Two Couples in the Wonderful Seychelles
The trip gets off to a slightly difficult start: three of us feel unwell during the catamaran crossing from Mahé to Praslin, so we decide that our return to Mahé for the final 7 days of the holiday will be by plane. The Creole agency takes care of everything very efficiently.
Praslin
It takes us a little while to adjust to the humid heat, and we find little relief indoors because the air conditioning in our bedroom is not working properly, while the living room in our accommodation has neither a fan nor blackout curtains. Natalie, the owner, is very kind, and by the third day the air-conditioning problem has been resolved. The house has a lovely garden extending all the way to an almost private little beach, and there are shops and a restaurant nearby. We have a very enjoyable dinner at the ‘Capricorn’ on our second evening. We hire a car for 3 days and set off to explore the lush green island and its many varied beaches.
The most beautiful are: Anse Lazio in the north, with blue water and large waves, as well as a lovely beach restaurant, the ‘Bonbon Plume’, which serves generous portions of fish. Anse Georgette is similar, but smaller and more secluded, with no facilities, so you need to remember to bring water and food. To visit, you must book with the Lemuria resort at least 1 day in advance and walk through its enormous golf course for about half an hour. Anse Boudin, in the north-east, has calm water in incredible shades of colour, perfect for a wonderful swim.
Anse Volbert and Grand Anse are large, more touristy bays where most of the shops and restaurants are located.
Day trip to La Digue
On Wednesday, we board the ferry from Baie Sainte Anne harbour to La Digue, which takes just 15 minutes. We hire bicycles and cycle to the famous Anse Source d'Argent, entering through the Union Estate reserve, where payment is required. The reserve is home to giant tortoises and cinnamon plantations. The various beaches and little coves are separated by huge, smooth boulders, creating the distinctive atmosphere that has made them famous.
In the north-west, it is well worth going as far as Anse Severe. Back on Praslin, we use the public bus service, which runs efficiently throughout the island.
Mahé
On Friday the 26th, we fly to Mahé in a small propeller plane, arriving in 15 minutes, and reach our lovely accommodation at Anse Royale just as quickly.
The apartment is spacious and thoughtfully furnished, as well as well equipped, and the large veranda offers a splendid view over the bay. We hire a car for 4 days: it is newer and costs less than the one on Praslin. On a cloudy, rainy day, we visit the capital, Victoria, where the market is well worth seeing, along with the nearby colonial-style houses.
This larger island is also very green and has some impressive peaks. The most beautiful bays are in the south-west: Anse Intendance, Anse Takamaka and Baie Lazare, but the one that truly enchants us is Anse Soleil, with its crystal-clear water and beautiful seabed full of fish and coral: fantastic swimming and snorkelling!
Besides the sea, what we love about the Seychelles is the splendid vegetation, the lack of traffic, the low-key tourism and the almost deserted beaches. We also appreciate how widespread and easy self-catering is, thanks to the good network of food shops. We are impressed by the efficiency of the local Creole agency and the professionalism of the tour operator SeyVillas, which promptly refunds us for the ferry crossing we did not take. Thank you all for a wonderful holiday!
Mara, Valeria, Giovanni and Adolfo.
