Has anyone been on holiday to the Seychelles Islands? We're thinking of going around Christmas time but are unsure whether the long trip from England is worth it. If so, any recommendations for eating and accommodation?
Cheers,
Aaron and Jodie
Posted by
Indianola, Washington, USA
12 posts
We went last October, chartering a Moorings sailboat with several friends, and sailed among the 1 or 2 main islands, starting at Mahe. We flew from Washington state, literally on the opposite side of the globe, so England doesn't seem so far to us.
It is a fascinating place. Its remoteness makes it a rare place, and it has some flora and fauna entirely unique. The human culture is all imported from Africa, Middle East and Europe, as it was not inhabited at all till a few hundred years ago. It is quite expensive, as literally EVERYTHING is imported from far away - they produce no goods there at all. Plan to visit at least 3 islands to really get a sense of it all. The locals all are tri-lingual: English, French and the local patois; relaxed and friendly.
The coco de mer is the largest coconut tree and seed in the world and is unique to these islands. The Valle de Mai Reserve on Praslin Island is a wonderful nature tour - the guides are informed, dedicated & entertaining. There is also an island near Mahe where there are 600 giant Seychelles tortoises roaming free. One is documented to be 225 years old! I LOVED La Digue Island; there was something about it that was especially charming, artistic and picturesque more than the others. That is where I would want to stay for a couple of days. We rented bikes to get around. Snorkeling was good enough so that scuba diving was unnecessary.
Down sides: expensive [E.g., in one place, 1 average-tasting cocktail was 13EU], not much original culture. If you are looking for a more authentic local culture, I would rather recommend French Polynesia (also expensive), where there is true native culture and old history as well as local food.
More than I meant to write. I hope this helps.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6788 posts
Curious about this comment: "Snorkeling was good enough so that scuba diving was unnecessary."
Do you dive?
Personally, if I went all that ways, and spent all that money to get there, I'd sure spend a lot of time diving...
Posted by
Indianola, Washington, USA
12 posts
Yes, warm and cold water diver. We have always done at least 1-2 days of diving in tropical areas, so this was really a departure. There are several good parks that include tiny islands and underwater reserves where most (thought not all) of the waters are 30' or less. They all are patrolled by rangers who charge a hefty daily fee per person (not per boat). Ile St. Jacques was our favorite - we returned there 2-3x. There are areas of that park that would be phenomenal to dive with tanks. Four of our group are experienced divers, and none of us was inclined to dive. It may be because we were on a sailboat and moving almost daily, or it may be just that we were so satisfied with the snorkeling we were not willing to pay a couple hundred $ each to see the same things deeper. E.g., sting rays, lionfish and many other tropicals were common in 10' waters. One day we saw a Giant Guitarfish sleeping in about 8' of water - fantastic. We also found a mating pair of octopuses at about 8', which is astonishing, since they only mate once in their lifetimes (but enjoy it for an hour or more). Also swam with a fleeting pod of dolphins. One warning: everywhere there were little almost invisible stingers of some kind in the water. Most of us were not bothered by them, but I was highly allergic; I needed a skinsuit and regular doses of prednisolone or Benadryl, and still had red itchy blotches.