Best of Seychelles ... A trip to Islands of Eden !
Close your eyes. And just imagine. You're lazing on a talcum-powder beach lapped by topaz waters and backed by lush hills and big glacis boulders. Brochure material? No, just routine in the Seychelles.
With such a dreamlike setting, the Seychelles is unsurprisingly a choice place for newlyweds. But for those looking for more than a suntan or romance, this archipelago offers a number of high-energy distractions.
There are jungle and coastal walks, boat excursions, and diving and snorkelling to keep you buzzing. Ecotourism is big – there are marine parks and natural reserves filled with endemic species that are easy to approach.
Mother Nature was unbelievably generous with the Seychelles, a fabled paradise whose islands lie scattered across the Indian Ocean. Spellbinding beaches are the main attraction, and what beaches! Exquisite ribbons of sand lapped by turquoise waters and backed by lush hills, palm trees and Dali-esque boulders.
Beyond the beach, diving and snorkelling are brilliant in the warm waters amid abundant marine life, while few places on the planet do ocean-side luxury quite like the Seychelles.
Mahe is the largest island and entry point to the Seychelles, with some fabulous resorts, restaurants and beaches, not to mention the small capital city of Victoria. But it's also the busiest island, with glorious Praslin and La Digue a short boat ride away.
Even further out, there are real lost-world islands to be found.
Photos
Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival Mahe Island, Seychelles / Day at leisure to visit Victoria
Arrival to the Paradise … Mahe Island, Meet & greet by our representative, transfer to hotel for check in
When it comes to wishing for the archetypal idyllic island, it's impossible to think past the glorious bays caressed by the gorgeously multi-hued waters of Mahe. To the northeast, a range of granite peaks, including Mahe’s highest point, Morne Seychellois (905m), adds to this vivid panorama.
By far the largest and most developed of the Seychelles islands, Mahe is home to the country's capital, Victoria, and to about 90% of the Seychelles' population. Small wonder that it has excellent vacation and adventure opportunities, from exploring the mountainous jungle of the interior to diving pristine sites and snorkelling with whale sharks.
Or just do nothing at all and flake out on porcelain-sand beaches. Wherever you're based, paradise lies close at hand – a bus or car ride of no more than 20 minutes will bring you to fabulous natural attractions.
Rest of the day at leisure
Today tune into island life in the capital, Victoria, checking out the market and strolling among the palm trees in the botanical gardens.
Victoria may be the country's main economic, political and commercial hub, but peak hour here lasts an unbearable 10 minutes! It is home to about a third of the Seychelles' population, but even so Victoria retains the air of a provincial town.
While it may not fulfil all fantasies about tropical paradise, the city still has a little charm and a little promise when you scratch beneath the surface. There's a bustling market, manicured botanical gardens and a fistful of attractive old colonial buildings sidling up alongside modern structures and shopping plazas. It's also a good place to grab last-minute gifts before heading home.
Oh, and there's the setting. Victoria is set against an impressive backdrop of hills that seem to tumble into the turquoise sea.
Overnight at Mahe Island - Day 2
Mahe Island / Local sightseeing
After breakfast, day at leisure for local sightseeing of Mahe Island
AnseIntendance
One of Mahé's most beautiful beaches, this small and secluded crescent of sand on the island's south coast is a favorite surfing spot thanks to its frequent big swells and wild waves. The lack of a protective reef makes swimming a little rough when trade-winds blow from the southeast, but sunbathers, beachcombers, and photographers will enjoy this picturesque, palm-framed strand at any time of year. Turtles nest along the powdery shores here
Baie Lazare
The pretty village of Baie Lazare was named after 18th-century French explorer Lazare Picault, who landed here when the French government sent him to explore the islands. One of the area's main tourist attractions is the neo-Gothic Baie Lazare Church, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, which provides a panoramic view of the area. Luxury resorts fringe the beaches here, and stunning Anse Soleil and Petite Anse are favorites with their striking azure water and dazzling white sand.
Beau Vallon
The alluring curve of glittering sand at Beau Vallon, on Mahe’s northwest coast, is a magnet for both tourists and locals. Looking out to sea, mountainous Silhouette Island shimmers on the horizon, and hotels fringe the shore. Visitors will find a variety of waters ports on offer, including jet skis and water skiing. The sea is usually calm here, especially during the southeast trade winds, making this a good choice for families with small children. Lifeguards patrol the beach.
Overnight at Mahe Island - Day 3
Mahe at leisure
After breakfast, day at leisure for remaining local sightseeing & relax at the beach
Morne Seychellois National Park
The largest national park in the Seychelles, Morne Seychellois National Park covers more than 20 percent of the area of Mahe. Within its lush borders lies the mountain chain named after its highest point, Morne Seychellois, which reaches a height of 905 m and overlooks Victoria. Hiking trails ascend into the park from the village of Danzil, passing tea plantations, and offering spectacular views of the southwest coast of Mahe from the mountain slopes. Walking west through the park, hikers will reach the BaieTernay and Port Launay Marine Parks. To the northwest lies the hamlet of BelOmbre and the isolated beach at Anse Major.
