Why we chose Seychelles?
Planning for our honeymoon took us through quite a few options before we finally settled on Seychelles. As both of us are beach lovers and we went through quite a few locations, Seychelles was our top priority. As Seychelles is an archipelago, the main island is Mahe where it’s capital Victoria is located. Along with this, Praslin and La Digue are two of the major islands that should definitely visit. Let us give you an itinerary to spend at least 7 days in the country and plan your Seychelles holiday. Be sure to pack in some sunblock and comfortable sandals for women and men.
Flights for Seychelles Holiday?
There are quite a few different flights to Seychelles from Delhi and Mumbai. Most of them come in the 40-60K range but we chose upon Eithopian Airways as it was offering the cheapest flights at the time.
After booking your flights, it is quite essential to look over a few documents. As Seychelles offers free Visa on Arrival for Indians, this was definitely one of the main reasons we chose this destination. We do suggest getting a Yellow Fever and Polio vaccination done as these diseases are quite endemic in Africa.
Travelling around the Islands?
So travelling around the island has three main modes: Bus, Self Drive and Taxis. As taxis are quite expensive in Seychelles (it cost 600 SCR or nearly INR 3000 for a 30 minute ride to my hotel), I recommend either booking a self drive or taking the Bus although its schedule is something that you need to get used to.
Both Mahe and Praslin has some really amazing places to stay. If your idea is to relax on a private beach with all the luxuries, then there are quite a few luxurious 5 Star hotels. Along with these, there are all inclusive resorts along with scores of homestays and AirBnB if you want to hatch down for a longer stay.
What to see in Mahe?
No itinerary to planning a Seychelles holiday can start without a visit to its pristine beaches. One of the first ones and the most common ones is the Beau Vallon beach. We had booked ourselves a Beau Vallon resort with access to a private beach which provided us a perfect excuse to head to the beach any time we wanted. Now there is a reason that the beaches of Seychelles get so much wow! Most of them are quite pristine, although Beau Vallon is a bit touristy and the unpolluted beauty of nature is something that you must experience.
What to Drink during Seychelles holiday?
One of the essential ways we plan our travel is around a Beverage. This in case of our Seychelles holiday was rum from Takamaka distillery. We headed there on a day tour with Creole Travel Services with whom you can also book day trips and even ferry rides to the other islands. The distillery is divided into four buildings including the main distillery building, a tasting room, a Bar and dining space.
The distillery has a tour along with a tasting session of the distilleries rums. The tour goes on for about an hour and costs SCR 150. We decide to taste out a few, including the Extra Dark aged in French Oak and American Oak Barrels to give a spicy, sweet punch. The second one was the St. Andre which has been matured for 8 years in Bourbon casks giving it a sweet, fruity, caramel overtones with a lot of spices on it.
What to Eat during Seychelles holiday?
For Lunch, we stopped at the nearby Takamaka village where we found quite a few small huts selling local handicrafts along with Seychelles’ favourite thing on our trip: it’s Creole food. Now, the reason I enjoyed Creole food so much was it’s similarity to Eastern Indian food. Once we had tried it, we wanted to eat it everywhere we went. Usually, Creole food is based around Rice and lentils served in a rectangular takeaway Box. A bed of rice is created on which some mashed pulses and mashed potatoes are laid out. There’s also some tangy salad and your selection of a meat curry that can range from fish, mutton, chicken, pork and everything else in between.
The best way to enjoy the authentic Creole cuisine during Seychelles holiday is by visiting the shacks by the beachside. These carts and food on wheels offer a visual and gastronomic treat to the eyes. Packed with locals and tourist making a beeline for their favourite pork and sausage combo, these shacks remain supremely busy all through the evening till the carts are emptied. On top of that these wholesome culinary delights satisfy your taste buds without burning too big a hole in your pocket. All of these food costs in the range from 70-100 SCR(350-500 INR).
Visiting the Capital, Victoria
Besides the famous Beau Vallon Beach, there are some more beaches like the Grand Anse and Anse Royale in Mahe to explore before heading off to one of the biggest attraction in Mahe, the capital Victoria named after Queen Victoria. Victoria not only acts as the administrative capital, but also tells about the history of this island nation. No trip to Victoria is complete without visiting the Sir Selwyn Clarke market.
The market is bustling with locals and the colonial style streets and markets make it all the more attractive. Alongside stalls and shops selling souvenirs, you’ll find locals selling local herbs and spices, as well as the usual assortment of colourful, hats, sarongs and other exciting local crafts. We visited the Church, the Temple and other shops. Early morning is the best time to come when fishmongers display an astonishing variety of seafood while the locals haggle for the best buy.
For the history buffs, the National history museum, housed in a colonial architecture building is the perfect place to be. And if you get bored with the local markets and crafts, there is Eden Island to discover the luxury of Seychelles. Eden Island is a luxury man-made island comprising of Mansions and Villas along with a luxury shopping mall open to the public. The Eden island provides ample opportunities for rest and tranquility with private Yachts, spas, gymnasium restaurants, and bars.
To check out all of this with a Bird’s eye view, head to the Mission Lodge which offers a tremendous aerial view of all the beaches of Seychelles archipelago laid out below. Located high amongst the trees in the mountainous region of Mahe, it is the perfect place to unwind while watching the world go by.
How to get to Praslin?
Well, getting to Praslin and even to La Digue is by two modalities: one of them being the inter-island plane. But the better option is to go by ferry. Cat Cocos organises multiple ferries between the islands. These ferries house about 200-300 passengers and also offer you a chance to enjoy the Indian Ocean from the deck itself. Tickets are priced at around 50-75 SCR and you have to check in your luggage before getting onboard.
What to see in Praslin during Seychelles holiday?
The reason that Praslin should definitely be on your itinerary is that it features 2 out of the 5 beaches around the world: Anse Lazio & Anse Georgette. The waters are crystal clear, the sands clean and you can also dive in for some snorkeling.
The first beach can easily be accessed by either car or the bus. Remember to take the anti-clockwise route and get down at . Locals might suggest getting down at Mt. Plaisir too but that is not an option you want to take unless you want to take a trek through pretty rough terrain. We mistakenly found ourselves in a small cove that we loved exploring. There is a car park and quite a few restaurants available nearby to replenish yourselves.
The second beach, is a bit of a challenge to get to. As it is the private beach of the hotel, you have to get your spot booked by your own hotel’s manager as they only allow a few people in everyday. You can either take your car or go clockwise this time and get down one stop before Mt. Plaisir.
Life is slow-paced in Seychelles and you do not feel the rush of big crowded cities. Seychelles is one destination that you must head to explore beaches that will impress you quite a bit along with culture and food that’s quite easy on the palate.
