| y"> | | | | to Bird Island. This, the most northerly of the |
| Mahe | | | | Seychelles islands is tiny at just 1500m long by |
| Due to the way the international flights combine | | | | 650m wide. It is though spectacularly beautiful and |
| with the inter-island transfers, many trips start or | | | | the most natural of all the places we went to. |
| finish with a night on the main island Mahe. We | | | | The manager who as been on the island on and |
| started our trip with a night at Sainte Anne | | | | off for thirty years is passionate about the place |
| Resort. This new hotel, owned and run by | | | | and went to great lengths to emphasise that you |
| Beachcomber, is set on a tiny island just 10 | | | | could enjoy a Seychellois island without all the |
| minutes by ferry from Mahe. The 82 rooms are | | | | trappings of 5* luxury. He was so right. |
| spread across the western and southern shores | | | | Each of the twenty two cottages is simply |
| of the island and there are all the facilities you | | | | furnished; without TV, phone, mini bar or air con |
| would expect from a Beachcomber hotel, from | | | | (but there is an overhead fan). Outside, there's a |
| children's club, to spa, indoor and outdoor gym, to | | | | large shady verandah for whiling away the hours. |
| a gorgeous infinity pool looking back towards | | | | It was incredibly relaxing. You can walk around the |
| Mahe. All in all, a very comfortable place to spend | | | | island in no time at all and the beaches are simply |
| a few nights, or an ideal stop over before moving | | | | glorious - completely unspoilt. The bird life is very |
| on to other islands. | | | | abundant. The sooty tern colony on the northern |
| Desroches | | | | tip of the island is inhabited from April to October, |
| Our first foray away from the capital was to | | | | but there is tremendous bird activity all year |
| Desroches, about 250km south west of Mahe. | | | | round. I loved Bird Island. After all the luxury we'd |
| After a 30 minute flight we reached this delightful | | | | been treated to on Desroches and Praslin I |
| coral island. Just 5km in length and 1km wide, it | | | | wondered whether it might be a bit of a let |
| houses twenty elegant bungalows that comprise | | | | down, but the beautiful location and easy simplicity |
| Desroches Island Lodge. It really is a wonderful | | | | made it somewhere I'd love to revisit. |
| place with the rooms looking out over a strip of | | | | North Island |
| white sand to the sea beyond. There are a couple | | | | Our final island and I have to admit the one I had |
| of giant tortoise wandering about, and during the | | | | been most excited about, was North Island one |
| season turtles lay their eggs randomly in the sand. | | | | of the inner granite islands. We flew by helicopter |
| Each guest is given a bicycle for their stay and | | | | (another first for me and I loved it!) from Mahe |
| the sandy paths that criss-cross the island are | | | | on the 15 minute flight to this new, and much |
| good for cycling. Every now and again a sign | | | | hyped, island resort. It was utter hedonistic luxury |
| directs you off the path through the palm trees | | | | from the moment we arrived until we left three |
| to a deserted sandy beach. There's something | | | | glorious days later. Each of the twelve villas (more |
| quite special about cycling up to a pristine white | | | | of a house really) is set along the lovely beach |
| sand beach with pale blue sea lapping the shoreline | | | | front. Every one has a huge master bedroom, |
| - idyllic. Some of the best diving in the world is | | | | outside lounge area, bathroom with views to die |
| very close by and fishing, both from the shore | | | | for, fully equipped kitchen (fresh ice cream in the |
| and deep sea, is excellent. It's well run, very | | | | freezer, fresh fruit juice in the fridge etc.), plunge |
| comfortable and with great staff it's perfect for | | | | pool, four showers (we never worked out why |
| anyone wanting a beach with a little activity too. | | | | so many) and the list goes on. The décor |
| Praslin | | | | could have been incredibly flash but instead it was |
| Back in the plane we returned to Mahe before | | | | finished and equipped in a most understated way |
| hopping onto the 15 minute inter-island flight to | | | | that felt welcoming as well as extremely |
| Praslin. This stunning granite island must have | | | | comfortable. |
| some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, | | | | The luxury on North Island is only one side of the |
| from long, long stretches of white sand to little | | | | story. This private island sanctuary is somewhat |
| palm fringed coves dotted around the island. We | | | | of a modern Noah's Ark and a genuine authentic |
| stayed here at Lemuria - the sister hotel to Le | | | | eco-tourism project. Uninhabited for over thirty |
| Prince Maurice in Mauritius. It's very glamorous, | | | | years until recently, the original Seychellois fauna |
| with three stunning beaches, infinity pool, children's | | | | and flora species had been lost due to loss of |
| club and all the toys you would expect from a | | | | habitat and alien species. Turning the clock back |
| classic modern/contemporary 5* hotel. A couple | | | | by two hundred years is the aim, and to give |
| of nights here is enough to recharge anyone's | | | | visitors the chance to view some of the world's |
| batteries. | | | | most critically endangered species which are being |
| Among the other hotels I looked at on Praslin | | | | re-introduced. These include tortoises, several |
| were L'Archipel, a small and very elegantly | | | | species of bird and the legendary coco-de-mer |
| understated French run property - not so good | | | | palm. |
| for families, but lovely for adults. Café des | | | | Each villa has its own golf buggy which you use to |
| Arts on the fabulous Cote d'Or beach looked | | | | explore the island. A single track takes you to the |
| another good shout. This simple beach front | | | | opposite side of this island paradise where there |
| property accommodates just six people and for | | | | are two beaches and a sunset bar. One of these |
| laid-back beach front living it seemed both good | | | | beaches has to be just the most perfect tropical |
| value and fun. | | | | island beach, if you think Bounty Bar ad you'll get |
| La Digue | | | | the general idea. For those who want a little more |
| From Praslin, La Digue is a thirty minute ferry ride, | | | | than merely relaxing, there are dive and deep sea |
| and here on the western side of the island are | | | | fishing boats. We don't dive, but thoroughly |
| some of the most photographed beaches in the | | | | enjoyed taking out a boat and doing some fishing |
| world. The island has a very different feel to | | | | one afternoon and caught tuna and several bonito. |
| Praslin. It seemed even quieter, perhaps because | | | | The chef used our catch to produce some |
| there are very few cars, the most popular mode | | | | delicious sashimi for supper. |
| of transport being bicycle or ox cart. The big hotel | | | | If you can tear yourself away from the privacy |
| is La Digue Island Lodge, but there are lots of | | | | of your villa, the main areas are also pretty |
| smaller guest houses as well. Perhaps the nicest | | | | spectacular. The swimming pool has somehow |
| of these is Chateau St Cloud. With eleven rooms | | | | been built into a cliff-side and has amazing views |
| and four suites it's small by comparison to some | | | | over the beach and to the far end of the island. |
| of the places we saw, but it had a rustic and | | | | The main dining and bar area is set back from the |
| simple feel which together with excellent food, | | | | beach, has been decorated in the same |
| pretty gardens and a pool made it seem very | | | | understated style as the villas and provides the |
| good value. | | | | perfect environment in which to enjoy the chef's |
| Bird Island | | | | daily delights and to work your way through the |
| After two nights on Praslin it was back to the | | | | extensive wine cellar. |
| domestic terminal in Mahe and the 35 minute flight | | | | |