Ste Anne National Marine Park
Encompassing six islands off the coast of Mahe near Victoria, Ste Anne National Marine Park became the first national park in the Indian Ocean in 1973. Snorkeling, scuba diving, and glass-bottom boat excursions reveal the diversity of marine life in the park's coral reefs, and visitors can explore most of the islands within the reserve. Home to a five-star resort, Ste Anne Island, is an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles. In spite of its mangroves and crocodiles, the island was the site of a 1770 French settlement, the first in the Seychelles.
Overnight at Mahe Island - Day 4
Mahe to Praslin / 1 hour Cruise
After breakfast, transfer to Mahe jetty for cruise to Praslin, which closely resembles paradise.
A wicked seductress, Praslin has lots of temptations: stylish lodgings, tangled velvet jungle, curving hills dropping down to gin-clear seas, gorgeous stretches of silky sand edged with palm trees and a slow-motion ambience. No, you're not dreaming!
Lying about 45kms northeast of Mahé, the second-largest island in the Seychelles falls somewhere between the relative hustle and bustle of Mahé and the sleepiness of La Digue. Like Mahé, Praslin is a granite island, with a ridge of small mountains running east–west along the centre. The island is 12kms long and 5kms across at its widest point. The 5500 inhabitants of Praslin are scattered around the coast in a series of small settlements. The most important from a visitor's perspective are AnseVolbert (also known as Côte d'Or) and Grand Anse. At the southeast tip of the island is BaieSte Anne, Praslin's main port.
Praslin has all you need to decompress. But if playing sardines on the strand ceases to do it for you, another world beckons at the Vallée de Mai, one of the most peculiar attractions in the Seychelles. Scuba diving, snorkelling and boat excursions to nearby islands famed for their bird life will also keep you buzzing.
Meet & greet by our representative on arrival, transfer to hotel for check in
Rest of the day at leisure to explore the perfect, sugar-white sands at Anse Lazio, one of the prettiest beaches we know
Overnight at Praslin - Day 5
Praslin / Day at leisure for local activities
After breakfast, fill the next two days with snorkelling, diving and swimming off Anse Volbert, getting up close and personal with giant tortoises on Curieuse Island – home to a large breeding farm of giant Aldabra tortoises – and walking among cacophonous clouds of seabirds on Cousin Island, with more than 300,000 birds and numerous endemic species – even amateur bird-watchers will want to spend more time here than most tours allow.
Overnight at Praslin - Day 6
Praslin / At leisure
After breakfast, continue with water sports activities & exploring the island
Overnight at Praslin - Day 7
Praslin to Digue / 15 mins. Cruise
After breakfast, transfer to Praslin Jetty for cruise to Digue Island
From Praslin, make sail for La Digue; if you thought Praslin was paradise, just wait until you lose yourself on La Digue.
Remember that tropical paradise that appears in countless adverts and glossy travel brochures? Here it's the real thing, with jade-green waters, bewitching bays studded with heart-palpitatingly gorgeous beaches, and green hills cloaked with tangled jungle and tall trees. As if that wasn't enough, La Digue is ideally situated as a springboard to surrounding islands, including Félicité, Grande Sœur and the fairytale ÎleCocos.
Despite its lush beauty, La Digue has managed to escape the somewhat rampant tourist development that affects Mahé and Praslin. Sure, it's certainly not undiscovered, but La Digue has a more laid-back feel than the other main islands, with only a few surfaced roads and virtually no cars, just the odd ox cart. The place is definitely more of a back-to-nature than a jet-set-tourist kind of haven, making it possible to find that deserted anse (bay) where you really feel like you've been stranded in paradise.
Transport to La Digue is absurdly easy. It's only about 5km from Praslin, and getting by boat from one island to the other is simplicity itself, so you've no excuse not to spend a day or two at the very least on this island.
Meet & greet by our representative on arrival, transfer to hotel for check in
Three days is the perfect amount of time to lapse into La Digue’s slow vibe.
Visit Anse Source d’Argent – the archetypal idyllic beach, although it's by no means the only one on the island. Get there late afternoon for the best atmosphere and try to avoid high tide, when the beach all but disappears.
Overnight at Digue - Day 8
Digue / At leisure
Take a snorkelling trip around nearby islands, then find solitude on the beaches of Grand Anse and Petite Anse. Grand Anse is incredibly scenic and has a great restaurant, Loutier Coco, where you can enjoy a superb lunch buffet.
Visit Petite Anse, which is accessible on foot only, feels wilder and more secluded. All too soon, it will be time to tear yourself away for the trip back to Victoria.
Overnight at Digue - Day 9
Digue to Mahe / 90 mins. cruise / Departure flight
After breakfast, transfer to Digue Jetty for cruise to Mahe Island
Meet & greet by our representative on arrival, transfer to airport for onward flight
Notes
Round the Year Destination ... Extension recommend to South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania & Dubai
Hotels
Tour Inclusions [Best of Seychelles]
8 nights accommodation as stated
Transfers and tours mentioned in the itinerary
Inter-Island Ferry Tickets : Mahe - Praslin - Digue - Mahe
Daily breakfast
Local guide during sightseeing
Notes on itinerary
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Many of our clients have us design more relaxing, slower paced holidays with more in-depth experiences whereas some simply want to visit various destinations and cover only the highlights.
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