swimming and snorkelling, as very strong undercurrents in some bays, particularly in the south-east of the island, can be life-threatening. On La Digue, you get around by bicycle, which can be hired locally. The island had plenty to offer us. From there, we booked a catamaran snorkelling excursion around Sister Island, Coco Island and Félicité Island. While snorkelling off the latter, we were fortunate enough to spot a whitetip reef shark.
Sister Island also has plenty to offer, including a beautiful beach and free-roaming tortoises.
This restaurant can be booked through Creole Travel Service, including transfers. Alongside good food, you are treated to a fantastic view over La Digue and a beautiful sunset. On another day, we cycled all the way around the island with our drone in tow, stopping at various points along the way.
Although you should not go swimming in the south-east of the island, the beaches there are equally idyllic. Among others, we visited:
Grand AnsePetite Anse
Anse Marron
You could also easily spend the entire day at Anse Severe. There are several beach bars here too, including the well-known ‘Bikini Bottom’, which serves delicious cocktails, milkshakes and more.
After a total of five days on La Digue, we continued to Mahé. The ferry crossing takes just under 1.5 hours, and this time we enjoyed it from the outdoor deck for a small additional charge. There were no calls for ‘Jörg’ this time.
After arriving on Mahé, on the eastern side of the island, we transferred to our hotel, Valmer Resort), in the west. The rather adventurous journey took around 40 minutes. We had booked a suite with a lovely view of the sea. The hotel pool was also ideal for a refreshing dip.
As Mahé, home to the capital Victoria, is the largest island in the Seychelles, we explored it by hire car. A trip to Victoria is also worthwhile, even though the traffic here is considerably more hectic and, from a German perspective, drives on the ‘wrong side’ of the road. Alongside Little Big Ben, colourful religious buildings and the famous Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market, Victoria has plenty to offer.
The next day, we explored two more snorkelling spots. Baie Ternay National Marine Park Petite Anse At Baie Ternay, it is worth remembering to check the tides if you arrive in the morning and plan to snorkel for a while. Our belongings had already started floating towards us.
Petite Anse can only be reached through the Four Seasons hotel, where day visitors are marked out with a yellow wristband rather like guests at an all-inclusive resort. Parts of the beach are also reserved for the rich and famous who have private residences there.
Before heading home after a total of five days on Mahé, we rounded off our dream holiday with another catamaran excursion to St Anne Marine National Park. Once again, there were plenty of opportunities to admire the colourful wildlife of the Seychelles:
‘Dory’ surgeonfish‘Moorish idol’
‘Seychelles pigeon’
Flying foxes
Ultimately, we can say that the Seychelles are simply one of the most beautiful places in the world. They are always worth visiting, and we will certainly return one day. Next time, we will not forget our water shoes. Because of the many reefs, the coral begins in relatively shallow water and is too sharp and hard for delicate feet like ours.
When the time comes, we will book with SeyVillas again. We wish all travellers a wonderful holiday in the Seychelles.
Sonja & Thorsten