The Seychelles Archipelago consists of 115 islands located off the coast of East Africa, in the Indian Ocean. This destination is a delight for lovers of paradisiacal landscapes, combining lush nature, an incredible wealth of wildlife and white sandy beaches with translucent waters. Between two hikes in the heart of the national parks, don't hesitate to stop in beautiful Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, with its colonial architecture and its market showcasing good local products. Whether you stay on the same island throughout your holiday or plan excursions from island to island to take in the sights, the result is always the same: you are bound to fall in love with these lands that live to the rhythm of the waves and the path of the sun. Summer is barely over, but some people are certainly already thinking about future holidays, and to disconnect, recharge their batteries and have the feeling of treading the paths of an earthly paradise, the Seychelles is the ideal destination.

The Seychelles, perfect conditions to reach enchanted lands

In these times of health crisis, Seychelles is one of those destinations open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers. The conditions to enter the territory are to present a negative PCR test less than 72 hours before departure for the archipelago. As the summer period is coming to an end in Europe, it is the perfect opportunity to get back to the sun and warmth, as the Seychelles have an average annual temperature of 29°C. This temperature is only a few degrees higher than that of the sea (27°C), into which it is of course easy to swim and enjoy the sea bed. Another advantage of the archipelago is that it is outside the cyclone zone.

Finally, it should also be noted that the Seychelles can be reached quite quickly, with a flight time of about 10 hours between Paris and Mahé. And then, the small time difference with France (+2h in summer, +3h in winter) means that you don't suffer from fatigue and can enjoy the richness of the place as soon as you set foot on Seychelles soil.

A natural environment conducive to relaxation and outdoor activities

This is certainly the number one argument to convince anyone to fly to the Seychelles, that of discovering paradisiacal sceneries, real postcard landscapes in the heart of which one wants to enjoy the fresh air at every moment. To get to the most beautiful parts of the archipelago, don't hesitate to ask the locals, who speak English as well as French. To get into the mood, one of the first activities is to explore the Morne Seychellois Natural Park on Mahé. It is home to the archipelago's highest peak, which rises to 906m and covers 20% of the island. The hikes take place in the heart of the tropical forest, discovering a wide range of plants and numerous wild animals. To vary the pleasures, another beautiful walk takes place on the second largest island of the archipelago, Praslin. This is where you will find the Vallée de Mai, whose rich environment has earned it a place on the Unesco World Heritage List. The walk is marked by the contemplation of endemic species, both plant and animal, including the Seychelles coconut tree and the black parrot. The Silhouette Island National Park is also a sanctuary for observing trees, flowers and a large number of birds, such as the white Gygis.

If the inland and granite islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are perfect to put down your suitcases, you should not miss exploring the small neighbouring islands, which do not fail to reveal pleasant surprises. This is the case of the Middle Island, which offers the particularity of offering a privileged contact with the land tortoises, totally used to humans. The Seychelles is also home to so-called coral islands. Accessible in only 40 minutes by plane from Mahé, Desroches is one of the jewels of the Amirantes, with lush vegetation, coconut palms, takamakas and filaos, as well as immense white sand beaches with turquoise waters, emblematic of the Seychelles.

In terms of activities, and we will have time to linger on the beach below, the Seychelles are a delight for hiking enthusiasts, but also for those who like to fish, play golf or even relax in a spa. The archipelago also offers numerous wellness centres in veritable gardens of Eden, where travellers can enjoy massages, swimming pools, whirlpools and other beauty and relaxation rituals.

The sea, as a matter of course

Often, if not systematically, the Seychelles evoke in us large stretches of white sand and lagoons with sublime sea beds. This is obviously not a myth, and you have to go there to realise just how much swimming seems to take place in paradise. In Mahé, Beau Vallon beach is magnificent. More than 3 km of white sand bordering crystal clear waters. In the bay, restaurants offer local flavours and on the water, you can enjoy boat rides to breathe the sea air. For surfing enthusiasts, Anse Intendance is the beach of choice.

In Praslin, it is Georgette Cove surrounded by a green nature and Lazio Cove and its granite rocks that welcome the lovers of swimming and sun for long hours of snorkeling.

But if there was only one beach to remember in the Seychelles, then it would certainly be Anse Source d'Argent, located on La Digue Island. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with its gigantic granite rocks that seem to come from another world, and its lagoon protected by a coral barrier. In some places, the rocks form small, more intimate coves, where bathers can enjoy the turquoise waters out of sight. Privacy can also be found in the 60-metre long Anse Patate, where the waters are warm and calm. The coconut trees offer a shelter to rest and read quietly in the shade. Some heavenly beaches also have areas at the end of the world. This can be seen when you step on the sand of the small island Curieuse or Cousin, during a short boat trip from Praslin.

These other experiences in Seychelles

When it comes to staying in Seychelles, hiking, swimming, diving and cruising, travellers have a choice of accommodation. They can either book a room in a luxury hotel with a swimming pool on the seafront, or decide to spend some quality time with the Seychellois in a guesthouse. The locals offer rooms and charming bungalows

On the main island of Mahé, they will be able to visit Victoria, a must-see. One of the smallest capitals in the world and the largest city in the Seychelles has preserved some beautiful buildings from the colonial era. Other highlights include the silver representation of Big Ben, the Clock Tower, and the Hindu temple with its shimmering colours. And don't forget to wander the aisles of the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Seychelles Market, whose colourful stalls are filled with fruit, vegetables, spices, local specialities and other fabrics.

Not far from there, the King's Garden is another haven of peace where you can stroll among the scents of fruit trees and plants. You can even have lunch in the middle of nature, in the garden restaurant. In the Seychelles, all our senses are in turmoil