With an extensive network of scheduled plane and ferry services, Island hopping between the 14 islands currently offering accommodation is easy and with so much diversity on offer, knowing how to make the most of your holiday can be quite challenging.
Mahe is the international gateway to the Seychelles and is home to the nations capital, Victoria. With a backdrop of towering granite peaks, its landscape is a treasure trove of unique flora that has evolved over centuries of isolation. A leisurely tour of the island by car will take about half a day and reveal a wealth of attractions as well as the cultural diversity of its people who are descendants from Africa, India, China and Europe.
From Mahe travel to Praslin, Seychelles’ second largest island. The main attraction of Praslin is the Vallee de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to a prehistoric rainforest of huge trees that dominates the landscape. The vegetation here is so special that it was once believed to be the original site of the Garden of Eden. The 8000-year-old coral reefs, populated by fantastically coloured reef fish, attract fans of the underwater world and large granite formations decorate almost every beach on the island. Praslin is a great base for excursions to neighbouring islands and Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette beaches have both appeared on the top-10 list of world’s best beaches in recent years.
From Praslin it is a mere 30-minute ferry ride to La Digue. One of the most charming islands in the Seychelles, La Digue has a relaxed way of life where traditional modes of transport such as ox-cart and bicycle are still used today. With a rich biodiversity, the island is home to the black paradise flycatcher, one of the world’s rarest birds and a number of beautiful beaches with long stretches of white sand, turquoise blue lagoons and stunning granite boulders.
Silhouette Island is a 45-minute boat or 15-minute helicopter transfer from Mahe. The third largest island in the Seychelles, Silhouette is regarded by conservationists as one of the most important biodiversity sanctuaries of the Indian Ocean. It is a living museum of natural history featuring many unique species of plants and trees and is protected by the Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers and walkers.
North Island is just a few kilometres from Silhouette and can be seen from the beach at Beau Vallon on Mahé. It is regarded as one of Seychelles' most fertile islands and has a rich biodiversity. Its 5-star luxury eco-tourism resort not only offers high standards of barefoot luxury but also plans to re-introduce endangered flora and fauna on to the island to help preserve some of Seychelles’ precious endemic species.
Frégate Island’s pure shores make it a great holiday destination. Once the island attracted pirates but now it lures the discerning and privileged with its soothing climate, tropical forests, and hidden coves of dazzling white sand. Designed to coexist within a fragile ecosystem that shelters some of the world’s most endangered species, Frégate Island offers the utmost in luxury, tempered with caring responsibility.
Reached by a 30 minute flight from Mahe, Denis Island is a tiny coral island that sits at the edge of the Seychelles Bank, where marlin, barracuda and tuna, make any deep sea fishing expedition a thrilling experience. Denis offers excellent nature walks, private and secluded accommodation and gourmet cuisine.
Further a field, Desroches Island, approximately a one hour flight from Mahe, is a coral island that stands majestically on a submerged atoll of the same name. It is surrounded by 50 nautical miles of reef and has 14km of immaculate beaches.