A Break on Sainte Anne

After falling completely in love with the Seychelles on my honeymoon a few months earlier, I knew it would not be long before my next visit. I have now spent nine days on my own on the island of Sainte Anne, which, together with the surrounding islands of Moyenne Island, Round Island, Long Island, Cerf Island and Chachée Island, forms the Sainte Anne Marine National Park . Sainte Anne

During my stay, I was accommodated at the Club Med Seychelles, a 5-star resort that opened in 2021. Sainte Anne is around 4 km from Mahé, making the journey to and from the airport extremely convenient: after arriving at the airport, it took less than 30 minutes, including the speedboat journey, before I was welcomed at the resort. The hotel also arranges transfers around each guest’s individual arrival and departure times, so the speedboat operates at any time of day or night – something else I found very relaxing.

My stay at Club Med Seychelles completely exceeded my expectations. I stayed in a Superior Room with a sea view, and a freestanding bath overlooking the sea completed the holiday experience.

Superior room with sea view The resort is exclusively all-inclusive: depending on the time of day, the main restaurant serves a delicious buffet with something for everyone, with the Creole cuisine particularly deserving a mention. There is even a gluten-free section and a children’s corner with jars of baby food, puréed vegetables, mashed potato, a bottle warmer and more (I genuinely have never seen this in any other hotel – absolutely brilliant). In the evening, a special food station is often set up outside the restaurant, offering a particular highlight, such as fresh tuna with matching tuna sashimi. Guests can also dine at the Reef Restaurant, which is the resort’s à la carte restaurant: during the usual dining hours, dishes can be ordered à la carte from a selected menu.

Reservations are required for dinner at the Reef Restaurant, but it is definitely worth it: a barefoot dinner on the beach with candles, delicious food and a wonderfully romantic atmosphere – this meal was a real experience for me. Drinks, including alcoholic beverages, can also be ordered at any bar. I particularly liked the Beach Bar at Nautical Base beach, where I thought they served the best cocktails. Part of the Club Med concept is that staff mingle with guests during meals, so do not be surprised if someone asks whether they may join you for dinner. At first, I found this concept unusual, but then I absolutely loved it because I found it fascinating to chat with the Seychellois. I learnt a great deal about their culture, everyday lives, family life, education and vocational training, amongst other things. I really appreciated this, as the Seychelles have become very dear to me not only because of the breathtaking beaches, but also because of the warm, open and helpful local people. The programme offered by Club Med Seychelles is equally varied and free of charge: there is a different programme every day, with various activities and excursion options listed in the dedicated Club Med Seychelles app. You can download the app at the beginning of your stay and use it to see what is available at each time of day. To give just a few examples: yoga, particularly paddleboard yoga, Pilates, guided walks, snorkelling, sailing, kayaking, tennis lessons, cookery classes and more.

For children, there is Petit Club Med, which provides activities and supervision from early morning until late in the evening. Before my stay, I had no idea how much I would enjoy water-based activities: I went snorkelling several times (and saw a reef shark for the first time) and took a sailing lesson. The activities are always accompanied by two trained guides, so, for example, you go snorkelling in a small group. Sunset kayaking, like everything else, is also organised in small groups, which is why I tried so many activities – I always felt safe. I had my sailing lesson on my own, which was another really exciting experience for me. The sessions, which you can usually join spontaneously (only selected activities require registration in the morning), are often followed by a sunset beach party at the Nautical Base, where all the water sports activities take place. Special excursions are also available for an additional charge, such as trips to Mahé, La Digue and Praslin … I booked a ‘Sunset Cruise’, which was incredible.

We sailed northwards off Mahé on a catamaran and had a wonderful view of the sunset and the surrounding islands. Relaxing music played throughout, and drinks, including champagne, were included. I also joined an excursion to Moyenne Island, which once again left me completely overwhelmed by the beauty of the Seychelles. Before arriving at Moyenne, we travelled to a semi-submersible vessel located in the ocean in the heart of the marine national park. From inside the vessel, we were able to admire the underwater world – another unique experience. We then continued by catamaran towards Moyenne Island. The island is uninhabited, has the largest population of free-roaming giant tortoises and boasts utterly enchanting beaches. Together with our guide, we walked across the entire island and learnt a great deal about its history and former inhabitants. At the end, there was time to go swimming. While I was there, I adopted a small baby giant tortoise: I was allowed to choose a name, which is written on its shell, and provide financial support in return for updates and photographs of the tortoise – I think this is a wonderful concept.

The excursions each cost around €80 and, in my opinion, were absolutely worth it. In the evenings, Club Med Seychelles offers various entertainment shows and parties, which you can attend if you wish. Guests are transported around the resort by buggy, which means you can call from your room at any time to arrange a transfer. Alternatively, you can walk and enjoy the surrounding palm trees, plants and scenery. Every day, I walked to the adults-only Zen Pool.

The Zen Pool is beside the Reef Restaurant and, as an infinity pool, offers incredible views of the ocean – especially at sunset. There is also a main pool where children are welcome, which is equally lovely. Beside each pool and at the Nautical Base, there are gorgeous beaches distinguished by their powdery white sand and crystal-clear water.

The beach by the main pool offers lovely views of the islands opposite. I really enjoyed all three beaches, particularly the beach at the Nautical Base, as there was hardly another person there and I found some idyllic places to relax. Free-roaming giant tortoises can also be found near the Nautical Base, which I loved. I really like this combination of nature, wildlife and resort, and Club Med Seychelles brings it all together beautifully. I can wholeheartedly recommend the resort, the island of Sainte Anne and the marine national park to everyone. It certainly will not be my last visit. I look back on my holiday feeling completely refreshed and am already looking forward to my next trip to the Seychelles.