Things to do in Seychelles
-
A
La Goulue
This little eatery doesn't have beach frontage but the terrace catches some breeze. The menu features Creole staples and various filling snacks.
reviewed
-
La Digue
La Digue is home to Anse Source d'Argent, the iconic image of emerald waters, sugar-white sands and sea-smoothed granite rocks. It's also the least developed of the main islands and life here still moves at the pace of an ox cart. It's the sort of place you won't want to leave.
reviewed
-
Aldabra Atoll
Aldabra is one of the world's largest raised coral atolls, stretching 34km (21mi) east to west and enclosing a huge tidal lagoon, which is home to tiger sharks, manta rays and thousands of seabirds. Aldabra is also the original habitat of the giant land tortoise.
The only people who live on Aldabra are scientists. Anyone wishing to visit must first get written permission from the Seychelles Island Foundation (SIF), based in Victoria, which manages the island. There is accommodation for about eight visitors. The nearest airport is on Assomption Island, about 27km (17mi) south of Aldabra. From there, the Indian Ocean Explorer runs one-week cruises round the atoll.
reviewed
-
Vallée de Mai
Vallée de Mai is one of only two places in the world where you can see the weird and wonderful coco de mer palm growing in their natural state - the other is nearby Curieuse Island. This valley's Eden-like forest is World Heritage listed and the very sight of sunlight filtering through its fronds will make you go all poetic.
You'll see several varieties of screw pine and latanier plams, and, if you're very lucky, the Seychelles black parrot. If you're going to visit the park, keep to the tracks, don't take anything away and don't leave anything behind - this is an incredibly fragile forest.
reviewed
-
Anse Lazio
The best beach on Praslin - in fact, one of the best in the country - is Anse Lazio, in the far north of the island. It’s picture-postcard everywhere you look. Here, the long, broad pale-sand beach has lapis lazuli waters on one side and a thick fringe of palm and takamaka trees on the other, and it’s framed by a series of granite boulders at each extremity. There's even a terrific restaurant right on the sand.
reviewed
-
Vallée de Mai
Praslin's World Heritage–listed Vallée de Mai is one of only two places in the world where you can see the rare coco de mer palms growing in their natural state (the other being nearby Curieuse Island) – not to mention more than 50 other indigenous plants and trees. If the entry price seems steep, remember this is a unique chance to experience a slice of Eden. Five hiking trails lead through this primeval, emerald-tinged forest, which remained totally untouched until the 1930s. The shortest is about 1km and the longest is 2km – perfect for families. As you walk amid the forest, the atmosphere is eerie, with the monstrous leaves of the coco de mer soaring 30m to a…
reviewed
-
B
Coco Rouge
Coco Rouge is that easy-to-miss 'secret spot' that locals like to recommend. Run by Tony, a former English teacher, it serves up a good-value set menu at dinner, consisting of about six grandma-style Creole dishes prepared from fresh simple ingredients. The setting is refreshingly simple, with sturdy takamaka tables. It also has a takeaway counter.
reviewed
-
C
Bonbon Plume
Is it a tourist trap or a seafood mecca? Both, perhaps. With such a location – the palm-thatched canopy is right on the beach – tables are unsurprisingly in high demand. Anything from grilled crab in coconut sauce to the catch of the day, this is a simple seafood delight. For grilled lobster or cigale de mer (squill fish), you'll be looking at Rs 750.
reviewed
-
D
Tante Mimi
Tante Mimi is a real heartbreaker. At the casino in Anse Volbert, you couldn't ask for a more atmospheric setting – think a lovely old colonial house, creaky parquet flooring, Creole furnishings throughout, silver cutlery, chandeliers and a wide-ranging menu featuring Creole classics. Unfortunately the food is hit-and-miss and the service utterly amateurish.
reviewed
-
E
Chez Marston
This institution serves some of the best food on the island. The wide-ranging menu features salads, sandwiches, prawns, fish or crab curries, pizzas and burgers, among other dishes.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Cousin Island
This is bird watching made easy - over 300,000 birds on an island just 1km (0.6mi) in diameter. Seven species of sea bird nest here, including fairy terns, white-tailed tropic birds and two varities of shearwater, and it's also home to the rare Seychelles warbler and magpie robin. Hawksbill turtles nest here in season.
