Seychelles highlights, by Taggie

Our marketing executive Taggie’s dream destination became a reality when she took a trip to the Seychelles at the beginning of December, and she couldn’t wait to land on the tropical islands and explore. Here is her story about her trip of a lifetime.

The Seychelles lived up to my expectations plus a whole lot more, an absolutely breath-taking part of the world offering complete paradise with a host of activities and adventures. This was my first time visiting the Indian Ocean and the clear turquoise ocean is certainly swoon worthy, and with 115 Seychelles islands to choose from, there is one for everyone to relax and unwind.

After a very comfortable flight with Etihad Airways, with one of the best economy classes I’ve ever flown in, we landed on Mahe and were whisked away to board our internal flight to Praslin on a tiny plane which could only seat around 20 people. This was a great opportunity to see the vastness of beautiful waters and a few of the other inner islands dotted around and the flight only took about 20 minutes. I highly recommend visiting a couple of different islands when you visit the Seychelles, as each one offers something unique, and whether transferring by plane or boat, it’ll give you the chance to see some of the best ocean views.

The abundance of flora and fauna on the Seychelles is truly amazing, with jungle-clad landscapes and mountains teeming with birdlife and exotic plants and trees. Praslin is home to the Vallee de Mai forest which sits inside Praslin National Park and at the heart of the island it contains the Seychelles’ largest intact forest of the endemic Coco de Mer palm. A lot of species in the forest are very rare and aren’t found anywhere else in the world so it’s worth a visit if you are a keen nature lover, you can do a 1, 2 or 3 hour nature walk either on your own or with a guide to talk you through all the fascinating plants and trees, including the Coco de Mer nut.

A little gem of a find is a great beachside restaurant on Anse Lazio Beach on Praslin (once voted 6th best beach in the World), called Bon Bon Plume. This serves traditional creole dishes right on the beach, and is the perfect place if you fancy an afternoon away from your hotel tasting some delicious local food.

A highlight of the whole trip were the giant tortoises, which are found roaming around most islands and you’ll see them freely wandering around the grounds of various resorts. Constance Lemuria is a great family and couples resort and the first one we visited on our trip, and we were lucky enough to find the giant tortoises amongst the trees while exploring. Constance Lemuria, located on Praslin Island, is home to the only 18 hole golf course in the Seychelles and it is certainly a beautiful green, but if you don’t happen to be staying there, you can pay green fees just for the day if golf is on your agenda.

Back on Mahe for the final days of our Seychelles adventure we took some time to explore the largest of the islands, home to the country’s capital, Victoria, a splendour of luxury resorts and retreats and also Morne Seychellois National Park. More than 20% of Mahe is taken up with the national park, which offers a wide range of trails and walks of all difficultly levels. You can discover the country’s highest peak, the Morne Seychelles which is buried deep within the rainforest and can only be reached on foot for those seeking adventure.

Constance Ephelia on Mahe is another great resort for families, boasting two beautiful beaches, a fantastic kids club and the biggest spa in the Seychelles, it’s a great choice if adventure is what you’re after as you can zip line through the rainforest, and enjoy rock climbing or kayaking expeditions at this resort.

The Four Seasons Resort Seychelles and Maia Luxury Resort & Spa can both be found on Mahe and are part of our Platinum Collection, offering absolute luxury. Four Seasons sits on a beautiful stretch of beach and offers very spacious pool villas nestled in the lush hillside, its spa sits at the highest point of the resort with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean. Maia offers both beachside and hillside villas with a private pool and a 24 hour butler who is on hand to get you anything you may need, this resort is perfect for honeymooners wanting complete seclusion and relaxation.

Le Delplace beach restaurant sits on the gorgeous white sands of Northwest Mahe, across the Lans Ilet bay from Constance Ephelia Resort’s South Beach (which you can see from the terrace), providing a great local dining experience and serving traditional Creole and seafood dishes. We enjoyed a lovely lunch on our last day and it was the perfect setting to enjoy some great food, so I highly recommend it if you’ve got time.

It seems a lot of my recommendations revolve around eating but it’s always great finding interesting local places to get a true taste of a destination. Seychelles certainly offers delicious food, superb accommodation and an opportunity for exploration and adventure, whether on land or sea with hiking, snorkelling and diving a plenty.