A Wonderful Experience Not to Be Missed
An earthly paradise well worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. One of those places where relaxation and wonder come together in perfect harmony as you take in everything nature has to offer. Beaches with brilliant white sand, charming places to eat or enjoy a drink, and tropical forests where you can hike surrounded by the greenery of the African landscape, discovering hidden corners of paradise filled with the sea’s most vivid shades. They may look like scenes from a postcard, but they are right there before your eyes.
The archipelago comprises around 100 islands. We visited three of the largest and most important: Mahé, home to the capital, Victoria, La Digue and Praslin.
One of the highlights of the trip was the variety of experiences offered by each island. Surrounded by the majestic Indian Ocean, the Seychelles are the perfect destination for anyone seeking a relaxing holiday, with a wide range of accommodation available, including the traditional ‘guest houses’ found on all the islands, as well as hotels and prestigious luxury resorts. Whatever you choose, there are good-value options to suit everyone’s needs.
Naming the most beautiful beaches is difficult, given how many there are. What they all share, however, is the beauty of the colourful water, white sand and palm trees – distinctive features found everywhere.
Mahé
Let us start at the beginning: after landing at Victoria airport in the scorching sunshine, we took a bus to our first hotel, Casadani. It is in a good location, with beaches nearby. Mahé is more developed than the other islands we visited, with a good selection of shops and lovely places to explore, including parks and churches.
A particular highlight is the daily market in the centre of the capital, where you can buy souvenirs, freshly caught fish, local produce and other delicacies. We then joined an organised tour to explore some of the island’s most beautiful spots, including a tortoise reserve and coffee and vanilla plantations, and had the chance to sample local dishes and excellent food in local restaurants. The hike to Anse Major was wonderful: it is a small, secluded beach reached after a long walk of a couple of kilometres through the tropical forest. Truly not to be missed, and something we would definitely do again.
To reach the other islands, you can simply take one of the many ferries, which are convenient and well organised by local agencies. After three days, we travelled on to La Digue.
La Digue
This is one of the archipelago’s smaller islands and, in our entirely subjective opinion, the most beautiful. Best explored by bicycle, it is the perfect place for anyone seeking a blend of complete peace and a relaxed pace of everyday life. A taxi took us to Zerof Guesthouse, which was very welcoming and well maintained.
We wasted no time: after hiring two bicycles, we set off to explore every corner of the island, from its many beaches to a bar at the island’s highest point, in the hills around 300 m above sea level. We recommend this spot to anyone who would like to sip a good cocktail.
There is certainly no shortage of good restaurants and attractions. One example is the large park near Anse Source d'Argent, home to vanilla plantations, tortoises and, of course, the beach itself – one of the finest in the Seychelles.
We stayed on La Digue for four nights before travelling to Praslin, the final island we chose to visit during our holiday.
Praslin
As an island, Praslin is quite similar to Mahé and fairly developed, but its most distinctive feature is the Coco de Mer, the symbol of the archipelago. Eager to go on a hike, we made our way to Anse Georgette, a beach located beyond a resort’s golf course. Reaching it involves a walk of around 1 hour along a route that is neither easy nor clearly marked. This made the experience of getting there and seeing this enchanting paradise with our own eyes even more rewarding.
Anse Lazio is the island’s most famous beach. Sweeping stretches of white sand and crystal-clear water provide visitors with a unique view to admire in all its splendour.
As on Mahé, and unlike La Digue, cars are also used on Praslin, so visitors can hire one and explore the whole island in just a few hours.
Chalets Cote Mer was where we stayed, complete with a swimming pool overlooking the ocean – absolutely fabulous!
Finally, special praise must go to SeyVillas, which organised our entire trip impeccably, exactly as we had planned and created it. If you are thinking of getting away and escaping your everyday routine, trust us: choose the Seychelles. With the help of this agency’s specialists, you can create your perfect holiday!
