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10
Best Beaches of Seychelles
Seychelles
What To Know Before You Go
Spectacular
Seychelles Boast World-Class Resorts & Attractions
Seychelles
What To Know Before You Go by Lucy Tucker
The Seychelles are truly paradise,
with extraordinary beaches on almost every island, and they are virtually
deserted. The forests are beautifully lush and green, and the underwater
sights are amazing with more fish than you could ever dream of, whilst
the colors of the sea will leave you spellbound. Another wonderful and
man made sight is the lack of high rise hotels, as buildings have to be
lower than the palm trees.
In addition if you want to
see Green and Hawksbill turtles, then at certain times of the year you
can do just that. So if it is nature trails and hiking that fascinates
you, then Silhouette Island with no roads, and lots of trails would be
perfect for you, especially because the thick vegetation means lots of
wildlife.
If fishing, especially fly
fishing is your thing, then get yourself to the bonefish flats near Alphonse,
where you will catch literally dozens of fish. Add to this the historic
and famous coco de mer on Praslin at the Vallee de Mai, and the millions
of sooty terns on Bird, and you can see this is a paradise for nature lovers.
On the other hand, if you
love beaches, then some of the best beaches in the world are to be found
in the Seychelles, and for me it's a toss up between Anse Lazio on Praslin,
Bird Island beach which goes all the way round and is almost deserted,
and Anse Victorin on Fregate, which probably wins the vote due to the exclusivity
of Fregate, and the white sand, turquoise sea, and the fact it is cut off
by rocky headlands on either side. These are just three, and you will realize
it is difficult to set them apart when you have been there.
Whilst I personally don't
dive, but I do snorkel, I am reliably informed that the diving at Alphonse
is just the best, but Desroches has the coral, and La Digue has the colourful
fish, but to be truthful from the moment I walked into the water at Anse
Lazio on Praslin and was immediately surrounded in knee deep water by hundreds
of brightly coloured fish, I've never failed to be astounded by the snorkeling
everywhere in the Seychelles.
Where you stay in the Seychelles
is very dependent on your budget, and probably the greatest luxury is to
be found at the resort on Fregate, home of the best beach too!! Here you
stay in a villa with views to die for with your own Jacuzzi overlooking
the ocean, it is pure pampered luxury, but it is not the only island with
only one resort. Alphonse, Bird, Desroches, and Silhouette are all like
this, if you want crowds go to Mahe!!
Praslin, and La Digue are
a half way house with affordable hotels, and not many people.
People often ask about the
food in the Seychelles, and what it's like. It is a real fusion of flavours,
best described as Creole. It features lots of coriander, chillies, ginger,
lemongrass, pepper, and fresh herbs, blended into curries. Fish is in profusion,
and seafood, particularly look out for Tuna, red snapper, kingfish, parrotfish,
or octopus served raw and thinly sliced.
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About the Author - Lucy
Tucker loves the Seychelles, read more about the Seychelles at www.worldwidevacationspots.com |
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Spectacular
Seychelles Boast World-Class Resorts & Attractions by Robert
Scheer
The Seychelles is a group of
115 islands in the Indian Ocean, located near Madagascar, the Maldives
and Mauritius. The nation, a republic, boasts two UNESCO World Heritage
Sites, consisting of the island of Aldabra, the world's largest coral atoll
and Vallee de Mai on Praslin Island, which has been compared to the Garden
of Eden.
A haven for divers -- both
snorkel and SCUBA -- Seychelles has six national marine parks, where coral
islands are rich with more than 1,000 different species of fish. The turquoise
water, clean white sand beaches and exotic plant and animal life make Seychelles
a popular holiday destination for weddings and honeymoons as well as attractions
for sailors and divers.
One of Seychelles' best-known
beaches is Anse Lazio on Praslin Island. Framed by huge rocks on both sides,
Anse Lazio beach is shaded by picturesque coconut palms leaning out toward
the gently rolling waters of Chevalier Bay.
Mahe Island is the largest
of the Seychelles, and location of the capital, Victoria. The international
airport as well as 90% of the population can be found on Mahe Island.
Perhaps the most renowned
holiday resort in Seychelles is the Banyan Tree, a family of romantic luxury
resorts with locations also in the Maldives, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia
and China, although each location is uniquely fitted to its culture and
geography. Other highly recommended resorts are operated by Constance (Lemuria
Resort on Praslin Island), Le Méridien, and Taj. In addition, you
will soon see them joined by Four Seasons, Southern Sun, the Crown and
Champa Group, Universal Enterprises and Per Aquum.
The Banyan Tree, on Mahe
Island, covers about 117 hectares of dramatic coastline and its 800 meters
of beach frontage overlooks what has been called one of the world's ten
most beautiful beaches.
