Island Hopping in Paradise

We landed on Mahé on 23 December. The sun greeted us as soon as we stepped off the plane, and the temperature of around 29°C was very pleasant, especially when you have just arrived from winter.

After a short, five-minute transfer to the hotel jetty, we boarded the hotel’s own boat and, just ten minutes later, arrived at the Enchanted Island Resort on Round Island.

After a ten-hour flight with a stopover in Dubai, all in the middle of the night, it was lovely to have such a short transfer to the hotel.

The Enchanted Island Resort on Round Island is simply idyllic! Ten small villas are hidden away in the rainforest on this tiny island. Privacy is a top priority, so each villa also has its own access to the beach. The restaurant is understandably small, but the food and staff were excellent. An absolute must on Round Island is to take one of the hotel’s kayaks around the island and the neighbouring islands too. Along the way, you can watch rays and fish in the shallow water and enjoy the peace and quiet.

After Round Island, we travelled via Mahé to Praslin, taking the ferry. The sea was a little choppy, but as we had booked tickets for the upper deck, we had plenty of fresh air and a constant cooling breeze. After a crossing of around an hour, we reached Praslin. On Praslin, we chose the Village du Pecheur on the well-known Anse Volbert beach. The hotel is right on the beach, and even on your way to breakfast you walk across the fine sand. When we booked the hotel, SeyVillas recommended a room category that was not listed in any brochure. The room was superb, with an enormous terrace and direct views of the small neighbouring island.

From Praslin, we continued on to La Digue. I found this island particularly beautiful. If you want to get from A to B, you either cycle or walk. We explored the island on foot and kept discovering breathtaking beaches, ancient giant tortoises and vanilla plantations. All beaches in the Seychelles are public and therefore freely accessible, without a ‘private’ sign anywhere.

For our final stop, we spent a few days at the Constance Ephelia on Mahé. The ferry crossing was calmer this time, so we were able to truly enjoy the sea and sunshine. A driver from Creole Travel Services was already waiting for us at the jetty, and off we went through the mountains towards the north-west, passing tea plantations and travelling along narrow, winding roads through dense tropical forests. This hotel was situated beside not just one but two gorgeous beaches.

Wherever we went in the Seychelles, the people were always friendly and the food was excellent. Creole cuisine delights with delicate spices, unusual local vegetables and delicious fish.

What I particularly loved were the fine white beaches with their distinctive granite rocks, which were everywhere in abundance. It always felt as though we were in a glossy travel brochure, yet it was all real.

You might be thinking that the festive season falls during the rainy season. Yes, it did rain from time to time, but our second week was completely dry. And even when there was a brief shower during the first week, it did not really matter at 29°C.

Conclusion: tropical islands, gorgeous beaches, no tourist crowds, beautiful hotels and excellent planning advice from SeyVillas.