The Seychelles inevitably evoke heavenly beaches and azure skies. Come and visit the Seychelles to discover its wonders!
Summary
- Aldabra Atoll
- May Valley (Praslin)
- Union Estate Park (La Digue)
- Anse Source d’Argent Beach (La Digue)
- Victoria (Mahe)
- Denis Island
- Natural aquariums Madame Zabre and the Passe de Tambi (Desroches)
- Bird Island
- Anse Intendance Beach (Mahé)
- Morne Seychellois National Park (Mahé)
- Frigate Island
To visit the Seychelles, you have to get away from our good France for a long time . They are located in the western Indian Ocean, not far north of Madagascar .
They were discovered at the beginning of the 16th century by the Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama, but owe their name to a Frenchman: Jean Moreau Séchelles, financial controller of Louis XV. The Seychelles were classified as a French colony for 60 years, from 1756 to 1814, then a British colony until 1976. Since then, the archipelago of 115 islands has formed an independent republic, a member of the Commonwealth and of La Francophonie.
Today and always, the Seychelles are real jewels, island beauties with reefs and beaches that can no longer be described. Preserved by this insularity, the Seychelles are admirable guardians of nature, offering refuge to many animal and plant species.
1. Aldabra Atoll
Crédit Photo : Shutterstock / Altrendo Images
Aldabra Atoll is one of the largest atolls in the world. It alone comprises four large islands, and a shallow lagoon. These islands are home to a large population of coral, and therefore, a dense aquatic fauna and flora. You can see more than 150,000 giant tortoises, the highest density in the world.
Its isolation preserves it from any human degradation, but it is still possible to approach it. Prepare your mask, snorkel and flippers and set off to explore this protected area, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. May Valley (Praslin)
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Nella
The Vallée de Mai is a natural park, if not the most beautiful in the world. It is an important tropical and primitive forest, also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A real paradise for the senses, the Vallée de Mai will make you discover sometimes endemic animal and plant species. The black parrot or the Seychelles coconut tree, for example, are Seychellois species. Also, there is the famous coco de mer, more familiarly called coco-buttocks, which takes its name from its singular shape…
The Vallée de Mai extends over 19 hectares, you won’t be able to see everything there, but take the time to explore it.
3. Union Estate Park (La Digue)
Photo credit: Shutterstock / freisein
You cannot consider visiting the Seychelles without going through the coconut grove on the island of La Digue. Magnificent space located on a former colonial plantation, the Union Estate is a wooden farmhouse cultivating coconut and vanilla. The tools are old and part of the harvest is still carried out according to tradition. It is a wonderful place that offers a window on the colonial past of the Seychelles and as we often imagine it.
Also, soak up the greenery and smells that reign over the park. You will be able to greet a few tortoises who enjoy life in their enclosure. The Union Estate Park authorizes the visit by bicycle, following of course, the paths reserved for the practice.
4. Anse Source d’Argent Beach (La Digue)
Crédit Photo : Shutterstock / Jakub Barzycki
Probably one of the most famous beaches in the Seychelles, if not the world. A treasure of the natural world, it is a long, very calm beach, access to which is unfortunately only via Union State Park.
However, if its access is reserved only for those who agree to pay the entrance to the park, it is more and more visited. It attracts visitors who all dream of discovering this preserved space, with fine white sand. The beach certainly owes its name to the many gray granite rocks that dot its coast. Imposing and decorated with coconut trees and palm trees, the sun colors them from sunrise to sunset, varying the shades to orange.
5. Victoria (Mahe)
Photo credit: Shutterstock / 18042011
The capital of the Seychelles, Victoria, is on the island of Mahé. Like its archipelago, it is a very green and very beautiful city. It is a must on the island because it offers a magnificent panorama of the colonial past of the Seychelles.
Some buildings have retained the architecture, with wooden exteriors and raised terraces. Visiting the Seychelles also means facing its past and discovering a part of its history. Very interesting, insofar as it gives the city the aspect of an open-air museum. In particular, discover the silver reproduction of Big Ben , in the city center, called the Clock Tower.
