Hello Paradise...
As a child, I could hardly imagine that a place like the Seychelles actually existed. I often saw postcards or advertising posters showing white sandy beaches and blue, crystal clear water. The photos seemed so far away from reality that I could not even have dreamed of being allowed to experience something beautiful like the Seychelles once in a liftetime.
I have always wanted to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve in the warm south. Who would not like to swap a Christmas tree for palm trees? Last year, my mother and I finally fulfilled this dream and flew to the Seychelles for 11 days.
- Info: The best time to travel to the Seychelles are the months of May to October. Absolute high season is in June and July. Although the Seychelles are quite suitable as a year-round destination, we flew in the low season, in December, and had simply unbeatable weather. In 11 days it rained exactly one day. Ultimately, it is always a matter of luck with the weather, but the rain usually never lasts long and it is still hot. You should give some destinations a chance even in the off-season and not be deterred by the official rain season.
Arrival
The largest and also only international airport of the Seychelles is located on the main island Mahé. The airport code is SEZ and there are numerous flight connections from Germany. For example Condor, which flies directly from Frankfurt. Emirates also flies to the Seychelles with a stopover in Dubai.
From Mahé to Praslin...
From Mahé there are two ways to get to Praslin: Ferry or plane. The ferry is the cheaper option, but it was honestly the worst experience ever. In only 40 minutes 90% of the people on board got seasick and hung over the railing. Even if you are not prone to seasickness, at the latest after this ride you are. The second option is flying. Between Mahé and the island of Praslin are more than 170 Air Seychelles scheduled flights per week, which are absolutely reasonable in price. The flight takes about 15 minutes and you can enjoy an unique view of Praslin.
sleepunique Praslin
We stayed the entire period at the Bliss Hotel Praslin and I can absolutely recommend this accommodation. The hotel is located at the Grande Anse, the more quite side of Praslin. The decor is bohemian style and the concept of the hotel is very open designed. The rooms are located in the Bliss Garden and the Beach House. In the Bliss Garden bungalows are spread over the entire complex, here you can choose between a chalet for the whole family or individual rooms. The Beach House was completed only at the beginning of this year and is located near the reception. Both parts are separated by a road, which is absolutely not bad, because the distances are short.
Room types at the Beach House
- Beach Garden
- Beach Superior
- Beach Deluxe
- Beach Penthouse
Rooms types at BLISS Eden Garden
- Charm Room
- Superior Room
- Suite Family Chalet
Overall, the Bliss Hotel Praslin has two pools, a restaurant, a hotel bar and direct access to the beach. We often had dinner at the hotel, although the prices are rather high. Per dish you can expect about 14 euros upwards. FYI, this example is simple pasta with tomato sauce. The Seychelles are an extremely expensive place, especially when it comes to eating out. Breakfast is included in the room rate, and half board could be booked as an option. In the complex are giant tortoises, which are very famous for the Seychelles.
There is also a Bliss Hotel on Mahé. We have not tested it ourselves, but heard from a safe source that it must also be incredibly beautiful!
Activities on Praslin
If you are looking for rest and relaxation, Praslin is the place to be. The island can be roughly divided into two sides: Grande Anse and Baie Sante Anne. Below are a few suggestions of what you can do on the island:
- Café des Arts: The restaurant is located in Anse Volbert and is, in my opinion, the hippest address on the whole island. We spent several days on the nearby Cote D'Or beach and strolled to Café des Arts for a drink at lunchtime. The prices are a bit higher, but the vibe and the view are just unbeatable.
- Vallée de Mai: Jungle, UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the world's largest coconut.
- Kokosöl-Fabrik: Everyone must have visited the Virgin Coconut Oil Factory at least once! You will find the absolute best coconut oil, without additives and fragrances. 100% pure and natural coconut oil is produced right at the factory and offered for sale. The owner even explained the production step by step and showed us around his little factory. Info: Coconut oil can be used for skin and hair care, but also for cooking or even to fight diseases. A spoonful a day has been proven to boost the immune system and even acne can be treated with it.
- Whole Food Market: This supermarket has a great selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as local goodies. Even a small café is located here, offering delicious smoothies, lunches and cakes.
My favorite beach on Praslin - Anse Lazio
The dream beach Anse Lazio is located in the north of Praslin and counted among the most beautiful beaches in the world. The easiest way to reach it, is by car as there are some parking lots available almost right at the beach. Another option is to take the local bus and walk twenty minutes from the bus stop to the beach. The way is a bit hilly and on hot summer days not to be underestimated. But Anse Lazio is an absolute dream beach and worth every step.
Daytrip to La Digue
In the early morning we took the ferry from Praslin to La Digue. The „Cat Rose“ ferry runs several times a day between the two islands. The crossing takes about 15 minutes and the tickets can be purchased directly at the port of Praslin. For a return ticket we paid about 28 euros.
Anse Source d'Argent - the most beautiful beach worldwide?
Palm trees, turquoise water, unique granite rocks – The beach Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue has been named the most beautiful beach in the world several times. I have seen a few beaches, whether in Cuba or Mexico, but this beach, is my personal favorite.
The beach can be reached through the park „L’Union Estate“, for which you have to pay an entrance fee of 115 rupees (about 5 euros). During high season there are lots of tourists, in the low season it is more quiet, as you can see on the pictures.
The sea is crystal clear and extremely calm due to the offshore reef. The gently shelving beach is ideal for families with children. In my opinion, however, Anse Source d’Argent is not suitable for a classic beach day. It is rather an attraction that you must have seen!
Rule No.1: Support your locals
On the way from Grande Anse to Anse Source d’Argent, we discovered a small store that attracted attention with loud reggae music and colorful flags. Of course we were curious and decided to take a well-deserved break at Simon’s Fruit Shop. Simon surprised us with a large fruit platter stocked with the most delicious local fruits La Digue had to offer. It was accompanied by a fresh banana shake. You should definitely visit Simon when you are on the island!
Day trip to Curieuse Island
Right next to Bliss Hotel Praslin you will find a boat charter provider called Angel Tours, which offers private boat rentals as well as guided tours. Since we still wanted to see surrounding islands, we decided to book a day trip. The tour started around 9:30 am and included several stops, including Curieuse Island. Here we visited the Old Doctor House and took a short hike to the other side of the island, where a delicious barbecue was waiting for us. A mix of dream beaches as well as mangrove forests make the island a unique destination. However, there is no possibility to stay overnight and without a local guide Curieuse Island may not be visited.
During the tour we made several snorkeling stops and were allowed to admire the beautiful island of Île St Pierre from a closer distance. Around 3:30 pm this impressive day ended and we returned to the hotel. I can only recommend the tour, as you see a lot of different things in just a few hours and experience places that are hardly accessible without a guide. The Creole barbecue with fresh fish and the giant turtles were an absolute highlight!
I have seen many beautiful places, but the Seychelles are my personal paradise on earth. The beaches and nature are incomparable. If you are looking for tranquility, this is the place for you. Seychelles is a place of peace, where you can forget everything around you. I will come again for sure.
Of course I don’t want to deprive you of the most informative and best Seychelles blog – Wolkenweit!
Simone has also published a book about the Seychelles, which I highly recommend to anyone planning a trip to the Seychelles.
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