Known as a true paradise on earth, these islands will give you a unique, unforgettable journey of white sandy beaches lapped by a crystal-clear sea.

These two archipelagos, made up of many small islands rising in the middle of the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa, evoke feelings of serenity and freedom in a setting where nature reigns supreme.

They are the ideal destination for anyone wishing to relax, switch off from the frenzy of daily life and connect deeply with unspoilt nature.

The Seychelles, an archipelago of tranquillity

Let us look together at some of the unmissable spots on these islands.

Praslin

The island of Praslin is considered a rare jewel of breathtaking beaches, wrapped in a pleasant atmosphere of calm. It is said that this island is all that remains of a hypothetical lost continent, known as Lemuria.

The island’s beaches are among the finest destinations in the whole world; you can enjoy days of pure relaxation and let the sound of the sea pamper you on the beaches of Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette and Anse Boudin, natural paradises framed by the local plants and palms.

Vallée de Mai

A nature reserve, described as the Garden of Eden, where you can immerse yourself in what remains of the original palm forests of the Seychelles.

This pearl, on the island of Praslin, was declared a protected natural area in 1996 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 thanks to the presence of the Coco de Mer, the palm with the largest nut in the world.

Curieuse Island

The Coco de Mer can also be found on Curieuse, originally called Ile Rouge after the red earth that characterised it.

Not far from Praslin, this island is famous above all because it is home to no fewer than 500 Aldabra giant tortoises. In the nature reserve, run by the Seychelles Centre for Marine Technology-Marine Parks, these tortoises are followed and monitored. You will find them roaming about in total freedom, waiting to be petted.

La Digue

La Digue is the fourth-largest island in the Seychelles; here the immense granite boulders that tower over the wonderful beaches of this little paradise on earth rule the scene.

Excursions on this island are a must: on the beach of Anse Source d’Argent, thanks to the shallow, calm sea, the activity not to be missed is snorkelling, which will treat you to the breathtaking spectacle of the coral reef.

Mahé

The island of Mahé is the largest and most developed in the whole archipelago; the settlers originally called it Ile d’Abondance, the island of abundance, for its incredible natural beauty, still flourishing today.

Mahé is home to the smallest capital in the world, Victoria, where most of the population lives. Here there are many activities to enjoy, from hikes through the jungle of the Morne Seychellois National Park to diving.

Mauritius, an oasis of tropical relaxation

Mauritius and the other islands that make up the archipelago are known for the lush vegetation that characterises them and that over the years has enchanted visitors, among them the writer Mark Twain.

The main island, Mauritius, offers white beaches, crystal-clear waters and the chance to take a few excursions inland to discover the local flora and fauna.

The capital, Port Louis, deserves at least a day’s visit to appreciate its lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Worth seeing are the Catholic church of Marie Reine de la Paix, the Place d’Armes in the historic city centre and the Natural History Museum, a testament to the wealth of local nature.

Of great historical and cultural interest is the Aapravasi Ghat, a UNESCO World Heritage site, built by the British government in 1849 to house the island’s first immigration office.

This place was fundamental to the country’s history, since between 1849 and 1920 it saw the passage of almost half a million immigrants from India, East Africa, Madagascar, China and South-East Asia, who came to work as labourers in the sugar plantations on the island or in other nearby places. It is precisely thanks to this remarkable flow of immigrants that the capital has become a strongly multicultural place, marked by the meeting of many cultures and traditions.

Lovers of flora and fauna, as well as appreciating the unspoilt nature and picture-postcard beaches, certainly cannot miss a visit to the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden. These gardens are famous for hosting an enormous variety of local and foreign plant species; one of the most visited spots on the site is the area of giant water lilies, whose leaves can reach two metres in diameter.

The south of the island is home not only to the Tamarin Salt Pans but also to the Le Morne peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a destination prized by hikers. Le Morne Brabant mountain, 556 m high, was the refuge of runaway slaves from the 18th to the 19th century. Protected by the caves carved into the rock and by the mountain’s dense vegetation, the fugitives settled in the area, which over time became a symbol of the suffering and struggle of slaves for the conquest of freedom.

Choose the Guiness Travel Tours

Guiness Travel too organises two tours to discover these two archipelagos of the Indian Ocean.

For Guiness, travelling is an enriching experience to be savoured in every pleasant moment, and it means feeling pampered by every kind of comfort; the only way to guarantee the well-being of participants and respect for the places visited is to open the tours only to a limited number of selected participants.

Every itinerary in the catalogue is 100% independently planned and carefully designed and tested, allowing the product to evolve constantly and reach a high, wide-ranging cultural level.

This is why we created the Guiness Exclusive Tour, a unique travel experience, mindful of sustainability, which offers you considerable advantages:

  • organisation;
  • attention to detail;
  • a search for excellent services on the ground (designed to give you maximum comfort, leaving you free to think of nothing but enjoying the moment).

Discover our special tours in these destinations.

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