The Archipelago for All Five Senses

The rich green of the lushly covered mountain slopes and ‘rainforests’

The unique flora and fauna, including several endemic species

The granite rocks in all manner of sizes, colours and shapes

The crystal-clear ocean with its colourful fish and sea turtles – even a small ray came to greet us one morning

The old Creole architecture with its steep roofs in the French colonial style

The song of the Seychelles paradise flycatcher on La Digue and the greater vasa parrot in the Vallée de Mai on Praslin

The sounds of the giant tortoises being fed on La Digue (at the Bikini Bottom Bar or Union Estate) and Mahé (at the Craft Village)

The friendly melody of a Creole greeting in Seselwa when you are welcomed with ‘Bonzour, Allo!’

The catchy song ‘Laisse-moi t’aimer’ by Cameroonian singer Darina Victry, which we often heard on the radio across the islands and even at a karaoke evening!

The captivating fragrance of magnificent plants such as hibiscus, flame trees and frangipani in our garden on La Digue

The bark of the Ceylon cinnamon tree at Mission Lodge and the vanilla at Jardin du Roi on Mahé

The different aromas during the rum tasting at the Takamaka Distillery on Mahé

The perfume creations of the Coco de Mer Collection at the Craft Village on Mahé

Sir Selwyn Selwyn Clarke Market on Mahé

The energy of the granite rocks on Anse Source D’Argent beach on La Digue

The salt on our skin after swimming or snorkelling in the Indian Ocean

The soft, silvery sand between our toes

The tranquillity, harmony and natural beauty of the local people

The slower pace of exploring La Digue by bicycle

The islanders’ many colourful ethnic roots, united in a vibrant rainbow, and their desire to make every visitor feel genuinely welcome.

The fabulous banana bread from Gala Takeaway on La Digue

The delicious coconut ice cream from Glorious Bakery on La Digue

The rum punch at sunset at the legendary Boathouse on Mahé

The glazed chicken at La Pirogue restaurant on Praslin

The fresh fruit from the market on La Digue – when the vendor asked us when we wanted to eat the papaya, he picked out the most delicious one for us to enjoy that very day...:)

The grilled fish or chicken with cashew nuts from Islandsoulfood Take Away on Mahé.

Seybrew and cassava crisps

Our favourite beaches were:

Anse Lazio on Praslin. The sweeping bay, the gently shelving beach that makes it easy to enter the water, the comfort of the sun loungers and the lovely bar make it a truly special experience. On La Digue, Anse La Réunion is high on our list because we sometimes had it entirely to ourselves, could feed the fish close to the shore and watch the sand crabs busily going about their ‘work’. This is ‘barefoot luxury’ at its finest!

Our favourite SeyVillas accommodation was undoubtedly La Digue Holiday Villa. We stayed in one half of a beautiful, tastefully furnished house. We made the most of the spacious terrace, enjoying breakfast there in the mornings and our homemade piña coladas in the evenings (the kitchen is very well equipped ;)), all surrounded by a beautiful, flower-filled garden. Self-catering was great fun thanks to the many well-stocked supermarkets, the excellent Glorious Bakery by the ferry jetty and the numerous good takeaways. The accommodation made us forget that we were only there temporarily.

The STORY Seychelles hotel on Mahé’s Beau Vallon beach offered every imaginable luxury, from the spa to the Polynesian Trader Vic’s restaurant. After several days of desert-island adventure on La Digue, we also greatly appreciated these added comforts of civilisation! Above all, we could hardly wait for the varied breakfast after waking up each morning. Everything from eggs Benedict to chicken curry was available, and it all tasted simply delicious.

STORY Seychelles The SeyVillas transfer package was carried out by the local agency with clockwork punctuality at all times. Creole Travel Service provided excellent and charming assistance. We always felt extremely well looked after.

Sundowner at Beau Vallon

The lovely boys from Islandsoulfood Takeaway on Mahé sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to my mother to celebrate her birthday. Meeting Bella, the tame flying fox, in person and visiting the SeyTé tea plantation, which was actually closed, were unforgettable experiences. Mersi Sesel – we will definitely be back! Johanna and Monika