Seychelles

La Digue is a beautiful small island in the Indian Ocean with a leisurely pace of life, picturesque rocks, and pink-hued beaches. You can reach it from the island of Praslin by ferry (about half an hour), from the island of Mahé by speedboat (also about 30 minutes), or by helicopter. Beaches of La Digue The island's calling card is the coast of Anse Source d’Argent ("Silver Source") bay, with its impressive panorama of giant granite boulders that appear pink in the morning and red at sunset. A long stretch of beach extends from Pointe Barbé; all beaches there are surrounded by granite rocks. The most secluded beaches are located in the bays of Grand Anse, Petite Anse, and Anse Cocos. These are the most beautiful beaches on the island, with sand that has a pinkish shimmer. However, during the southeast monsoon (from April to October), the sea becomes rough, and swimming at these beaches is dangerous. Furthermore, one should always pay attention to the wooden signs with inscriptions in various languages: "Beware of dangerous currents." For snorkeling, it is best to go to the nearby small island of Île Coco. Activities and Sights of La Digue Rising to a height of 300 meters is Mount Nid d’Aigle ("Eagle's Nest"), which occupies a large part of the island's area. The main attraction of the island is L’Union Estate park, which once belonged to the Hossen family, famous on the island. It contains one of the oldest surviving colonial buildings in the Seychelles. Of no less interest to tourists is the house on the park grounds where the cult film for all Soviet schoolchildren of the 80s – "Emmanuelle" – was filmed. In La Passe, the island's capital, you can admire old Creole wooden houses. In the north of the island, at Pointe Barbé, stand the graves of the first colonizers who came from the island of Bourbon (now Réunion). Diving on La Digue La Digue is one of the most popular diving spots in the Seychelles: there are over 30 dive sites for every taste in the vicinity of the island. Among the best known are: Ave Maria – granite rocks surrounding a coral atoll, with numerous underwater passages; Channel Rocks and White Bank with a variety of different "natives"; Grand Sœur and West Sister Rock, where you can see large barracudas and grey reef sharks. Snorkeling enthusiasts will also enjoy the Coral Garden spot, whose name speaks for itself.

The island of Mahé is the main and largest island of the archipelago and is the most frequently visited by tourists. The international airport is located here, so the transfer is not far. Transport on Mahé Buses run regularly between Victoria and the island's most popular beach, Beau Vallon. The last bus leaves at 7:30 PM; later, you can only get around by taxi (about 70 Rs; it is advisable to negotiate and clarify the fare before getting in). You can also reach the east, west, or south coast by bus from Victoria. The fare is 4 Rs and is paid to the driver. Beaches of Mahé There are 68 beaches on the island. At almost every one of them, you can rent equipment for snorkeling, diving, surfing, windsurfing, or water skiing. Boat trips with yachts or motorboats also start directly from the beaches. Beau Vallon – the largest, most famous, and most visited beach, is located just 3 km from the capital, Victoria. All local "life" is concentrated here, the nightlife pulses, and the most important tourist infrastructure is available. The waves do not get big here because the local reef acts as a breakwater. There are platforms in the ocean from which you can jump, and local hotels also allow non-guests to use their beach and bar. In the village of Beau Vallon, where the road from Victoria branches off at an intersection to the west (Bel Ombre) and to the northeast (Glacis), there is a gas station, a Barclays Bank ATM, an internet café, and a police station. Numerous small shops line the road along the beach and the road to Bel Ombre. South of the airport, you can find several beautiful, wild bays and secluded beaches, for example, Fairyl Beach, which is known for excellent snorkeling. Also located here are the beaches Anse Forbans, Anse Bougainville, and Anse Royale, which are protected by a coral reef, so you can swim in the calm water and snorkel safely there. The west coast of Mahé is wilder, more picturesque, and rich in beaches. The road leading from Anse Takamaka bay to Port Launay harbor is famous for its magnificent views of the coast, where everyone can find a bay and a beach to their taste. From here, you can also easily reach the east coast via picturesque roads that lead through the center of the island. In the local Police Bay, for example, you should not swim – it is dangerous. However, it offers a breathtaking view of surfers; it is worth taking a picnic basket with you. Further west follow the beautiful beaches Anse Takamaka, Anse Gaulette, and Anse à la Mouche. Harder to reach are the isolated beaches Anse Soleil and Anse Petite – a jeep is required here, but the beaches hidden between palm trees and the sea rich in marine life are worth the effort. Grand Anse beach is suitable for surfers with good waves, but from May to September, you should be careful there – the water is very rough due to the monsoon winds. Activities and Sights on Mahé Victoria – the smallest capital in the world, with a colorful market and two main streets, at the intersection of which stands a miniature copy of London's Big Ben. The most important sights: the famous Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Natural History Museum, Craft Village, where artisans exhibit their work, the tiny History Museum, the Mont Fleuri Botanical Garden, and the Orchid Garden. Here you can also visit the workshop of Michael Adams, a famous Seychellois artist whose paintings are literally worth their weight in gold to connoisseurs. You can also stroll through the Sir Percy Selwyn Clarke Central Market to get to know the local way of life and purchase affordable souvenirs. Halfway from Victoria to Port Glaud, 2 km from Anse Royale beach, lies the Royal Garden "Le Jardin du Roi" (Tel.: 371-313, admission 25 Rs, opening hours: 10:00–17:00). A beautiful spice garden and the entire park can be explored while walking on picturesque paths and trails. The plantation house located on the park grounds is interesting with a one-room museum and a nice restaurant with a magnificent view of the coast. Another interesting sight is the Craft Village (admission free, opening hours: 9:30–17:30, Tel.: 376-100). There are several shops here with handicrafts and souvenirs, ship models, pottery, and coconut products. You can also eat here at the restaurant Vye Marmit (Tel.: 376-155, opening hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:00, main courses from 75–150 Rs). And a few minutes from the Craft Village, you reach the Creole Institute Lenstiti Kreol, which is housed in a beautiful colonial building.

