Overview
** SEYCHELLES TOURS **
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I visited this wonderful archipelago in 2014. It was a dream. I stayed on Mahe Island and the luxurious Banyan Tree Resort. I’d highly recommend you book a villa.
Seychelles (Mahe, Praslin & La Digue)
I travelled to Seychelles in March 2018 for about a week and here are some tips if you arent using a travel agent for your trip. Most of the things you can do yourself, but I would suggest finding a driver or guide before arriving as public transport is not the most accessible.
Travelling across Islands – your best bet is to use Cat Coco (http://www.catcocos.com/)
This is the most common boat used to travel between islands and is the cheapest. I would highly recommend La Digue and/or Praslin as the islands of choice to visit. Praslin is one of Seychelles’ most beautiful islands and has a lot to do on it. It is the second most active behind Mahe. Without reiterating what you’ve read online, Praslin is a top place to do some scuba diving (don’t worry about the sharks, lol).
La Digue is arguably the most beautiful island in the seychelles that one can visit as a tourist. It is very quiet in an extremely peaceful way.. the main mode of transport is bike, so it really is paradise. The most beautiful beach is Grand Anse, I believe.
I would recommend: Praslin if you’re looking to beach with a more lively atmosphere with more shops, restaurants, etc. La Digue is definitely a couples haven, so if you’re looking for something quiet and extremely heavenly – La Digue is your number one.
Where to stay – so this is a little tough to say as places vary on the quality of the place rather than location. There are some places that are expensive like Eden Island or Ephelia Beach. I would recommend Beau Vallon as a location, or somewhere not too far from Victoria as busses don’t run too late and it’s better for you to be walking distance from the centre. Busses cost aproximately 5 Seychelles Rupees. The only issue is they don’t run too late. From the centre-ish you can then travel north, south and west relatively easily.
Local (and some touristy) things to do:
– Bazar Labrin at Beau Vallon on Wednesday (the local seychellois night market. Food, music, everything Creole)
– Boardwalk at Eden Island (beautiful place for drinks)
– Fire N Ice (Seychellois local bar) also on Eden Island
– Don’t go to Bars that are too central like Barrell Bar – dodgy!
– Hike to the top of the mountain to the Cross. Beautiful hike. Many places to hike on all islands – you can find these online or ask tourist places, but try and go to the Cross at the top of Mahe. Beautiful. We did the hike up Mount Copolia and its a total MUST!
– Water-sports at Beau Vallon (diving, jet ski, etc.). Other beaches also but this is a quality one.
– Many of the bars do live creole music, definitely do this – I will try and find the best ones.
– Buying traditional things – go to the local hut places rather than tourist places. Better prices.
– Botanical Garden (free) and other nature trails
Restaurants (local creole food)
– Marie Antoinette
– Boat House
– Del Place
– Bazar Labrin at Beau Vallon (must do)
First, Seychelles is an amazing place with an array of topographical features that places like the Maldives could never live up to. I was living in Abu Dhabi at the time so it was a very short (4hr) direct flight to Mahe-the main island. Emirates and Etihad land at about the same time so do not waste time getting off the plane to use the bathroom and etc. Immigration is packed and can take an hour or more. The passport stamp from Seychelles is the coolest of any stamp! They are even nice enough to put them side by side.
