Seychelles is a cluster of charming islands found in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, off East Africa. While it’s true that the archipelago serves as a tropical, luxury honeymoon hotspot, this island nation also proves that it’s much more than that with its gorgeous landscapes, abundant nature, and rich culture.
The waters here show off a sensational spectrum of blues, greens and everything in between. You’ll often find yourself reluctant to get out of the water and leave the beach.
Although it isn’t easy or cheap to make your way to Seychelles, the trip is certainly worth it, and you’ll leave with no regrets.
Getting to the Seychelles can take a bit of time depending on where you live, but there are more connections to the island of Mahe than you probably expect. There are direct flights from places like Johannesburg- South Africa; Dubai- UAE; Frankfurt- Germany; Paris- France; London -UK; Istanbul – Turkey.
I suggest to book the tickets in advance, so you could find some great deals. For instance, I purchased the tickets in 8 months advance and the price per person was 445€ – roundtrip, departing from London. Regular price for same itinerary is about 600€.
Below are some tips of places to visit and things to do. I trully recommend to visit three islands – Mahé, La Digue, Praslin.
Mahé island, Seychelles
All flights arrive in Mahe island – the main island of archipelago. I recommend to stay at least 3 days and explore the island. With over 20 beaches, viewpoints, restaurants and a rum distillery on the way, you’ll want to take your time.
We stayed at nice B&B Cella Villa in Les Canelles Road, Anse a La Mouche with amazing views for the beach of Anse a la Mouche. The host was super friendly and helpful. Below you can find the link of property:
http://www.booking.com/Share-ZIopYM
I would recommend to rent a car, so you can explore and enjoy the island on your own way. This property also has the option of rent a car. The cost is around 40 €/day.
Mahe is quite big island and if you want to explore well, the best way to do it is driving with your car. There are good public bus service, but it will take much more time.
Top 6 beaches in Mahé
1. Anse a la Mouche beach – is a long, curved bay in the south-west of Mahé. Once there, you’ll be surprised at just how shallow and calm the ocean surface is. Getting there is unproblematic thanks to its proximity to a main road.
2. Anse Soleil. The gorgeous colours of the beach surface and the ocean itself make Anse Soleil a truly picturesque prospect. Thanks in part to its close proximity to some accommodations, Anse Soleil is relatively popular amongst tourists.
For those who aren’t staying nearby, arrival at Anse Soleil is not quite as simple, but far from difficult thanks to the nearby bus stop (about 200m from the beach), as well as the limited parking spaces available next to the beach and the restaurant here.
3. Petite Anse. This breathtaking bay is close to Anse Soleil. Smaller than its more popular neighbour it is difficult to access but more than worth the journey as it offers tranquil swimming and sunbathing against a spectacular backdrop of granite boulders and verdant forest.
The powder-soft sand and turquoise waters of this bay will quite simply take your breath away.
4. Grand Anse – as you might expect, is one of the longest beaches on Mahé, and certainly the longest on its western coast. This sprawling bay is incredibly beautiful, with excellent sand and a gorgeous turquoise ocean. The backdrop, meanwhile, consists of Mahé’s imposing mountainous landscape.
The water here is suitable for swimming and surfing, although visitors should be careful, as the current under the water can sometimes be quite strong, and the water is relatively deep compared to other Seychelles beaches. Getting to the beach is simple, as Grand Anse is located next to the coastal road on Mahé.
5. Port Launay North Beach. North Beach in the Port Launay Marine Park is located close to one of Mahé’s most popular resorts, the Constance Ephelia. Thanks to this, it is very popular with guests of the resort, but anyone can find something to keep them busy here thanks to the incredible beauty of the bay, as well as multiple activities and good facilities.
6. Fairyland Beach is located at one end of the larger Anse Royale bay, and shares many characteristics with its neighbour. The shallow, calm water here is protected by an offshore coral reef, so the waves are almost always small. Easy-access, beautiful scenery, and excellent snorkelling conditions round off the beach nicely.
