Impossible not to fall in love!

The island is very peaceful, both socially and politically, so it is well worth exploring with a backpack! You will find stalls selling delicious, wonderfully fragrant fruit everywhere, perfect for taking with you…along with plenty of water, as the hot, humid climate makes you sweat a great deal! There are mini-markets everywhere, so staying hydrated is not a problem…and for an afternoon aperitif…Seybrew, an excellent beer brewed right on Mahé, costs a very reasonable 20 rupees per bottle, while plantain and breadfruit crisps are an exotic alternative to the familiar packet of crisps!

We visited a great many beaches, from the most famous to the most unspoilt…it is difficult to rank them, but we can certainly say that Port Launay and Anse Royale offered us the best snorkelling.

Keep your eyes peeled wherever you are…the beaches are literally teeming with different species of crab. The white sand crabs will put on amusing acrobatic displays in exchange for a morsel of your tuna sandwich!

We tackled the Morne Blanc trail: a forest whose beauty is difficult to describe leads you to a panoramic viewpoint that will take your breath away and, if you are as lucky as we were, you may even spot a few tenrecs!

The plantations around the start of the trail grow tea and citronella; just a few metres away, in fact, is Seyté, the Seychelles tea factory.

Here you can see the various stages of tea production and buy many different varieties at very reasonable prices.

Many tourist properties are in peaceful locations, but if you would like to experience the island’s culture, set aside at least half a day for the capital, Victoria!

Do not miss the market, where you will find excellent fruit, souvenirs and an enormous variety of fish! The Hindu temple is also lovely, with its colourful architecture and ceremonies typical of the faith. The charming post office is just a stone’s throw from the Natural History Museum, while a wonderful Creole house and breathtaking jewellery await you at Kenwin House.

Another must-see in the capital is the Botanical Garden. It is beautifully maintained and gave us the thrill of touching and feeding giant tortoises, as well as seeing hundreds of flying foxes roosting in enormous trees!

It often rains here in the Seychelles, usually in brief showers, but unfortunately we had one day when it hardly stopped raining and the sun barely made an appearance…determined not to be discouraged, we found the waterfall at Port Glaud and even went for a swim beneath it…a truly exciting experience!

Another good alternative to the beach when it rains is the Craft Village. We really indulged in some shopping, as there are plenty of interesting items at very reasonable prices! We also bought vanilla extract here, which filled our desserts with its fragrance when we returned to Italy and made us feel as though we were back on the island!

Our penultimate day: an excursion to Praslin and La Digue.

Vallée de Mai is astonishing, as are the unique qualities of the Coco de Mer, which grows and reproduces only here. We also found the visit to L’Union Estate on La Digue particularly interesting, as this is where coconut oil is produced and vanilla is cultivated.

The Seychelles are a magical place where colours, flavours and fragrances come together in a way that is impossible to imagine until you are actually there…

They truly are a corner of paradise on earth that must be preserved, and we will always carry the memories in our hearts.

Stefano & Martina