Joanna James
The gorgeous archipelago of Seychelles is a treasure; a tropical paradise that will thrill you the minute you get there. There are plenty of things to do under sunny skies in Seychelles, and never a dull moment, plus you will see that chilling on the beach is not the only allure there.
Located at Takamaka Bay and a pleasant 12km coastal drive from AVANI Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa, La Grande Maison houses the home and celebrated kitchen of Christelle Verheyden, one of Seychelles most applauded chefs. Le Maison itself is a beautiful airy colonial style bungalow, surrounded by the lush gardens of organic produce. Christelle being a sommelier in addition to a master chef promises to tantalize your senses with some of the best vintages in the country. Look forward to tucking into Creole favourites, seafood served in a coconut, delicious tapas and appreciating your food to views of the beautiful garden and sounds of live music. A variety of tours to the place are available, simply check with your resort in Seychelles for booking / excursion details.
Located on the north-western edge of the island, Anse Lazio is a picture-perfect beach which is often listed amongst the world's most beautiful. This rather extensive beach is lapped at by an azure blue sea and shaded by a number of palm and takamaka trees, while granite boulders border one edge. A perfect chill-out spot, where one can swim, snorkel and choose to do nothing but laze around the beach. Besides, this beach despite its popularity, hardly ever gets crowded, leaving you to enjoy the splendours of nature sans the touristy crowds.
A nature lover's paradise, Vallee de Mai is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the giant coco de mer palm; the place is in fact, one of two places the palm is found growing in its natural state. Vallee de Mai is also a birders haven, so do take along those binoculars. Home to the endangered black parrot of which only 500 to 900 are left in the world, this sanctuary also harbours the Seychelles bulbul, the blue pigeon and the Seychelles warbler. Mind you get there on time for the last batch of tickets are issued at 4.30 pm.
Do indulge in a tour of Takamaka Bay where you can learn about the nation's rum-making history and tours the islands main distillery. The 30 to 45-minute tours are quite interesting and end on a rather cheerful note with guests being offered a taste of the rum and a chance to purchase a bottle.
The charming little capital of Seychelles is a wonderful place to explore, offering one culture and history; and not to be missed is a stint at the covered market of Victoria. A real slice of local lifestyles is yours to savour there, not forgetting the market is ideal to pick up some unique souvenirs. Not very large by normal standards, the market is a hodgepodge of interesting nick-knacks; there you can purchase local spices and herbs as souvenirs and also local shirts and sarongs or pareos. There is also an assortment of local fruits and vegetables as well as fish. Visit the market in the early hours of the day to buy fresh fish.
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