Mahé
When it comes to wishing for the archetypal idyllic island, it's impossible to think past the glorious bays caressed by gorgeously multihued waters (the ones you see in travel mags) of Mahé.
When it comes to wishing for the archetypal idyllic island, it's impossible to think past the glorious bays caressed by gorgeously multihued waters (the ones you see in travel mags) of Mahé.
A wicked seductress, Praslin has lots of temptations: stylish lodgings, tangled velvet jungle, curving hills dropping down to gin-clear seas, gorgeous stretches of silky sand edged with palm trees and a slow-motion ambience.
Victoria may be the country's main economic, political and commercial hub, but peak hour here lasts an unbearable five minutes! It is home to about a third of the Seychelles' population, but even so Victoria retains the air of a provincial town.
Remember that tropical paradise that appears in countless adverts and glossy travel brochures? Here it's the real thing, with jade-green waters, bewitching bays studded with heart-palpitatingly gorgeous beaches, and green hills cloaked with...
A long, brilliant white arc of sands laced by palms and takamaka trees, Beau Vallon (on Mahé's northwest coast, 3km from Victoria) boasts the most popular beach in Mahé.
The west coast is exquisite on the eyes.
Let's face it: much of the east coast is given over to housing, so there are only a few spots that fit the picture-postcard ideal.
While the dazzling coastline of Mahé is undoubtedly the main attraction, it's crucial that you take the time to explore the island's mountainous interior.
If you want to live out that stranded-on-a-deserted-island fantasy, consider staying at a private island resort.
Silhouette is the pyramid-shaped island you see looming on the horizon from Beau Vallon on Mahé.
Bird is the ultimate in ecotourism and bird-life viewing.
The majority of the Seychelles islands are scattered over hundreds of kilometres to the southwest of the main Mahé group.
Close your eyes.
A 30-minute flight from Mahé brings you to fairytale Frégate, which is both a wildlife sanctuary and a hideaway for celebs and millionaires who find serenity in the exclusive Fregate Island Private.
About 6km north of Silhouette, North Island is the last word in exclusivity and its hotel, North Island, is generally lauded as a milestone in the 'couture castaway' Indian Ocean experience.
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