Seychelles Enchantment

Victoria, the capital of Seychelles, is a vibrant city on Mahé Island's northeastern side, blending diverse cultures and traditions. Attractions include the bustling stalls of Victoria Market, the Hindu shrine of Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple and the colourful "Jivan Imports" store. The Victoria Botanical Garden features Aldabra giant tortoises and 200 plant species, including unique trees like the coco-de-mer.

Praslin has some of the Seychelles' finest beaches, like Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, with granite boulders dotting the soft sands. Busy Anse Volbert-Côte D’Or offers views of Chauve Souris islet. Inland, Praslin National Park's rugged jungle hosts rare flora and fauna. The Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO site, features a coco de mer forest, one of only two populations of these enormous trees, bearing the world's largest fruit and heaviest seeds.

La Digue is renowned for idyllic beaches dotted with granite boulders like Anse Source d'Argent on the west coast. Secluded beaches like Anse Bonnet Carré and Anse Cocos on the east are accessible only on foot, featuring calm, shallow waters. Hikers enjoy the ascent to Nid d'Aigle, the 333-m high island peak, with a restaurant halfway up. The Veuve Nature Reserve protects the rare Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher's breeding habitat.

Curieuse Marine National Park's captivating landscape is made up of red earth mountains and granite hills. The Coco de Mer palm, which produces the world's largest nuts, grows only here and Praslin. Baie Laraie is home to all seven mangrove species in Seychelles, while the area is also the site of a tortoise sanctuary. Once a leper colony, Curieuse hosts giant Aldabra tortoises and sea turtles. Pointe Rouge offers diving in vibrant coral reefs.

Grande Soeur, the slightly larger of the Sister Islands, is a peaceful spot known for its granite rocks emerging above palm-fringed beaches, creating stunning landmarks like Table Rock. Grande Soeur East, the most picturesque beach on the island, claims the crown as Seychelles' finest. The island is also one of the archipelago's best snorkelling spots with sea turtles, tropical fish and small reef sharks. Hiking trails lead to panoramic views.

Aride Island, one of Seychelles' finest nature reserves, offers a glimpse into the islands' unspoilt past. The uninhabited granitic island hosts vital seabird colonies, with 10 breeding species, including the world's largest populations of two frigatebird species and the roseate tern subspecies arideensis. Reptile density is among the highest globally. Rare native plants like Wright's Gardenia grow in their natural state only on Aride.

Cousin Island, a land and sea special reserve, is a conservation success story. In 1959, just 26 Seychelles warblers remained, clinging to life in a mangrove swamp. An intensive program cut back coconuts, allowing the warbler's native forest to recover. Cousin's restoration also benefited the endangered Seychelles magpie robin. The island is now a thriving indigenous forest and wetland, attracting birds, giant tortoises, lizards and more.

Silhouette Island, Seychelles' third-largest granitic island, boasts five peaks over 500m. Hosting the majority of Seychelles' 75 endemic plants, it's a biodiversity hotspot. Silhouette National Park, home to endemic and threatened species like the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat and Impatiens gordonii plant, also focuses on tortoise reintroduction. The island's Grann Kaz, a restored plantation house museum, traces Seychelles' history.

Victoria, the capital of Seychelles, is a vibrant city on Mahé Island's northeastern side, blending diverse cultures and traditions. Attractions include the bustling stalls of Victoria Market, the Hindu shrine of Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple and the colourful "Jivan Imports" store. The Victoria Botanical Garden features Aldabra giant tortoises and 200 plant species, including unique trees like the coco-de-mer.