Understandably so, with its lovely beaches, spectacular sunsets, and blue horizons the island paradise is famous for Seychelles honeymoon resorts, but as we learn, it has a lot more to offer, particularly as a family getaway.
Like a lover's whisper, the name rolls about in your lips - The Seychelles. Its smooth sibilance conjuring images of waves crashing gently on a secluded beach or the breeze brushing palm leaves with soft rustlings. The Seychelles, the perfect tropical paradise cherished by honeymooning lovers, has a name that perfectly matches the area it portrays.
The Seychelles, however, are not only for adults. When we first came with the kids, they believed they were in heaven. The flawless arcs of sand, the palm trees, and the transparent water were the first things that caught my attention. Seychelles had more than just a gorgeous face, it became evident very immediately.
As with most Seychelles experiences, ours began on Mahé. The Seychelles' international gateway and the archipelago's largest island is Mahé. It blends breathtaking natural beauty with a vibrant native culture. Victoria is undoubtedly one of the world's smallest and most accessible national capitals. It's just a few square kilometers with a market, church, mosque, Hindu temple, lovely cafes and street food shops on the corners, and some of the best all-inclusive resorts in Seychelles.
The public beach of Beau Vallon, far to the northwest, is where we all initially fell in love with the Seychelles. Beau Vallon is where you will find one of the best hotel resorts in Seychelles, the Story Seychelles Hotel in Mahe. The beach is long and sluggish, and the other low-rise hotels are separated from the beach by an uninterrupted line of palm trees. Because there is ample area for everyone, it lacks the exclusivity of so many private resort beaches and locals and visitors alike adore it.
Take into account fishermen, who are bringing in their haul. Join a local family on a Sunday excursion on the beach. As your children establish friends in the shallow waters, observe how cultural and linguistic boundaries fade away with the waves.
We were almost as taken aback by the sighting of stingrays jumping from the water offshore as we were by the fortress-like and volcanic Silhouette Island towering from the not-so-distant waters. There were glass-bottomed boats or child-friendly parasailing straight off the beach for the more courageous when we felt like we needed something more.
It will be great to stay there forever. However, throughout Mahé, there were so many little activities appealing to us. On Morne Seychellois, we trekked through tropical rainforests to a tea plantation. Our family remained on Del Place's outdoor terrace, eating kid-friendly Creole cuisine, before walking across the lagoon to an uninhabited island. But before retiring to the café terrace for crêpes and milkshakes, we wandered through the fragrant spice gardens of Le Jardin du Roi, inhaling wild cinnamon and nutmeg.
In many ways, it should have been plenty for any dream vacation. The Seychelles, on the other hand, has a way of making you want to go back for more: the impassioned suggestions of visitors returning from the outer islands or a glimpse of an appealing offshore island over the water.
As a result, we embarked on our adventure to Praslin by boat with equal amounts of trepidation and enthusiasm. Praslin is a smaller and more peaceful island than Mahé but it also has several best places to stay in Seychelles. Blue doves, black parrots, and the implausible coco de Mer palm live in its forests, particularly in the Vallée de Mai, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Boat tours to Curieuse Island, off the east coast of Praslin, allow tourists to see another side of the islands' unique and fascinating fauna. The collision of shells as they mate is a recurring theme as enormous Aldabra tortoises reproduce to bring the species back from the brink.
Back on Praslin, life quickly returns to the beaches, as it does in the Seychelles. On the east coast, Anse Volbert is especially suitable for families because it overlooks a quiet bay that scarcely ripples on the beach and is never congested. During the summer, some local hotels host activities such as sandcastle contests and water safety courses. It's also easy to go snorkeling.
Anse Lazio, near the island's northern point, is frequently included in lists of the world's most beautiful beaches. When we first arrived, we were in awe of the palm trees that were framed on either end by huge, towering stones. We quickly hurried across the powder-like sand to swim in the bath-warm, tropical seas, unable to wait for any more.
There are 115 islands in the Seychelles. With beaches that rival those of Anse Lazio, La Digue is a sculpted former volcano. Several premium island resorts cater only to adults, but many others accept families with family suites, kid's programs, and child-friendly restaurant menus. Your own wild-eyed amazement at the splendor of it all will be reflected in the faces of your children everywhere you go in the Seychelles.
Despite this, you're most likely to meet natives of Mahé and Praslin, whose sea-faring tales and gentle kindness may become your most unforgettable Seychelles memories. And you'll be able to do that while relaxing on a beautiful beach or hiking through a dense forest is exactly the kind of luxury the Seychelles excels at providing.
Follow our blogs to discover more about our adventures in this magnificent paradise. When traveling in this archipelago, we will provide you with further advice and recommendations.