Organised tours depart from Praslin from Tuesday through Friday.
reviewed
-
F
L'Union Estate & Copra Factory
At one time, the main industry on La Digue was coconut farming, centred on L'Union Estate coconut plantation south of La Passe. These days L'Union Estate is run as an informal 'theme park', with demonstrations of extracting oil from copra (dried coconut flesh). Also in the grounds are the Old Plantation House, a colonial-era graveyard, a boatyard and the obligatory pen of giant tortoises.
reviewed
-
G
Lanbousir
This sand-floored eatery run by three affable ladies is an ideal spot for a filling lunch after (or before) working your tan at nearby Anse Source d'Argent. Start things off with smoked fish salad, move on to a meltingly tender job fillet, then finish off with a rich banana pancake. Wash it all down with a lemon juice or a chilled coconut. A traveller's life is hard, isn't it?
reviewed
-
H
Sagittarius Taxi Boat
The alternative is to charter your own boat from Anse Volbert. Sagittarius Taxi Boat, on the beach beside the Paradise Sun Hotel, charges €25 for Curieuse; Curieuse with St Pierre costs €30. You can also contact Edwin at Laurier Guest House, whose tours get rave reviews from travellers.
reviewed
-
Nature Seychelles
About 2km southwest of Praslin, Cousin Island is run as a nature reserve by Nature Seychelles . The bird population is estimated to exceed 300,000 on an island measuring just 1km in diameter. It's an amazing experience to walk through thick forest with birds seemingly nesting on every branch.
reviewed
-
I
Gelateria de Luca
Praslin's prime ice-cream parlour will leave you a drooling mess. Order a coppa tropicale (Rs 150), and you'll see why. It also whips up pasta dishes, pizzas and various snacks, and the vitamin-packed passionfruit juice is killer. Two minuses: the decor is as sexy as a parking lot and there's no view.
reviewed
-
J
Loutier Coco
Feel the sand in your toes at this oasis of a place on Grand Anse beach, but be prepared to share the experience with a raft of day-trippers here to enjoy the lavish buffet at lunchtime. The spread on offer includes grilled fish, traditional Creole curries and salads, fruit and coffee.
reviewed
-
K
Veuve Reserve
La Digue is the last refuge of the black paradise flycatcher, which locals call the veuve (widow). This small forest reserve has been set aside to protect its natural habitat. At the time of writing there were 14 pairs within the reserve. The male has long black tail feathers. The ranger claims that sightings are guaranteed if she goes on a small tour with you – we confirm. Other species include terrapins, fruit bats and moorhens. Several walking trails punctuated with interpretive panels about flora have been set up. Entry is free. There's a small information centre.
reviewed
-
Café Oganibar
Under new management, the Oganibar is big in ambitions, with such concoctions as fish fillet baked in banana leaves, braised chicken with honey, and grilled prawns with garlic butter. There's a Creole buffet on Thursday evening and a Chinese buffet on Saturday evening.
reviewed
-
L
Le Chevalier
Can't get a table at Bonbon Plume? Don't despair. Here's an acceptable plan B. OK, it's not right on the beach and the setting is frustratingly bland (think a vast, tiled, open-air room on the ground floor of a modern villa), but the menu offers more variety than at Bonbon Plume. Prices are as high, though (burgers cost a whopping Rs 215).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Seychelles Island Foundation
Harvesting the nuts is strictly controlled by the Seychelles Island Foundation , an NGO which manages the Vallée de Mai on behalf of the government. Money from the sale of nuts goes towards SIF's conservation work in the Vallée de Mai and on Aldabra.
reviewed
-
M
Le Pécheur
Candles, French wines and a table on a palm-ruffled beach are all you need for a romantic night out with your significant other at this attractive restaurant at La Digue Island Lodge. Diners are serenaded by a local guitarist three times a week.
reviewed
-
N
Snack Bellevue
It's a hell of a hike or ride to get to this eagle's eyrie, but you'll be amply rewarded with cardiac-arresting views from the terrace. It serves up the usual suspects at very reasonable prices (not a mean feat, given the location).
reviewed
-
Jungle
Nightlife in Praslin? No, really? It usually comes as a surprise to many visitors that the island rocks (by Seychellois standards) on Friday and Saturday evenings. Shakers and movers head en masse to the Jungle .
reviewed
-
Sunset Café
Lobster for less than Rs 250? Yes, it's possible. This small, pleasantly informal number is worth visiting for the good, cheap and wholesome food created from quality ingredients. It has a few outdoor tables.
reviewed