Praslin is one of two places in the world where the sea coconut "Coco de Mer" grows (the other – Curieuse – is also in the Seychelles). This nut is the symbol of the Seychelles and has become known worldwide due to its unusual shape and size: the Coco de Mer strongly resembles female buttocks and weighs over 20 kg. Transport From the island of Mahé, you can get here by plane (about 20 minutes, round-trip airfare ~200 USD) or by ferry (about an hour). Beaches of Praslin The most well-known tourist areas on Praslin are the beaches Côte d’Or ("Gold Coast") and Anse Lazio, which is rightly considered the best. It is located in the deserted northwestern part of the island and is the only place not protected by a coral reef. However, this bay is highly appreciated by the residents of the neighboring island of Mahé on Sundays, and it gets quite crowded then. At the end of the beach, there is an excellent restaurant. If you walk 2.5 km from Lazio, you will reach the completely wild beach Anse Georgette. At the easternmost point of the island lies the beach Anse Marie-Louise. At high tide, a natural "pool" forms there. Nearby is another secluded beach – Anse Consolation. On the west coast of the island, in the bay of Grand Anse, there is a good beach for a morning dip. However, only for sunbathing: swimming is almost impossible there due to the shallow depth over the corals, which are sometimes covered with algae almost up to the shore. Anse Kerlan – a very small, cozy bay, framed by coconut palms and other tropical vegetation, stretches for 500 meters between two rocky headlands. In 1999, the Lemuria Resort opened there, the most luxurious hotel in the Seychelles (apart, of course, from the private island of Frégate). Activities and Sights on Praslin In the Vallée de Mai National Park ("May Valley"), which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, over 7,000 unique Coco de Mer palm trees grow and the rare black parrot lives. On the west coast is the Black Pearl farm, whose specialization is evident from the name. Divers will be interested in the Curieuse Island National Marine Park on Praslin with its wonderful coral "garden". Diving Three diving centers on Praslin – Octopus, Bleu Marine, and Whitetip Divers – offer dives in the island's picturesque coral environment as well as combined excursions with dives to the outer Seychelles islands.

Every tourist must complete an electronic Health Travel Authorization (HTA) via the link https://seychelles.govtas.com/. The cost is €10 per person. The form can be completed from 10 days before departure up to 24 hours prior (if less than 24 hours, the cost of the authorization increases according to the rates indicated on the website). Required information for the form: Passport details, contact details, photo, hotel booking and flight tickets, health insurance policy. Environmental Sustainability Levy: The amount of the levy depends on the number of rooms in the hotel where the tourists are staying: 25 Seychelles Rupees per person per night – for hotels with 1–24 rooms; 75 Seychelles Rupees per person per night – for hotels with 25–50 rooms; 100 Seychelles Rupees per person per night – for hotels with more than 50 rooms. Hotels on Silhouette Island charge their guests a levy of €1 per person per day during their stay. The levy is paid at the hotel. The levy is paid by tourists on the day of departure from the hotel. The levy applies to all tourists. In the event of changes to applicable taxes and service charges, the hotel reserves the right to make corresponding adjustments to the rates. Furthermore, please note that entry to the Seychelles is prohibited for tourists who have visited South Africa, Brazil, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh within 14 days prior to entering the Republic of Seychelles.