Cover them up so they do not get stamped over again. I did not!!! My review will be about my time on Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue (yes the place with the cool rock formations and clear boats from instagram). Mahe is the main island and offers the best in terms of experience local nightlife, markets, and etc. I only did one full day on Mahe. The market in the heart of capital of Victoris is prttey cool. Fresh seafood and fruit are on display. There are some cool spots on the secodn floor above the market to sit and eat. The surrounding area is booming with local shops and the hustle and bustle of the local populace. Taxis are not cheap in Seychelles. Accommodations: The Coral Strand is your bargain deal and right on the water. The Hilton Seychelles Northolme is your upscale spot but is 400-1500USD. Praslin is the second largest island and home to the beautiful beach of Anze Lazio. An ABSOLUTE must and stay until sunset. I caught a flight from Mahe here. You can catch a ferry but it will take a while. Again, taxis are not cheap. You can rent a car. Roads are tight manageable and will offer the best experience at your own pace. Accommodations: I stayed at the Berjaya. If you want swanky. Stay at the Raffles. Things to do: Anze Lazio and Valle de Mai (short walk through this nature reserve is cool-take pic with the love nuts). There are more beaches but this is all I did, to include relaxing on the beach a short walk from my hotel. LA DIGUE!!! The third largest island and really the only one of the three you can fly a drone. I snuck in some drone shots on Praslin int he early morning (Shhhhh). Ok, I caught the ferry from Praslin and rented a bike. You can pretty much bike the whole island (you will have to get off and walk some too). I recommend two days minimum. If you have a GoPro, this is where the bike mount come into play and hopefully you have a Hero 7 with stabilization. Things to do: L’Union Estate. Pretty cool bike ride and your entry into Anse Source d’Argent. You will want plenty of time here. Plenty of time to explore and time for that perfect gram shot! Grand Anse and Petit Anse are a must in my opinion too. Traveling while black: In Seychelles the people look like us. Enough said! Lastly, the Seychelles has more than 100 island and I recommend getting out to more than the big three if you have time. Bird, Silhouette, and Curieuse are the best from what locals and other travelers have told me. Oh, and Fregate. Enjoy your time and explore. Especially LA DIGUE, YA DIG!!!!
Seychelles was beautiful. I stayed at the Hilton which was really nice. I think the room
Cost about $400 per night But worth it. The food at all the restaurants was delicious. I would definitely go back but would need more time to check out different parts of Seychelles. The boat schedule to different parts of the island is very limited.
As a daughter of a Seychellois, I can’t help but feel that my review may be taken as biased. I was born and raised in the UK, however, and didn’t actually visit the Seychelles until I turned 16.
The Seychelles is an extremely relaxing archipelago of over 115 islands that requires quite a bit of financial freedom on part of its visitors. There are plenty of things to do if you have the money, however, if you don’t have it like that you can still have a good time.
I will only touch upon Mahe as there is so much information to take in!
Firstly, I would suggest researching accommodations hosted by locals. These can fare as much more affordable than the hotels and can lead to a more adventurous and independent experience. If you tell them that you have a Seychellois parent, they may even give you a discount! Everyone, except some of the older mummies, speaks English so it is very easy to communicate.
When I don’t wish to stay with family, I rent a little ‘lakaz’ from one of the aunties nearby the capital of Victoria, or, close to Beau Vallon beach. Saint Louis is a perfect spot for staying near town as you can walk either way. It is a bit of a trek to Beau Vallon from Saint Louis, but, totally worth it if you want those picture-perfect shots. You can also walk to town and find a few hole-in-the-walls on the way. Be sure to try ‘Ladob Bannan’; the traditional dessert made with bananas, fresh coconut milk (coconuts straight from the tree), cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and vanilla essence. You won’t regret it! Also try the national dish; ‘Kari Sousouri’, if you’re adventurous. It is quite literally Bat curry!
For nightlife, there are very few options on Mahe. ‘Barrel’ is one located between Saint Louis and Victoria and is typically not suggested for tourists as it can become a bit rowdy, but, has great music otherwise. La faya and Tequila Boom stand side-by-side in Bel Ombre and are pretty poppin’. Katiolo is on the north side and is considered the most popular club on the island. For a quieter night out, Level 3 bar is interesting and located in the docklands.
In Beau Vallon there is a Bazaar every Wednesday. This tends to be very lively and features plenty of souvenirs, food, and drinks for purchase. You will notice uncles frying fish or trying to sell you some ‘Baka’. I would not suggest trying this drink unless you have a stomach for good old island moonshine. It is extremely strong and can have you going to the toilet pretty quickly if you’re not used to it!
