The Seychelles: Nature Encounters

They say that everyone who has ever experienced the Seychelles, will never be completely satisfied with any other place on the Earth. 

The Seychelles' landscapes are made up of exuberant tropical forests, green mountains and beaches, ranked among the best in the world. The natural glory is mixed with intriguing history, versatile food and an extraordinary choice of itineraries. Sounds like a perfect place to be.

Valley of Wonders

The Seychelles consists of 115 islands divided into two major groups: the mountainous granitic Inner islands and the coralline Outer ones. And each one is special. 

Take Praslin with its Vallée de Mai park, also known as the May Valley. It is one of the two places where you can see coco de mer, or sea coconut, in the wild. So unusual and iconic the fruit is, that locals brought it as a present to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their honeymoon.

The name “coco de mer” was given to the palm tree at the time, when it reached the coasts of Maldives, India and the contemporary Sri Lanka. The fruit of unknown origin was so highly valued that you could buy a ship for a nut. It was only in the 18th century that coco de mer was found on Praslin, but it didn’t put an end to the myths and legends about it. 

Locals believe that female and male palms of coco de mer would roam the forest under a full moon. They search for love and 7 years after they find it a baby is born. That “baby” is a 20-kilogram seed of a special shape.

Folklore aside, even biologists won’t tell you much about a sea coconut. They are still not sure about how it is pollinated: by the wind, insects, geckos, but assume that a tree can live for up to 500 years.

The Vallée de Mai itself is the only prehistoric forest on the planet, thus it is protected by UNESCO.

Pure Shores

You can never get enough of the powder-white beaches and idyllic lagoons in the Seychelles. The best you can do is to visit as many of them as time allows. You shouldn’t miss the fabulous Beau Vallon Beach, and framed by coconut palms and granite boulders Anse Intendance. Then there’s perfect for swimming with children Port Launay, and the most beautiful on Praslin Anse Lazio, and the photogenic, full of bays Anse Source d'Argent, and many more, since there are 70 beaches on Mahé alone.

There are beaches, which you can access only from water, and that’s a good reason to rent a yacht or a boat and spend some days cruising in the sparkling azure Indian ocean. The waters are teeming with life. There are 900 species of fish, which guarantees memorable encounters.

Back in Time

For those, who don’t limit themselves to beach side activities and walking or cycling trails, there is also a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the history of the Seychelles. Back in the 9th century, Arabic sailors accidentally found the islands, when their boat was carried away towards Africa, and in the 10th century geographers talked about the remote “mountainous islands” behind Maldives. Later the islands were found by Vasco da Gama.

Before the year of 1814 the islands were called Sechellian, after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, who was Louis XV finance minister. Only after England took a hold of them, the name was changed to the Seychelles. 

A good part of history is dedicated to the pirate invasions. So, there’s always something to explore in addition to nature. 

Green and Private Life

In the Seychelles there are many private islands, which combine stunning wildlife with luxury facilities. Cousine is one of them. Located 6 km to the west of Praslin, it is a perfect spot for nature lovers. As a boutique hotel, Cousine Island has five villas, including the Presidential one, 14 km of untouched beaches, a diving center and a helipad. You can take a catamaran or hovercraft, enjoy kayaking or SUP boarding or enrich your journey with a safari in Kenya, which is the unique offer of the hotel.

Another private island is Denis, located 95 km to the north of Mahé. Hawksbills and green turtles hatch their eggs on the local beaches. The newborns find their food in the coastal waters, which makes snorkeling here even more fascinating. And if hawksbill turtles nest here from September to March, the green turtles’ nesting season lasts from January to September. So, whenever you come, you will see their babies. Green turtles lay their eggs at night and hawksbill – in the daytime. The first eat seagrass, while the latter prefer sea sponges, anemones, shrimp and corals. The island rangers will always be happy to accompany you and tell more fascinating stories about these creatures. 

A true masterpiece of Man and Nature collaboration is North Island, which has been restored after being thoughtlessly exploited. Indigenous species of flora and fauna have been reintroduced here, and with success. You are invited to reconnect with nature through the generous list of activities. You can either spend time on the island’s untouched beaches or explore granite peaks, dive or join guided walks, have an exclusive picnic with a view or meet conservationists and plant a native tree.  

Among the other wonderful places is The Fregate Island, due to open in 2024. 

Then, there is the Sainte Anne Marine National Park, created in 1973. It comprises six islands off the coast of Mahé. It’s a place where you can spot sea turtles and bottlenose dolphins. The largest of the group is Sainte Anne Island, which is a place of the first European settlements in 1770. Today, the guests can stay here at Club Med Seychelles Eco-Chic Resort.

Another island of the group is Round Island, where JA Enchanted Island Resort is located. As with many hotels in the Seychelles, you can rent either a villa or a whole island. 

Taking remote coral islands you can stay on Desroches, 35 minutes on a plane from Mahé. It is a part of the Amirante Islands. The island boasts 14 kilometers of pristine beaches and lush vegetation. The only hotel here belongs to the Four Seasons brand. Here you can have excellent diving in one of the 14 world-class dive sites, catch the perfect wave with Tropicsurf or visit the giant tortoise sanctuary. 

A private island of Alphonse is an hour's flight from Mahé. Here you can watch giant tortoises and sea turtles, explore coral reefs with a marine biologist (visibility: 50 meters), swim with dolphins and manta rays or go on a sunset cruise.

Your vacation in the Seychelles can be as diverse as you wish. Why not spend some days in a lavish residence, then take a yacht or join an expedition to the protected Aldabra atoll, which is often compared to another planet, since it is almost untouched by civilization. You can connect and reconnect with nature and your true self. Laidback these vacations can be, but they are never boring.