Let me start by saying: 5 days is not enough for the Seychelles. But if that’s all you have, make the most of it! We decided to split our time between Mauritius and the Seychelles, and were so glad we did. But it did mean time was short and there was some serious prioritization of activities and sights. And we probably left more tired than we showed up…I mean, that is why we go to far-off islands, right? Ha.
Day 1. Arrive in the Seychelles. Explore the resort. Grab a bite to eat and settle in so we can be well rested in the morning!
Day 2. Explore Bel Ombre & Beau Vallon Beach. One of the best parts of the Le Meridien, Seychelles, is the location. It is right on Beau Vallon beach–a great beach for running, walking, and exploring. Or a dip, obviously. The beach is beautiful and has some great granite boulders that are so picturesque. Take our advice and get lots of cash at the airport. While big restaurants take credit cards, as does the ferry (see Day 3), you will need some cash for taxis and the like. And 3 ATMs within walking distance were out of cash. With the help of the front desk, we finally located one that had $. There are tons of places to eat on Beau Vallon, and, weirdly, I think the waterfront restaurants–while also more expensive–have better food. Sit on the beach. Relax. Unwind. Have a Seybrew!
Day 3. Head to La Digue! La Digue has the famous Anse Source D’Argent beach–probably the most well known beach in the Seychelles (whole post on La Digue, here). Known affectionately as ASDA, this beach, and La Digue in general, is absolutely worth a day trip from Mahe. If we went back to the Seychelles, I think we’d probably just head there to stay. It’s such a lovely place with amazing beaches, great snorkeling, and laid-back feel. If you have extra time, Praslin is on the way. We sadly didn’t have time to spend there. On the way back from the dock, check out downtown and the mini clock tower. We had some fantastic food downtown, too (this pasta was so good).
Day 4. Saint Anne Marine Park & Ile Moyenne. We went with Mason’s. I don’t really have a feeling one way or the other about them, it was just the easiest option for us. I tried to book in advance before we left…they don’t reply to email much and want credit card numbers over email, so don’t bother. They have reps all over, so it is easy to do once on site. Saint Anne Marine Park is a must if you like to snorkel, though like many other places in both Mauritius and the Seychelles, has had major coral bleaching. Isle Moyenne still has free ranging giant tortoises! These guys were a huge highlight and the island is very small and great for a quick hike and swim. Absolutely worth an excursion.
Day 5. Relax! Stroll on the beach. Swim. Have a Seybrew. Unfortunately for us, some of the day was pouring rain! So we went for a swim and made the most of it anyway. Le Meridien has a super neat snorkeling trail; unfortunately the surf was too rough. We tried to make it past the breakers, but the coral is very close to the surface and it made for a dangerous situation. But we still enjoyed our last day, swimming, reading, sleeping, and taking in the incredible views of the Indian Ocean!
The Seychelles was a dream trip and we filled up the trip with great memories, lots of food, and plenty of salt water. I’m glad we chose Mahe so we could hop off to a few other islands; there are lots of other islands to explore, though, should we ever find ourselves back there! Where is your favorite place in the Seychelles?