‘Baie Lazare’ is in the south and is considered one of the best beaches on Mahe, however, has changed drastically with the growth in tourism. As a child, I remember being able to see through the water and feed the angel fish. My suggestion is if you’re a beach goer, take the cat cocos ferry or a quick flight to Praslin to visit Cote d’or beach. Probably the best beach on the main islands. My family is from La Digue, so I often venture there than anywhere else.
For history, visit the national archives, the national museum, and even the natural history museum. If you happen to be there in July, be sure to ask around about ‘Dimas Moutya’. It is a festival based on one of the traditional dances of the Seychelles and occurs on a Sunday. The Seychelloise do love a drink, so be weary of the hype! When in the airport going home, attempt to purchase a bottle of Coco d’amour. It is an alcoholic drink made from coconut milk and is divine! It used to be made from the Coco de mer (a coconut in the shape of a womans lower region and only grows in the Seychelles!), however, they are becoming extinct and are therefore protected so I’m not sure if they still use them. If you do happen to see one of the Coco de mer’s in the Mahe Botanical gardens or in the ‘Vallee de mai’ on Praslin, you can purchase it for around 3-4000 Seychelles Rupees to bring one home for yourself!
Any more info required, feel free to reach out to me on IG @lavie_femmenoire or via email at info@lv-fn.com.
:)
Travelling to Seychelles was surprisingly one of the best trips I’ve made. I flew from London via Dubai and initially expected it to be incredibly awkward as I travelled solo and I know Seychelles is mostly advertised for romance and honeymoons etc. But believe me when I tell you that you have to make that trip asap and not wait for a Mr or Miss right lol.
I hopped across three Islands Mahe, Praslin and La digue – and each Island has it’s own character.
I recommend staying at the cutest boutique hotel Maison Soleil run by British artist. There’s an art gallery attached to the hotel and I stayed in the best mini-suite (Cinnamon for 90 euro a night), think tropical plants and wooden shutters and an outdoor shower. At additional cost you can get a traditional creole dinner and I had the chicken in coconut and cinnamon sauce (delish). The hotel is so good because it’s close to two other big resorts and great beaches -which are all open to the public. So you can experience the 4 seasons hotel or kempinski hotel without paying the humongous fees. You have to go to Victoria market and pick up a few bits. If you like architecture and history – Mahe has got you covered.
La Digue was the best island- the smallest of all three but home to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches Anse Source d’Argent – it’s like stepping into a scene from a hollywood movie and the beaches are the most beautiful shade of blue. Whether you want to relax and go bike riding across the island (so easy) or go rock-climbing – it’s all possible. I stayed at Cabane Des Anges on Lad digue (it’s also so cute) – the best welcome swans on the bed with tonnes of colourful flowers. There’s a cute pool and you can rent a bike to get around the Island. Writing this just makes me want to go back . I can’t recommend it enough :)
I had to visit Seychelles from being so overhyped in the media. I visited in May.
This is not a recommended time to go to Seychelles – it was very hot and rained all the time.
I visited Mahe Island – Praslin Island and La Digue. These are the most popular islands however there are many more.
In Mahe, i would definitely recommend Broadwalk – Stayed on Eden Island (a man-made island) and broadwalk was there. I recommend staying here however it is slightly pricey.
In La Digue I definitely recommend Chez Kaz – he has lovely tree houses and gives you bicycles to ride around the entire island within 1hour. (you get to keep the bikes for your entire stay)
I would HIGHLY recommend that you take air Seychelles flight if you would like to island hop rather than the boat. it is cheaper and you would not get seasick.
Food – MUST GO to “Marie Antoinette” – Local Creole food – THE BEST PLACE I ATE IN ALL HOLIDAY.
Overall, Seychelles is a VERY expensive country but i guess it is one that should be crossed off the bucket list.
(If you would like to know more you can always send me a message on Instagram @haddymax :) )