Affordable Seychelles - what to do and where to stay?

PRASLIN

Day 1 – We checked into our hotel which had all the comforts we needed to make our stay a luxurious one. Le Port Guest House came with sea facing views, a king size bed, two twin beds, a fully equipped kitchenette, and a bathroom. The added advantage was that it was right next to the port which made it convenient to catch a ferry to the islands. Plus, a bus stop & supermarket bang opposite the hotel and a takeaway restaurant just down the road made things more convenient for us. We spent the day relaxing in the hotel and exploring the neighbouring area by foot.

Day 2 – We went to the ferry terminal and booked us a ticket to La Digue. I highly recommend you visit the island as it has one of the best beaches in all of Seychelles (Anse Source d’Argent) and you also get to see giant tortoises. Here’s some advice – do not spend a bomb and visit Curieuse island to see giant tortoises for La Digue has many of them. Not many know this and often end up booking an expensive cruise to Curieuse.

Once you get to La Digue, do RENT A BIKE! It costs only 10 euros per person and is the best way to explore the island. Take a right from the ferry terminal and bike towards L’Union Estate. There’s an entry fee of 10 euros to enter the estate and once you are inside you feel as though you’ve stepped into paradise. Pretty landscaped gardens, postcard worthy beaches strewn with huge granite boulders and of course, those giant tortoises! Stop for a bit and take in everything! Feed the tortoises and then bike straight ahead to Anse Source d’Argent which in my opinion is the best beach in all of Seychelles. It’s a photographer’s delight with its massive boulders and emerald green waters -- water so clear that you can see fish and if lucky, turtles too. We lazed around the beach for a bit and spent the rest of the day cooling off in the waters with fish (and dogs) keeping us company.

Day 3 – We hopped on a bus and went to the Fond Ferdinand nature reserve. Here’s another secret and one that not many know of. Many tourists visit the Vallee de Mai nature reserve to see the famous coco de mer (a coconut shaped like a woman’s pelvis) and end up paying 20 euros as entry fee. Fond Ferdinand (only recently discovered and gaining attention) is a cheaper option with an entry fee of 6 euros and is six times bigger and has more coco de mer trees. Plus, you get a friendly & knowledgeable guide. There’s a 1.5 hrs trek that by the end of it gives you a spectacular view of all the islands from the summit. You won’t get this at Valle De Mai. Google the difference between the two reserves and you will know what I’m talking about.

Day 4 – We took the bus and visited Anse Lazio voted 6th best beach in the world by Trip Advisor (I personally found Anse Source d’Argent much better in comparison). The bus stops at Anse Boudin and from Boudin it’s a 20 min uphill climb to get to Anse Lazio. Go there early as it tends to get crowded later in the day. The beach is beautiful with its powdery white sand that glistens above an an ocean whose gradient extends from the navy to the clearest turquoise, all in a tropical forest setting emerald surrounded by huge granite rocks. From there, if you have the time you could also do a rather sweaty hike to Anse Georgette.

MAHE

The Sunset Beach Hotel in Mahe (North coast) is a great option for its spectacular views of the Indian ocean and mesmerizing sunsets. We spent most of our time snorkeling in the hotel’s beach itself. They even provide free snorkeling equipment and beach towels and that’s a plus indeed.

We also visited Victoria city and spent a day shopping for fruits & vegetables while also taking in the sights & sounds. Here are some pics from our visit.