Praslin island, Seychelles
Praslin Island, also called Île de Palme is the second largest of the Seychelles archipelago. The island is 2.5 miles (4 km) wide and 7 miles (11 km) long and is 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Mahé Iland. Praslin is granitic in origin and mountainous. Seven percent of the population of the Republic of Seychelles lives on the island.
Home for one of the most beautiful beaches in the world – Anse Lazio, although arguably there are several which could live up to that title.
Jumping between islands in the Seychelles is pretty easy – you can choose from ferries or flights.
There are speed ferries that run between the main island, Mahé, and Praslin (with onward connections to La Digue), that take about 50 minutes and cost around 50€ one way per person. A flight from Mahé to Praslin will cost a bit more, however, it will only be about 15 minutes.
To purchase the tickets for the ferry (to Praslin from Mahe and Praslin to La Digue), I´ve always booked online, through the site below:
For the flight tickets the easiest way to purchase them is throught www.skyscanner.com
We stayed at cozy self serving place named Villa Confort in Grand Anse village, which is close to Praslin airport.
http://www.booking.com/Share-HnwDiu
Public transport in Praslin
Praslin has 3 Bus lines: Route 61 – Route 62 and Route 63 which run from:
Monday to Friday, from 06:00 to 19:00.
Departure every 30- 45 minutes.
Bus fares – SCR7 for each trip.
Please note, this bus doesn´t pick up the travellers with luggage.
Top 5 beaches in Praslin
1. Anse Lazio has often been described as the most beautiful beach in the world thanks to its perfect mixture of pristine golden sand, crystal-clear water, and impressive granite formations.
This reputation means it is busier than many Seychelles beaches, so anyone looking to avoid other tourists should arrive early (before 09.00) to beat the crowds. Arrival at the beach is easiest by car, with three parking areas near to the beach, behind the tree line.
The closest bus stop is a little further away, although some hotels do offer shuttle services to Anse Lazio as it is so famous.
2. Anse Georgette – the astounding natural beauty of this little bay will truly take your breath away. One of the most beautiful beaches in the world, it’s easy to see why Anse Georgette ends up as many people’s favourite Seychelles memory.
Many visitors here will be guests of the nearby Lemuria Resort, but Anse Georgette is open to all, and is well-worth a visit for any holidaymakers on Praslin.
Getting to the beach is especially simple for guests of the Lemuria Resort. The hotel offers golf-cart transfers to Anse Georgette on a frequent basis. For non-guests, you should inform the hotel of your visit, then you must make the 30-minute walk down to the beach yourself. (Please note: the hotel sometimes limits the number of visitors, so call ahead and check to avoid disappointment).
3. Petite Anse Kerlan is located in the north-west of Praslin, right on the tip of the island. As you might expect, the larger Anse Kerlan can be found nearby, as well as the stunning Anse Georgette.
This area is also home to the popular Constance Lemuria resort, and Petite Anse Kerlan is largely frequented by guests of this hotel.
Getting to the beach is extremely simple for the vast majority of visitors, who simply have to walk from the nearby resort to the gorgeous sand of Petite Anse Kerlan. Anyone wishing to come from further afield will find themselves to be a minority, but it is possible for non-residents to park their rental cars at the entrance to the resort.
If making your way to the beach on-foot, please obtain permission from the resort staff first, as this requires crossing private property. Anyone, however, can reach the beach by boat if they so wish without obtaining permission.
4. Anse Possession lies in the north-east of Praslin, in between Anse Pasiquière and Anse Petite Coeur. It offers a variety of activities, including swimming, snorkelling, and fishing, and is family-friendly too thanks to its shallow water. The bay is also protected by a coral reef, ensuring a calm ocean surface. Access to the beach is easiest via car, with plenty of parking spaces available along the road that runs adjacent to the beach.
5. Fond de l’Anse is a long, calm beach on Praslin’s south coast, located near to the small village of Grande Anse, as well as numerous hotels, shops, and other facilities.
This proximity to multiple accommodation options ensures that Fond de l’Anse is easy to reach on-foot for a number of Seychelles holidaymakers. That said, the beach is usually empty, or at least is large enough that you can always find a private spot should you want to.
