Dream Holiday on Mahé and Praslin

Having already visited the Seychelles in 2020 and 2022, although only staying on Praslin and taking day trips to La Digue, this time we wanted to go island hopping, so we chose ‘SeyVillas’. We decided on Mahé and Praslin and had an itinerary put together for us. A hire car for Mahé was booked at the same time, and then all that remained was to wait for our trip to begin.

On 22 February 2025, the time had finally come. We flew to the Seychelles with Qatar Airways, stopping over in Doha, and were collected directly from the airport and taken to the ferry. The one-hour crossing passed quickly, and after a short private transfer on the island, we finally arrived at our hotel. We already knew the Berjaya Praslin Resort and like its small, welcoming atmosphere. Naturally, we headed straight to the hotel’s beach, Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or). Cote d'Or on Praslin On the second day, we took the bus to Anse Lazio. The beach is a feast for the eyes, with its snow-white sand. Of course, we visited the Honesty Bar. We had often been there on previous trips and can recommend it to anyone visiting the beach. A little snorkelling is also a must at Anse Lazio, and the underwater world there really is impressive. Sometimes you simply need a day by the pool, so we spent our third day at the hotel. By then, however, we were in the mood for a hike, so on the fourth day we set off for Anse Georgette. The hiking trail over the hills is a good option, and you do not need to register with the ‘Constance Lemuria Resort’. A little adventure is always great and, although it is very strenuous, it is also enjoyable, with the destination making up for all the effort.

Anse Georgette is an absolutely beautiful beach, and the water is perfect for cooling off. A fruit cocktail from one of the stalls is a must here. Anse Georgette, Praslin The Seychelles are famous for their gentle giants. On the fifth day, we took a speedboat to the small island of ‘Curieuse’, in the Curieuse Marine National Park, to visit the giant tortoises at the ‘Tortoise Sanctuary’. A few hours with these magnificent animals and a walk through the mangrove forest certainly work up an appetite, so we enjoyed a delicious barbecue on the other side of the island. Curieuse Anyone who has heard or read about the Seychelles will have come across the name ‘Coco de Mer’, and the world’s largest nut grows on Praslin and Curieuse. That is why, on the sixth day, we visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site Vallée de Mai, listed since 1983.

This national park lies in the heart of Praslin and is easy to reach by bus. If it rains, the park is perfect, as the dense canopy provides shelter. You can explore it either with or without a guide, and there are several different trails. Vallée de Mai Praslin is home not only to the Vallée de Mai, but also to Fond Ferdinand. We visited this newer park on the seventh day and would definitely recommend it. It is beautiful here too, and once you have climbed the many steps, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view across Praslin. Fond Ferdinand, Praslin Our time on Praslin had now come to an end, and we took the ferry back to Mahé. We stayed at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay and, although the hotel is ‘slightly’ showing its age, it was still lovely and its location on Beau Vallon beach is perfect.

We spent the eighth day alternating between Beau Vallon beach and the hotel pool. We also visited the tortoises behind the hotel. Berjaya Beau Vallon Then came a big day: on the ninth day, we collected our hire car and set off straight away. Driving on the left was no problem, and driving on Mahé is easy. We followed Sans Souci Road to the starting point of the Copolia Lodge Trail and hiked up to ‘Copolia Peak’. The hike is quite manageable, and the view over Eden Island and the ‘Sainte Anne Marine National Park’ is incredible. Once back at the hire car, we continued around the island and passed several beaches, including Anse Royale, Anse Takamaka Beach, Baie Lazare, Petite Anse and Anse Petite Maire-Louise.

Of course, we stopped at the gallery of Michael Adams and admired the many paintings. We would wholeheartedly recommend it. On our way back, we also visited the Takamaka Rum Distillery . The tour is well worth doing, and the rum is naturally delicious too. Copolia Trail On day ten, we drove all the way around the island once again in our hire car and, as well as visiting more beautiful beaches, stopped at the Le Jardin Du Roi Spice Garden. Even on the way there, the scents of various spices filled the air.

The garden itself is beautifully laid out and features a wide variety of plants as well as a museum. We also visited the ‘Machabee Rock Pool’ in the north of the island. It is a natural seawater pool and a lovely place to relax. Of course, we also had to visit Victoria, the smallest capital city in the world, so on the eleventh day we took the hotel’s complimentary shuttle into the little city. First, we went to the Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market and were impressed by the huge selection of fish and vegetables. On the upper level of the market, there are several clothing and souvenir shops. The Hindu Temple - Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar is definitely worth visiting, and we went inside too. The ‘Botanical Gardens’ were our next destination and, just as at ‘Le Jardin du Roi’, there is an enormous variety of plants as well as a tortoise enclosure.

We also visited ‘Peace Park’, which was on our way back towards the city centre and the ‘National Museum of History’, our next stop. This museum tells the story of the Seychelles and is housed in an old colonial building. It was now time for a cool drink, so we headed to the ‘Coco Blu’ bar, located directly on ‘Albert Street’ near the famous ‘Victoria Clock Tower’. A catamaran tour should be on everyone’s list of excursions, so on the twelfth day we chose a trip to the Sainte Anne Marine National Park, including a visit to the island of ‘Moyenne’. We were collected early and picked up a few more guests from other hotels along the way. We then boarded the beautiful catamaran barefoot, and the trip began. Before long, we reached the island of ‘Sainte Anne’, which we sailed around before stopping at our first snorkelling spot.

We then passed several more islands before taking a small dinghy across to ‘Moyenne’. It is one of the world’s last remaining paradises, and no guesthouses or hotels are permitted there. We quickly walked around the small island, visiting its many beaches, various graves and viewpoints. Naturally, tortoises also roam freely around the island, and you may well encounter one right in the middle of the trail.

In the early afternoon, we enjoyed another excellent barbecue before continuing to the next snorkelling spot. The underwater world here was beautiful too, but sadly the day was drawing to a close. We returned to the harbour and our hotel with a small detour past the island of ‘Cerf’. What a fantastic day. The thirteenth day was another relaxing one by the pool and on the beach. In the evening, we explored the promenade at Beau Vallon and prepared for our return flight and the end of our wonderful trip to the Seychelles. We rounded off the evening with dinner at the pizzeria while watching the sunset. Beau Vallon promenade Then the fourteenth day arrived, and it was time to fly home. We were collected from the hotel at 3 pm and taken to the airport. While there, we visited the Takamaka Bar and waited for our flight over a cocktail.

We hope to return to the Seychelles soon and would like to thank ‘SeyVillas’ for making the entire trip run so smoothly and for their support with everything. Daniel and Dominic