Seychelles

It is difficult to describe the beauty of this archipelago of 115 islands, some coral, some granite. The Seychelles is one of the most heavenly destinations in the midst of the crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean.

Home to a hospitable and friendly Creole culture, the inhabitants’ cheerful daily life preserves the traces of French and English colonisation in the elegant architecture of the capital Victoria, in a colourful Carnival, but above all in an amusing naive toponymy in the imaginative local language, which will poetically accompany you on your discovery of this enchanted archipelago. An Eden of white beaches, some of the most beautiful in the world, colourful seabeds and green forests, sanctuaries for countless varieties of endemic flora and fauna. Despite being an international tourist destination, the archipelago offers vast wild corners of deserted paradise coastline, virgin forests and national parks on enchanting vistas.

It is home to the giant tortoises of Aldabra, the ‘Galapagos of Africa’, an impressive variety of birdlife on the islands of Cousin, Silhouette and Aride, and a mysterious, bizarrely shaped coconut (‘cocofesse’), endemic to the Vallée de Mai on Praslin Island, a true work of art of nature, protected by UNESCO.

But the entire archipelago is a work of natural art: Morna Seychellois National Park and the fiery sunset on Beau Vallon beach on the Côte Nord, Mahé; the palm-fringed beaches, worthy of an advertising poster, at Anse Lazio and Côte d’Or on Praslin Island; the unfailing paradise of white sand and granite rocks at Source d’Argent on La Digue Island, a veritable open-air aquarium; and many, many other bays of indescribable beauty that set every single gem of this archipelago-state.

The common denominator is the emerald green of the palms and forests that meet the snow-white of the sand, lapped by the thousands of shades of turquoise, the grey of the granite rocks and the gigantic tortoises. And after an intense day of hiking, snorkelling or gentle relaxation, a feast of fragrant rice and the freshest fish, sipping an ice-cold SeyBrew at sunset, dancing the sensual séga and moutija, evoking adventurous legends of mysterious pirates and treasures hidden in some lost treasure chest.