En outre, la verdure très dense vous rappelle que les seychellois ont à cœur de préserver ce qui les entoure. Faites un arrêt au Port-Victoria : il a des airs de port de pirates, tels qu’on peut se les imaginer.
6. Denis Island
Crédit Photo : Shutterstock / Kerry Manson
Denis Island est une île corallienne, de 1,3 km². Très petite et très verte, elle n’abrite pas plus de 100 personnes. Il s’agit d’une propriété privée, exploitée principalement pour le tourisme grâce à la location de cottages de bois.
However, it is one of the best places to visit the Seychelles from the coast via the practice of snorkeling. Denis Island is bordered by coral reefs. It therefore allows many aquatic species to live: sea turtles, rays, small sharks (harmless), butterfly fish or surgeonfish… This makes it one of the most beautiful places in the Seychelles, because on land as well as under the water, you will be amazed!
7. Natural aquariums Madame Zabre and the Passe de Tambi (Desroches)
Photo credit: Shutterstock / David T Clarke
On Desroches Island, there are two magnificent natural aquariums in which to swim and discover the fauna:
- Madame Zabre aquarium
- The Tambi Pass
The crystal clear water of the place will offer you a fabulous diving experience, incredibly clear and bright. Because the beauty of a place does not reside only on its land but also under the surface of its waters. Visiting the Seychelles is certainly the beaches, the forests, but also the exceptional, preserved and rich seabed.
8. Bird Island
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Serge Vero
Here is an island that lives up to its name. Bird Island, or Bird Island, is a protected territory sheltering and hosting several million birds. Swallows, terns, straw-tails, white gygis… there are hundreds of species that take refuge on this island. A huge beach of fine sand borders this island whose center is made up of a forest and green spaces: ideal for birds. It is a magnificent spectacle to be able to observe birds of all species, spinning, gliding or diving down into the water rich in fish.
Il est possible d’y dormir, mais dans un confort somme toute primaire : le respect de l’équilibre écologique prime sur le bien-être des touristes.
9. Anse Intendance Beach (Mahé)
Crédit Photo : Shutterstock / Jenny Sturm
This is another beach well worth a visit. On the island of Mahé, it is said to be the most beautiful in the area. Like many others, it is made of fine white sand and is bordered by naturally clear turquoise water. But, it has a particularity that makes it unique: its elevation. Important, it has the consequence of making the waves much more powerful than elsewhere.
Moreover, surfing enthusiasts have made it one of their favorite spots. Anse Intendance beach has a long border of palm and coconut trees, giving it very large shaded areas. Ideal, therefore, when you need to rest for a moment and avoid redness!
10. Morne Seychellois National Park (Mahé)
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Natali22206
Morne Seychellois National Park is not to be confused with Gros Morne National Park , located in Canada. Although these are two natural spaces, they both present very different landscapes.
Mount Morne Blanc and Morne Seychellois culminate respectively at 667 meters and 906 meters above sea level. The park laid out around them occupies 20% of the island of Mahé, covering 3045 hectares. It offers hiking trails in the heart of a tropical forest, where you can come across wild animals of all kinds. Do not be afraid to get lost there for a moment, gain altitude. The beauty of its places will make you visit the Seychelles in a new way, connected to nature.
11. Frigate Island
Photo credit: Shutterstock / buteo
Tiny islet 56 kilometers from the island of Mahé, the island of La Frégate is a concentrate of paradise. Its hills, dense forest and beaches are true to the reputation of the Seychelles.
Despite its small size, 2 kilometers wide by only one long, this islet is truly a nugget in the Seychelles Archipelago. It is the ideal place to relax with nature, thanks to the luxurious spa present on the island, the Fregate Island Private. For those who prefer to indulge in fishing, the waters bordering Île de la Frégate are perfect. Little frequented, they are rich in fish and their bottoms are fabulous!
If you stay in the hotel establishment, the cooks will even prepare your freshly caught fish according to local tradition!
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