Popular land-based activities
include hiking along well-marked nature trails followed by pampering tired
muscles in luxurious spas at five-star resorts. The Lemuria Resort on Praslin
Island sports a championship 18-hole golf course recognized by the PGA,
providing challenges for amateur and professional golfers.
Remarkable animals formerly
found but now nearly extinct on these holiday islands include the giant
tortoise and saltwater crocodile (caiman). Birders will be happy to see
a Seychelles Flycatcher, Kestrel, Blue pigeon, Sunbird, Swiftlet, White
Eye or Scops Owl. Seychelles are popular with fisherman, eager to catch
such magnificent trophies as sailfish and marlin. Seychelles waters are
also rich with shark, giant barracuda, rainbow runners and wahoos.
All residents of the Seychelles
are immigrants, with the largest ethnic groups composed of French, Africans,
Indians and Chinese. The two official languages are French and English.
The islands were probably first discovered by Portuguese sailors in the
16th century.
They were colonized by France
in 1756, who named the archipelago after a government official, Jean Moreau
de Sechelles. The Seychelles were ceded by Britain in 1814 and became an
independent republic and member of the British Commonwealth in 1976.
Flying time to the Seychelles
from the USA is about 30 hours, making it more popular with Europeans than
North Americans. But its world-class scenery, diving sites, as well as
its luxurious holiday resorts and cuisine, not to mention the friendly
locals, make the Seychelles Islands well worth considering as a holiday
destination for anyone who does not have to worry about budgets.
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About the Author - Robert
Scheer is a travel writer and consultant for www.holidays-seychelles.info.
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10
Best Beaches of Seychelles
Top
Seychelles is a group of
about 115 islands, located northeast of Madagascar. There are five
main islands; Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Frégate, and North
Island. Much of Seychelles is protected sanctuaries devoted to preserving
and amazing array of flora and fauna. The giant Alabra Tortoises
are fascinating and should not be missed when visiting the islands, Birds
huge bird colonies can be found on certain islands
While tourism is absolutely
their main industry, the Seychelle Islands are a relatively unknown vacation
hideaway. If you are looking for a snappy nightlife you might be
a little disappointing. One of the charms of the Seychelles is that
they are not commercial and overdeveloped. The group of islands offer
the perfect Honeymoon getaway.
Beau Vallon
This beach is located on
the island of Mahé on the northern side, and is one of the more
popular beaches on Mahé. This long and sandy beach has magnificent
views of North Island and Silhouette. There are various diving and
water sport centers as well a Teddy's Glass Bottom Boat Tours.
Anse Royale
This beach is the longest
on Mahé and it provides beaches that are protected in most cases
from choppy seas and provides a safe and comfortable swimming experience.
This makes for very favorable conditions for swimming and beach fun from
May to October.
Intendance Beach
This is a very wide beach,
which provides huge swells that are favored by surfers. Multi-directional
currents make it a little challenging at times to swim and the Banyan Tree
Resort will notify swimmers of dangerous conditions with flags. Anse
Intendance is one of the spots that turtles still nest. |
Photography by Dino Sassi
-
Marcel Fayon, Photo Eden
LTD
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Anse Cimitiere
Cimitiere is a very hidden
beach and is quite hidden. Monsoon season is from May to October
and is a time of large waves and dangerous surf. There are a few
natural swimming pools created by protecting rocks on the beach.
If you are looking for a nice change there is the inland forest that can
be explored by horses from the Riding Centre Utegangar.
Port Launay
This is one of the most beautiful
beaches on Mahé and is located on the west side of the island.
This beach will have the largest population of beach goers on weekends.
Swimming is great here and the beach is very well maintained.
Anse Georgette
Rated as one of the top 10
most beautiful beaches in the world, Anse Georgette is located on the island
of Praslin. Only accessible by boat the beach offers the luxury of
the Lemuria Resort. This is a favorite of Honeymooners because of
the intimacy of the private beach.
Anse Bois de Rose
This beach is known for its
fishing and there is a great spot for swimming located next to the hotel
Coco de Mer.
Anse Source D'Argent
This beach is one of the
most popular beaches in the Seychelles. Huge granite boulders separate
it from Anse Lazio and make this a hotspot for filming and photography.
This beach is a favorite for magazines as well as TV travel programs.
Anse Bamboos
Located on the island of
Frégate, Anse Bamboos has the main hotel on the island. It boasts
of has some currents but they are not too dangerous to swimmers and there
is a lifeguard stationed here for your safety. Sun chairs with large
shade umbrellas line the beach for your comfort.
Anse d'Est
Anse d'Est is located on
the east side of North Island and this is where large coral beds are located
just off the beach. The North Island Lodge offers a swimming pool,
restaurant, library and diving center.
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