Beaches, Adventure & Diving – 3 Weeks in the Seychelles

After arriving on Mahé, we took a direct connecting flight from Mahé to Praslin in a small propeller plane – an adventure in itself! The views of the sea, turquoise bays and dense forests below us were simply breathtaking. Once on Praslin, we collected our hire car and checked into our accommodation, Mango Lodge. Perched high on a hill, it offered beautiful views of the coast directly in front of us. Mando Lodge We explored the island independently in our hire car. We particularly enjoyed the combination of activity and relaxation: we spent three days diving in the dazzling underwater world, where we saw everything from colourful coral reefs to sharks. On the remaining days, we hiked through Fond Ferdinand, where the famous Coco de Mer grows, and relaxed on dream beaches such as Anse Lazio.

A trip to Curieuse Island to see the tortoises was wonderful. We were lucky enough to be the first visitors to arrive in the morning, allowing us to explore the island in peace. The tortoises roam freely everywhere, and some were very trusting and relaxed. The short hike to the beach on the other side was easy and pleasant. There were, of course, plenty of other visitors around, but it never felt unpleasantly busy.

Food was not always quite so straightforward, however, as being vegetarian often meant we had to improvise. At the takeaway restaurants in particular, which offer unbeatable value, we often put together meals from various side dishes, such as rice, vegetables and lentil curries. Restaurants, by contrast, were considerably more expensive, so we only visited them occasionally.

---

After 7 days, we continued to La Digue by ferry. The crossing was pleasant and heightened our excitement about visiting the smallest and probably most laid-back island of our trip. On La Digue, we stayed at the cosy Bois d'Amour – an idyllic property surrounded by nature on the quiet outskirts of the village, perfectly matching the island's peaceful atmosphere.

La Digue won our hearts immediately. The leisurely pace, the scarcity of cars and the opportunity to explore the island by bicycle made every moment special. One of the highlights was the Creole festival at the end of October, marking the culmination of a whole month of festivities: delicious food, traditional music and a warm atmosphere that brought us closer to Seychellois culture.

We also spent a day diving with Trek Divers aboard a fantastic modern catamaran. This allowed us to enjoy the scenery and views of the small surrounding islands, such as Marianne and Félicité, before exploring the underwater world around them.

We then changed accommodation and spent another 3 days at CocoLux Apartments, which offered a lovely blend of traditional and modern elements. We felt very comfortable here.

An absolute highlight was our hike with Robert to Anse Marron. The route was adventurous, leading partly through dense jungle and over rocks, but the destination was worth every effort: secluded beaches with crystal-clear water and impressive granite boulders. Anse Marron, La Digue One dining experience we will never forget was at Belle Vue, high up on the mountain. We booked dinner via WhatsApp and were collected directly from our accommodation. The delicious Creole food and one of the most spectacular sunsets we have ever seen made the evening perfect! For quick, authentic food, Take Away K2 was our favourite – delicious, affordable and run by an incredibly friendly owner! View from Belle Vue As for the beaches, Anse Severe was our absolute favourite. Crystal-clear water, granite boulders in the background and a laid-back atmosphere made this beach a paradise for us.

---

After 6 days on La Digue, the ferry took us to Mahé. Fortunately, the ocean remained calm, making for a pleasant crossing. Mahé was different from the other islands: larger, livelier and more varied. Our accommodation, Naturalis Oceanview Residences, was perfectly located for exploring the island. The roads here are slightly wider and better developed, so we had no trouble getting around in a larger hire car.

On our first day, we visited the capital, Victoria, with its market, small shops and – yes – the first traffic jams of our holiday. After the first two laid-back islands, this took some getting used to, but it had its own appeal, as it gave us more of an insight into local life.

Our hire car took us all the way to the south of the island, where we found the most beautiful beaches, often almost completely deserted. We were particularly taken with the small coves along the west and south coasts. Our favourite beaches on Mahé were Sunset Beach in the north, Port Launay North Beach in the west and Anse Soleil in the south – each a little paradise in its own right.

Anse Soleil, Mahé An absolute highlight of our entire holiday was the hiking and canoeing tour with White Sands Adventures. The tour was simply perfect: a highly dedicated guide, fascinating conversations and information about nature and society in the Seychelles, dreamlike scenery and an experience that will remain with us for a long time. We wholeheartedly recommend this tour to everyone!

Kayak tour Naturally, we also devoted several days here to diving. Although we had hoped to see a whale shark, sadly we were not lucky enough to encounter one. Nevertheless, the dives around Mahé were unforgettable – sharks, rays, turtles, wrecks and enormous shoals of fish circling around us.

After three weeks in the Seychelles, saying goodbye was incredibly difficult. Each island had its own character and charm, and together they offered the perfect combination of adventure, nature, relaxation and enjoyment. The Seychelles enchanted us not only with their beauty, but also with their warmth and tranquillity. It was a dream holiday that we will always remember – and who knows, perhaps one day we will return to find the whale shark that eluded us this time.

A few tips in summary:

- Food: Takeaways are affordable and delicious! Vegetarians need to be a little creative and ask for meals to be put together from side dishes. Restaurants tend to be expensive, but may offer personalised options on request.

- Getting around: We relied on hire cars, as buses were not an option for us. A small car was ideal on Praslin, while on Mahé we appreciated the added comfort of a larger car.

- Our highlights:
- Praslin: The overall atmosphere, our trip to Curieuse and Anse Lazio beach
- La Digue: Take Away K2 and Anse Severe, plus the hike with Robert to Anse Marron
- Mahé: The kayaking and hiking tour with White Sands Adventures, and the beaches Sunset Beach, Port Launay and Anse Soleil.