Seychelles – even the name alone evokes ideas of a remote island paradise, lined with palm trees, white sand, and turquoise ocean; of never-ending summer, a lightness of being, tropical scents, colours, and flavours. While all these things ring true, the Seychelles are so much more than that, being a truly varied and multi-faceted holiday destination.Powdery fine, white sand, round boulder formations, crystal-clear water, and lush green palm trees: the beaches of the Seychelles are some of the most beautiful in the world, and will win over anyone who pays them a visit. Uninhabited until the 18th century, the Seychelles spawned a rich variety of flora and fauna, most of which has survived the test of time. Thanks to its isolation, many species have thrived here where they did not elsewhere, giving the Seychelles a unique heritage of flora and fauna species for you to enjoy.Here are some of the must see attractions in Seychelles.
Anse Lazio
Anse Lazio, on the northwest tip of the island, is picture-perfect everywhere you look and often turns up in lists of the world’s most beautiful beaches. The long beach has lapis lazuli waters with great waves, a thick fringe of palm and takamaka trees, and granite boulders at each extremity. There’s some good snorkelling among the rocks along the arms of the bay and there’s a beachside restaurant. Despite its popularity, it never feels crowded, but watch your valuables.
Vallée de Mai
Gorgeous World Heritage–listed Vallée de Mai is one of only two places in the world where the rare coco de mer palm grows in its natural state (the other being nearby Curieuse Island). It’s also a birding hotspot: watch for the endemic Seychelles bulbul, the lovely blue pigeon, the Seychelles warbler and the endangered black parrot, of which there are between 520 and 900 left in the wild. It’s a real slice of Eden.
Anse Maquereau
Quite possibly the world’s most beautiful beach, petite Anse Maquereau is flanked by granitic monoliths, backed by palms and caressed by waters of the deepest blue. But with so few guests on the island, it’s often yours alone – and you can keep it that way if you simply turn the sign atop the steps from ‘Beach free’ to ‘Beach in use’ before heading down.
Anse Source d’ Argent
Famed for being one of the most photographed beaches on the planet, Anse Source d’Argent is a sight to behold. Its dazzling white sands are lapped by shallow emerald waters, backed by some of La Digue’s most beautiful granite boulders and shaded by craning coconut palms.Unless you want to wade through watery depths, you’ll need to pass through the old L’Union Estate coconut plantation to access the beach, which means paying Rs115 (valid for a day).The beach is justifiably popular, so the sands can get crowded with beach goers, particularly as the beach area shrinks at hide tide. Coming in the early morning and returning in the late afternoon is a great way to avoid many of the island’s day visitors (keep your entrance ticket). As the sun starts to descend you can walk around or curl up under the shade of the trees and feel like you have this uninhabited piece of paradise all to yourself. During the day a couple of shacks sell fruit and refreshments, and there are transparent kayaks for rent.
National Museum of History
Housed in Victoria’s restored colonial-era Supreme Court building (1885), this terrific museum opened in late 2018. While the architecture itself is worth admiring, the museum’s exhibitions are outstanding. Downstairs is an informative journey through 300 years of Seychelles history, with plenty of information to put the model ships, old cannons and other historical pieces in context. Upstairs focuses on Creole culture, with displays on music, clothing, fishing and architecture.
