The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean known for its stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, and vibrant marine life. It is a popular tourist destination for those looking for a secluded tropical paradise with plenty of opportunities for diving, snorkeling, and water sports. The islands also boast unique flora and fauna, with many species found nowhere else in the world. Overall, the Seychelles is a beautiful and exotic destination for those seeking a luxurious and relaxing getaway.
The Seychelles – the perfect luxury escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life
A mesmerising archipelago made up of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean that beckons travellers seeking a unique blend of natural beauty and luxury. The granite islands of Seychelles feature dramatic rock formations, crystal-clear waters and lush greenery. The coral islands offer hidden coves, white sandy beaches and vibrant marine life for snorkelling and diving enthusiasts.
The first part of our holiday saw us head to the Seychelles 2nd largest island, Praslin. We took a short 15 minute flight from the main island Mahe on a small twin jet plane. Staying at the 5 star resort of Constance Lemuria, which is located in a magnificent setting, it boasts everything you could ask for in a luxury get away – including a 3-tier cascading swimming pool, incredible beaches with powder soft sand, golf course and spa. The food was exquisite, with a wide range of options and restaurants available. The hotel is quite small, which showed in the personal touches and attention to detail in the service. The staff were incredibly friendly, helpful and nothing was too much trouble. It was probably the best service we have ever experienced. It really was the perfect place to sample this incredible island.
Praslin is well known for its stunning beaches and the local nature reserve Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is home to the rare Coco de Mer palm tree.
Looking for adventure, we headed out on various excursions. Our first was a boat trip that would take us snorkelling close to St Pierre Island before heading to Curieuse Island which is home to over 300 wild Aldabra tortoises. Here we explored the island and enjoyed a traditional Creole beach BBQ. The Seychellois cuisine is a fusion of African, French, Indian, and Chinese influences, resulting in a unique culinary experience. After lunch we continued on to snorkel at the famous Anse La Farine where corals, colourful fish and turtles were plentiful and finished off the day with a rum cocktail.
The second excursion was to the wonderful laid back island La Digue. This small and picturesque island is known for its untouched beauty. We opted for a guided tour of the island where we visited L’Union Estate which is both a cultural museum and a place to learn how to make coprah – the flesh of dried coconut and how they extract its perfumed oil. We also had time to explore a number of beaches – including the famous Anse Source d’Argent. One of the most highly rated and one of the most photographed beaches in the world, it’s beauty truly a sight to behold. With its warm turquoise waters and granite boulders no photo I could take could ever do it justice.
For the second part of our holiday, we headed back to the main island, Mahe. We stayed at the 5 star resort of Constance Ephelia which is nestled between two of the most beautiful white sand beaches on the island overlooking the marine national park of Port Launay. This hotel was much larger than the first, but still had great staff and amazing food. The hotel also offered far more activities, including zip wire course, rock climbing and kayaking to name a few!
Whilst on Mahe we opted for a private day excursion of the island. This included visiting the capital city of Victoria, full of rich history and culture, colourful markets and the iconic Clock Tower! Another stop was to Takamaka Rum Distillery. Here we discovered the history of the rum, how it was made and may have even sampled one (or a few!) of the delicious rums they make.
Another great excursion was to Domaine de Val des Près Craft Village which has little huts surrounding a traditional Plantation House that dates back to the 1870’s. One of the best things about this craft village is that you can see the artists at work and they are happy to let you watch and talk about their craft.
The best excursion we found was a boat trip which included snorkelling, a semi submersible and a visit to Moyenne Island. This island was purchased in the 1960’s for £8000 by a guy from Yorkshire called Brandon Grimshaw. Brandon quit his job as a newspaper editor and started a new life on the island. Over the next 40 years he planted 16000 trees and built nearly 5 kilometres of trail. It attracted 2000 new bird species to the island and introduced the giant Aldabra tortoises which roam freely on the island. Thanks to Brendons efforts, this once desolate island is now home to two thirds of Seychelles fauna. Brendon was offered $50 million dollars for the island which he refused. In 2008 the island was declared the world’s smallest national park seeing Brendon’s wish come true before he passed away in 2012, aged 86. He is buried on the island next to 2 pirates and his dad. Moyenne was built from love and a true connection to nature which you can feel as you walk around this beautiful island.
Our final excursion was to a place called ‘Roots’ where we had the opportunity to make our own sarongs using the traditional sun printing method. Collecting flowers and leaves from the garden we placed them on the laid out sarongs and using special ink coloured the fabric before leaving it to dry in the sun for an hour whilst enjoying snacks and drinks with the owners. Et voila, our very own personalised memento from the Seychelles!
In conclusion, the Seychelles offer a perfect blend of natural beauty, adventure and relaxation for travellers seeking a tropical paradise. Having been lucky enough to visit other Indian Ocean islands, I would say that the Seychelles has the luxury and beauty of the Maldives, with the adventure and activities of Mauritius – the perfect balance. Whether you are lounging on a sun-kissed beach, snorkelling on crystal clear waters or savouring the flavours of the Seychellois cuisine, this archipelago is sure to leave you enchanted.
