Dream islands like something out of a picture book. The Seychelles archipelago consists of a total of 115 granite and coral islands that lie picturesquely in the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Lined with endless white sandy beaches and huge palm trees, the islands of the Seychelles immediately make you feel like you're in paradise.
Colourful coral reefs offer divers and snorkellers a fascinating underwater world, and the breathtaking biodiversity of flora and fauna begs comparisons with the Garden of Eden. The cosmopolitanism of the local Seychellois does the rest for an unforgettable dream holiday.
The Main island Mahé
Mahé is the main island of the Seychelles and is home to Victoria, the world's smallest capital. This is where the Seychelles' international airport is located and where you will arrive. Creole traditions paired with a wonderfully casual lifestyle of the inhabitants are best experienced here. The very beautiful Beau Vallon beach is the most famous on the island. Mahe has also host of the most luxury resorts in Seychelles.
Although it is frequented by many locals and holidaymakers, it never seems overcrowded. Here you have a perfect infrastructure: at the colourful market or at one of the many take-away restaurants near the promenade, you can get Creole delicacies to take away, whether fresh fish, delicious curry with octopus or the traditional samoussa, deep-fried dumplings with a filling according to taste.
Beautiful beaches on Praslin Island
If you close your eyes and imagine a perfect beach, Praslin - the second largest island in the Seychelles - will surpass that imagination. With Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, the supposedly most beautiful beaches of all the islands in the Seychelles are located here - but of course the locals say that about every one of their beaches. Here, at any rate, icing sugar sand, palm trees and granite rocks offer a superlative postcard motif all year round.
Praslin is also home to the smallest UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Vallée de Mai. This Garden of Eden is home to hundreds of unique species of birds, animals and plants, including the famous Coco de Mer palm tree with what is arguably the largest nut in the world. Accommodation is usually of a more upmarket standard and ranges in price into the high three figures. Praslin and the other neighbouring islands are easily reached by ferry from the main island of Mahé.
La Digue Island for those seeking tranquillity
On the smallest of the three main islands, the clocks tick much more slowly. You rarely come across a car here, because La Digue is so unspoilt that you really only want to explore it by bike. Its special charm is the perfect mix of local culture and beautiful white sandy beaches. Framed by million-year-old granite rocks, the dream beach Anse Source d'Argent lies picturesquely on the coast and invites you to relax. Many of the tropical hotels are tucked away on the bay, so the view from the window is always guaranteed to be a feast for the eyes.
Not far off the north coast of the island is a popular diving and snorkelling spot that extends all the way around Coco, Félicité and Sister Island. Among the colourful corals, numerous small and large sea creatures cavort, shining in all colours: from the pink-turquoise parrotfish to the red-yellow squirrelfish.
