Joanna James
A dazzling collection of 115 islands makes the gorgeous archipelago nation of Seychelles. If you're one of the lucky souls heading here for a vacation, don't forget to include these in your itinerary.
With the abundance of powdery white sands and crystal clear waters available in the islands, hitting the beach undoubtedly tops the list of things to do. So book a good Seychelles beach resort the likes of the AVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa; and prepare to 'beach in style'! Go snorkelling or diving and meet some new friends under the waves. Set your adrenaline pumping by trying out a variety of water sports from banana boat rides to jet skiing, surfing, windsurfing and much more!
If you're not into adventure stuff, you can just laze away your days on the beach. Pick up a good book or two from the hotel library, order a cocktail from the bar and let the sun work up a nice tan. Don't forget to take those amazing beach selfies for Instagram too!
The Vallée de Mai, meaning the May Valley, is a lush rainforest in Seychelles that's been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on the island of Praslin, the rainforest is home to an array of wonderful flora and fauna. The wide number of rare plant species found here includes the endemic Coco de Mer, which boasts the largest seeds of any plant in the world. The wildlife at Vallée de Mai feature the likes of the extremely rare Seychelles black parrot and many species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and crustaceans.
Victoria in Seychelles' Mahé Island is one of the smallest capitals in the world as its only 20.1 km² in size. A tour around the town would let you see a variety of the city's big attractions such as the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, a Hindu temple and a silver clock tower which is a replica of the one located on the Vauxhall Bridge Road in London.
Coconuts play a major role in the lives of the people of Seychelles. So it's only fitting that, in order to experience the best Seychelles, you pay a visit to the L'Union Estate, one of the biggest contributors to coconut production of the country. The highlights at the estate include a remarkable ox-powered oil extraction machine, a beautiful beach by the name of Anse Source D'Argent and the cemetery of the original settlers of Seychelles.
Travel to Curieuse Island and meet the giant Aldabra tortoise! You also need to take a walk through the serene mango forest and learn about the conservation projects carried out to protect endangered lemon sharks.
Then visit Cousin Island, a total success story when it comes to conservation of wildlife for the amazing effort taken by both BirdLife International and Nature Seychelles have resulted in the thriving wildlife found here today. The island is home to many reptiles, terns and the endangered magpie robins which have found a safe haven thanks to the above NGO's. The officials are so dedicated towards conservation that visitors are only allowed to explore the island with a guide.
Finally, head over to the St-Pierre Islet and snorkel to your heart's content!
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