6th – 12th October 2015
Flying to Seychelles
We flew to Seychelles with Etihad Airlines via Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airlines were very good! We flew economy and had plenty of room and the service was absolutely fantastic – the cabin crew couldn’t do enough for you!
Day 1 – Seychelles to Praslin Island
As soon as we arrived at the Seychelles International Airport, we met our representative and she directed us to the domestic terminal where we were waited to board another flight from Mahe to Praslin.
This is a 15-minute flight on a tiny plane – what an experience! We flew over a number of islands and the views were breath-taking! We arrived on Praslin and our first hotel visit was the Constance Lemuria Resort.
The Constance Lemuria Resort is a beautiful 5* hotel with a beachfront location on the North West of the stunning island of Praslin. The hotel is easily accessible being only a 10-minute transfer from the airport.
When we arrived, we had a tour around the hotel, viewing many different room categories, the spa area and we even had a stroll on the beach. We stayed here for the night and were allocated a Junior Suite which is the leading room type in the hotel. The room was very clean and spacious, located just 15 meters from the beachfront and surrounded by the hotel’s natural gardens.
DAY 2 – La Digue and a hotel tour
After breakfast, we were transferred to the jetty where we got on a ferry to take us to La Digue – a 15-minute crossing.
La Digue was amazing! We walked around the island, had a talk on the famous Coco de Mer, met gigantic turtles and visited one of the most photographed beaches in the world – Anse Source d ’Argent!
Coco De Mer Hotel & Black Parrot Suites review
After our lunch at Lanboursir restaurant, we transferred back to the jetty to make our way back to Praslin, ready for our afternoon hotel visit at the Coco De Mer Hotel & Black Parrot Suites. This 4* hotel is located on the south-west coast of Praslin. The hotel is beautiful and overlooks the sea yet it is more of a secluded hideaway hotel.
The hotel rooms are split into two different wings – hence the name. Hotel rooms are located in the Coco de Mer Hotel and Junior Suites are found in the Black Parrot wing (this part of the hotel is adult-only). We were allocated a superior room in the Coco de Mer Hotel which was lovely.
Day 3 – UNESCO World Heritage Site
After breakfast, we were transferred to Vallee de Mai, the legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site. A site that was once believed to be the beautiful original site of the Garden of Eden. It is home to 6,000 Coco de Mer trees, considered to be among the botanical wonders of the world.
After spending the morning here, we then transferred to Indian Ocean Lodge for a hotel inspection. The Indian Ocean Lodge is a small 3* hotel tucked away in a private corner on Praslin island. The hotel is like a home away from home and has everything you need. It’s also just five minutes from the airport.
After here, we made our way back to the jetty and got on the ferry from Praslin to Mahe, a one-hour crossing. If you don’t want to get wet, don’t sit at the front! We got soaked but had so much fun!
On arrival into Mahe, we were transferred to Marie Antoinette Restaurant for lunch before we were taken to the Savoy Seychelles Resort and Spa. I absolutely loved the Savoy! It boasts a prime location on the beautiful Beau Vallon Beach. Plus, a few meters from the hotel was a local bar serving cocktails…
Day 4 – Seychelles capital
This morning we headed to Coral Strand Hotel for a hotel visit. This is a small 3.5* property, also situated on Beau Vallon Beach that caters for couples and families.
After this, we were taken to Victoria, the capital of Seychelles. The Victoria Clock tower is the most prominent feature of Seychelles small capital city and has acted as a focal point for nearly 100 years. The clock is an elegant replica of our very own Big Ben. The capital is also famous for its busy and colourful market. We certainly got a feel for the Seychellois and their way of life at the market. It is the best place to buy fresh fruits, fish, vegetables and spices!
After this, we took a transfer to the marina where we had a 10-minute speedboat transfer to take us to Enchanted Island Resort, a hotel on Round Island. Enchanted Island is simply pure paradise and was one of my highlights of the trip.
It is the only hotel on Round Island and houses just 10 villas, each with their own private infinity pool! We stopped here for lunch before having a tour of the grounds. We then took our speedboat back to Mahe followed by a transfer to take us to another hotel!
Constance Ephelia Resort is a 5* hotel situated on two of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Mahe, overlooking the Marine National Park of Port Launay. It is a massive resort with loads to see and do. We stayed here this night in a gorgeous Junior Suite. The suites are located just steps away from the beach so, as you can imagine, they have an amazing view!
Day 5 – Scenic views and hotels
This morning we headed to Double Tree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort & Spa. This is a 4* hotel that is the ideal resort for a tropical island getaway. The resort is complemented by its backdrop of lush foliage and is ideally located on the beach. The hotel was lovely and the rooms were beautiful.
Onwards from there, we visited the Banyan Tree Seychelles hotel. This is a stunning 5* hotel nestled in the picturesque Intendance Bay! We stopped here for lunch and the view was amazing.
It was then time to take a transfer to the jetty where we embarked on a lush Hilton ferry that took 45 minutes to get us to Silhouette Island, home to Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa. On route to the ferry, we stopped at the highest point of Mahe, and wow did we have a treat. The view from there was out of this world, definitely worth a visit!
Hilton Labriz is a 5* hotel and is the only resort on Silhouette Island. Being surrounded by unspoilt views of the Indian Ocean, mountains and rainforest, the hotel is an ultimate retreat. The resort is huge with an unlimited amount of activities to do.
We stayed here this night and were allocated a King Beachfront Villa and I have to admit, I think this was my favourite. As stunning as the room was, you walked down the stairs from the balcony and you find yourself walking on the white sand beach. What more could you want?!
Day 6 – Soaking up the last bit of sun
Today was the last day before our flight home. After a hearty breakfast, we departed for the 45-minute crossing back to Mahe where we were then transferred to the Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa.
This hotel is set in the quieter west coast of Mahe. Fronting the hotel is a wonderful white sandy beach. The hotel’s design is a mixture of the islands European and Asian heritage with a delightful contemporary vibe. We had lunch in the hotel’s Asian restaurant called Tamarind and were served a mixture of delicious Asian chicken, fish and beef dishes!
We had some free time before the airport transfer so took advantage and had a swim in the sea and soaked up some sun on the beach. Even though we didn’t stay in the rooms, we were allocated a lovely standard room to change and shower in.
Our flight home was again with Etihad which were again very good. I would definitely fly with them again and would 100% return to Seychelles.