Unfortunately for us, it was raining all days during our stay in Praslin island, so we didn´t visited all beaches and didn´t went to the famous and unique palm forest in the centre of the island, the Vallee de Mai National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well. Extending over 150 acres, the park is home to the rare black parrot, as well as vanilla orchids and the famous coco-de-mer palm.
La Digue island, Seychelles
If you are looking for a relaxed island vibe, with beautiful beaches and just a touch of local life, La Digue fits the bill perfectly. The smallest of the three main inhabited islands, La Digue has a tiny population of just 2,000 people.
With no airport, and just a handful of road vehicles, this is an extremely laid back place, with some of the most iconic beaches in Seychelles.
It’s possible to visit La Digue as a daytrip from either Mahé or Praslin, but in order to truly soak up the atmosphere and explore you may want to stay for a few days.
It´s easy to get there from Praslin island, just 15 min ride by fast ferry, with the cost of 15€ per person/one way. If you´re planning to get from Mahé island directly to La Digue, it will take aprox 50 min by ferry and will cost 60€ one way, per person.
The beaches of La Digue are not to be missed. It’s no surprise they frequently win awards as among the most beautiful on the planet and they never fail to impress. Below is the list of my favorite 4 beaches on the island.
We´ve stayed at cozy self serving B&B Paradise Flycatcher’s Lodge, which is situated just 30 m from Anse Reunion Beach and 10min walk to Anse Source d´Argent beach.
Top 4 beaches in La Digue
1. Anse Source d’Argent, in the south-west of La Digue, has often been described as the most beautiful beach in the world, and it is certainly one of the Seychelles’ most famous attractions.
The beautiful mix of turquoise water, golden sand, and impressive boulders makes it a unique prospect worldwide. Access to Anse Source d’Argent is via the Union Estate, which charges 115 Rupees per person each day for access, however the outcome is well-worth the fee. Besides this initial entrance fee, access to the beach is easy thanks to a number of well-signposted paths.
2. Grand Anse on La Digue is perhaps the most underrated beach on the island. While its waters are too deep and the currents too strong to swim, the beach offers exceptional beauty, gorgeous sand, and enough facilities to allow visitors to enjoy a whole day here if they want to.
As with many beaches in the southern parts of the island, there is no offshore coral reef here, so the beach is not protected from the open ocean. This means that the water can be rather choppy, especially during the south-east trade winds, and the currents here are strong enough to carry you out to sea. Most visitors to Grand Anse come by bike, although it is also possible to walk here.
3. Petite Anse, as you may expect, lies next to Grand Anse in the south-east of La Digue. In fact, these two beaches share much in common, including their deep water and lack of coral reef, but also their beauty and relative anonymity. Petite Anse is arguably even less busy than Grand Anse, with very few visitors on most days, making it great for a secluded, peaceful picnic or for sunbathing.
The easiest way to access Petite Anse is via Grand Anse, and the short trek over a small hill takes just 15 minutes or so.
4. Anse Severe lies in the north of La Digue, facing the Seychelles’ second largest island, Praslin. This is particularly notable at night, when the sun sets over Praslin, lighting up the sky spectacularly.
The water here is nice and shallow, and calm for the majority of time. The beach can disappear at high tide, but most of the time there is a beautiful sandy surface for visitors to enjoy. Thankfully, the beach is easily accessible thanks to the nearby road.
Best Time to Visit Seychelles
The best times to visit Seychelles are April, May, October and November. These months represent the transition times between the hot and humid northwest trade winds (from November through March) and the cooler southeast trade winds that define April through October.
A visit during these shoulder months offers more mild conditions ideal for sunbathing, wildlife watching and scuba diving. No matter when you visit, you’ll encounter temperatures averaging in the 30ºC. But by frequenting the islands in the spring and fall, you’ll also avoid the heavy tourist crowds that descend on the islands in December, January, July and August.
Here I share more photos from these paradisiac islands and truly recommend you to visit Seychelles.
This is paradise on Earth!
Get inspired to travel to Africa with my posts: https://travelwithanny.com/category/destinations/africa/
Yours sincerely,
Anny