SEYCHELLES – Laid-back vibe and gorgeous beaches

The Seychelles are a great destination during any season, blessed with a warm, tropical climate all year long and located outside the cyclone belt. A quality that has earned them the nickname, “the land of perpetual summer.”

The Seychelles is a nation of 115 islands scattered over 400,000sq km of Indian Ocean, a few degrees south of the equator. Some islands are grand and granitic, others are tiny coral outcrops poking out of the sea. Once known as a five-star destination with three-star hotels, the new-look Seychelles offers areas of outstanding man-made beauty from which to appreciate its teeming wildlife and sweeps of white sand.

To plan the perfect Seychelles holiday, you have to get three things right: the time of year (make sure you know beforehand when and where the monsoons hit); the quality of hotel; and, last but not least, the choice of island. Each of the many Seychelles islands that now welcome overseas tourists has its own special attractions. Most tourists flying into Mahé head straight for their final destination, without taking time to explore the main island. It may be more commercial and developed than its fellow granitic islands, but beyond the tiny capital of Victoria, Mahé has some spectacular beaches and forests of its own to discover, with the added advantage of art and cultural attractions.

However, if you only have time to visit one island, Praslin is the one. Apart from its beaches, bordered with granite boulders, the other main attraction is the Vallée de Mai, a magnificent dense palm ­forest – home of the unique coco de mer, its notorious love nut – which could well have inspired the set designers of Jurassic Park. Praslin also makes a perfect island-hopping base: Cousin, Curieuse, St Pierre, La Digue and Aride are all just a short boat ride away. Laid-back La Digue can be visited on a day trip from Praslin, but to take in the spectacular coastline – a favourite location for fashion shoots – and explore the inland trails by bike or on an ox-cart, a couple of days here would be well spent.

The coral Outer Islands of Bird, Denis, Desroches and Alphonse are perfect for getting away from it all. Some islands have their own luxury resort, but have been developed to carefully preserve the environment. With facilities for sailing, diving, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing and birdwatching among other activities, there’s plenty on offer for those who want to do more than just dream the days away lounging by crystal waters.

Not to Miss:

A ride between ports on the inter-island ferry
A view from above on a helicopter ride over the islands
A stroll through Victoria’s Public Market
A tour the L’Union Estate & Copra Factory, a historic coconut plantation