An unforgettable stay

A 10-day stay in the Seychelles, with 3 nights on each island: Praslin, La Digue and Mahé. Everything was taken care of from the moment we arrived, so I felt I could simply relax and go with the flow. We flew from Paris and stopped over in Dubai with Emirates. A very good flight. After a 1-hour 30-minute wait, we caught another flight to Mahé. On arrival, we were met by Coco Travels. We chose to begin our trip on Praslin. We took the 11.30 ferry. The sea was calm, making the crossing peaceful and relaxing. When we arrived at Palm Beach Hotel, we were welcomed with a cocktail. We were then shown to our spacious room overlooking the sea. The first things that struck us were the very high humidity and the muggy heat. Beautiful sunshine. We took the opportunity to stock up on water at the nearby shops. There were breathtaking landscapes and a wide range of activities: beaches, snorkelling, trails, jungle hikes and a visit to Fond Ferdinand. We hired a car for a day to explore more thoroughly, and it really is essential. You cannot visit the island on foot. After 3 nights, we took the ferry again for the 15-minute crossing to La Digue. It is equally magnificent, and we stayed at Rising Sun Guesthouse. Very well located, with a warm welcome. You can explore the island on foot. We were particularly disappointed by Anse Source d’Argent. It is very popular and crowded, and for us, it was not the most beautiful beach. You also have to pay to enter, and the person at reception was not at all friendly. We did not stay. It is a shame that it has become such an extremely touristy and commercialised place. There was a lot of litter, and it felt poorly maintained. A tourist trap best avoided. We loved Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette on Praslin, as well as Anse Sévère, Anse Patates, Grosse Roche and Côte d’Or. I was able to swim with a sea turtle and spot a shark. These places were far more natural, with few people, and simply magnificent. After 3 nights, we took the ferry again for the 1-hour 15-minute crossing to Mahé, where our driver took us to Row’s Villa guesthouse. The welcome was impersonal, but the room was adequate. We were staying near Beau Vallon Beach.

On Mahé, Beau Vallon is a very beautiful beach, but we especially loved Anse Bazarca and Anse Intendance, with its powerful waves and turquoise water. We went on some wonderful, challenging hikes in the Vallée de Mai. Simply magnificent, with breathtaking views.

We sampled the local fruits: breadfruit, guava and, of course, bananas, mangoes and papayas. Absolutely delicious.

We hired a car for a day and visited all the coves and beaches. A must. We finished with an excursion to Cerf Island and Moyenne Island, where we went snorkelling. A superb natural aquarium at varying depths.

Our return journey with Emirates, again via Dubai, went smoothly.

In short, it was a dream holiday with an incredible variety of scenery. There was never a dull moment.