The Seychelles are no less glamorous than the Maldives, but they offer even more activities beyond the resorts. The beauty of the beaches is simply unmatched.
The island of Praslin is home to one of the Seychelles’ most unusual attractions: coco de mer, also known as the Seychelles palm. The female fruit can weigh up to 20 kilos and resembles a woman’s pelvis, while the male flower spikes are unmistakably phallic. Some call it the world’s most erotic nut. The plant is endemic to the Seychelles. Around 5,000 specimens grow in the Vallée de Mai, a densely forested high valley on the country’s second-largest island. Some visitors blush when they first see the sea coconut—so named because the nuts would wash up on beaches where the tree doesn’t grow, leading people to believe they came from the sea. In 1881, British general Charles Gordon visited Praslin and was convinced the coco de mer was the forbidden fruit eaten by Adam and Eve—and that the Vallée de Mai was the biblical Garden of Eden.
In fact, the Seychelles are a kind of earthly paradise, an archipelago as if from a bygone, ideal world: white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, dense tropical forest. The round, polished granite rocks on the island of La Digue, at Anse Source d'Argent, are particularly famous and are considered one of the most photographed beaches in the world for good reason. The beauty seems almost unreal, like an exaggerated version of a tropical backdrop. Once you come here yourself, you realize that this place really exists; dream image and reality merge. At the same time, the Seychelles cannot be reduced to its beaches alone.
Independent from Britain since 1976, the Seychelles consist of 115 islands divided into two groups. First, the 42 Inner Islands around Mahé and Praslin—geologically ancient granite islands that were once part of the supercontinent Gondwana. They are known for their rugged mountains, lush forests, and unspoiled beaches. When French explorer Lazare Picault landed on Mahé in 1742, he was so struck by the island’s abundant vegetation that he named it the island of plenty. Then there are the 73 Outer Islands, most of them uninhabited coral atolls in remote locations, primarily of interest to researchers. One of the rare, luxurious exceptions is the Four Seasons Resort on Desroches Island, part of the Amirante Islands.
Unlike in the Maldives, vacations in the Seychelles don't have to take place mainly in the resorts - beach vacations can be wonderfully combined with excursions and nature experiences, and the country is also suitable for individual travelers. Compared to Mauritius, the Seychelles are less urban and have a more dramatic landscape, for example in the Morne Seychellois National Park with its imposing 905-metre-high peak of the same name. Hiking, snorkeling, kayaking and birdwatching are popular activities. Island hopping is common and easy - for example, a boat trip to Curieuse Island with its ponderous Seychelles giant tortoises is recommended. If you want to experience Creole culture, visit the capital Victoria, which has markets, botanical gardens and a curious-looking mini Big Ben. A sailing trip through the islands is a special experience; whether on a sophisticated luxury ship or in a simple cabin to see as much of the country and its people as possible.
The Seychelles are trying to reconcile nature conservation and the demands of their well-heeled vacation guests. More than half of the land area is protected and an ambitious marine conservation program is in place. But the country cannot decouple itself from global changes - coral bleaching cannot be prevented by regulations, so that unclouded views of the underwater world are often reserved for divers. The government and resorts are making efforts to restore many reefs. In the Seychelles, sustainability is no longer an empty phrase - it determines the future of this island paradise.
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