Seychelles 2016
Situated on two of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Mahé, overlooking the marine national park of Port Launay, Constance Ephélia enjoys a unique location set within 120 hectares of land with luxuriant and rare vegetation. There are five restaurants. My personal favourite restaurants were Adam & Eve plus Cyann for dinner and Corossol for breakfast.
The spa has 18 treatment rooms making it one of the biggest treatment rooms in the Indian Ocean. They also offer Shisido spa, a yoga pavilion, a reflective pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.
The tourist board of Seychelles in London office kindly put together a lovely itinerary for me including an inter-island trip of Seychelles. During our stay in the Seychelles I was privileged to do the following things.
I had a transfer from the International Airport to Constance Ephelia Resort which took around 40 minutes. We then had a transfer from my resort hotel to the Inter Island Quay where we boarded the Cat Cocos ferry passenger service. This only takes one hour to Praslin Island. The other option for people who don’t like ferries is flying with Air Seychelles. The flight time is 15 minutes and there are over 20 daily flights.
Once we arrived at Praslin we changed to another ferry company, Cat Rose ferry passenger service, to La Digue, which is a 15 minutes crossing. There is no other way to get to La Digue. There is a regular service between Praslin and La Digue. On arrival in La Dique we were met by La Dique tourist board.
Seychelles tourist board kindly arranged a bicycle for me to see some of the island, seeing places of interest to visit including L’Union Estate, Anse Source d'Argent which is reputed to be the most photographed beach in the world. With its soft white sand, clear turquoise water and huge granite boulders sculptured by the elements and time itself, it is not difficult to see why photographers and film makers still love to come here. The sea is sheltered by the reef, and is very calm and shallow, with only sand underfoot which makes it safe for children. Access to the beach via L'Union Estate requires an entrance fee of SCR100 for non-residents (payment direct).
Our short time in La Dique was brilliant. It is the third largest island in Seychelles. We would certainly go back again and spend longer time. Accommodation is mainly bed and breakfast guesthouses but they offer accommodation for everyone standards and needs. Transport is by bicycle or ox and cart. I thought this was a great way to get around the island. I found the people to be very friendly and it’s a very safe place to walk around, even at night time.
After two hours we hopped back onto the same ferry company to Praslin taking the 15 minute ferry crossing back followed by a tour of the island of Praslin. Again I was wowed when I arrived at the harbour. We had lunch at the Bonbon Plume Restaurant. This restaurant is very popular with locals and is on one of the best beaches in Seychelles. We managed to visit Anse Lazio Beach and the Vallee de Mai – UNESCO World Heritage Site. The legendary Vallée de Mai is Seychelles’ second UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entrance fee is at €20 per person.
After a tour of Praslin we headed back on the one hour ferry crossing to Mahe. This is a good option for a day trip and very popular as a two centre day trip with tourist. The next day we stayed in the Constance Ephelia Resort enjoying the hotel facilities. The following day I had a nice local driver with lots of knowledge about the island. He picked me up from my hotel and give me an island tour around Mahe, the biggest island in the Seychelles. I went to Mission Lodge, Tea factory, Victoria, La Misere View Point and Jardin du Roi (the Spice Garden). The Mission Lodge affords one of the most extraordinary views of Mahé’s west coast. Once the site of a farm and boarding school for liberated slave children that opened in March 1876, it was first known as ‘Venn’s Town’ and then renamed ‘Capucin’. Today, ruins of ‘Venn’s Town’ can still be seen at the beginning of an avenue that leads to the viewing lodge that commands a breath-taking view of verdant mountainsides.
Victoria Clock tower is the most prominent feature of Seychelles’ small capital and has acted as a focal point for nearly 100 years. The Clock tower is an elegant replica of the clock (Big Ben) that was first erected in London in 1897. We visited Mahé’s busy and colourful market, a way to get a feel for the Seychelles and their way of life. It is the bustling heart of the capital and definitely the best place to buy fresh fruits, fish, vegetables and spices.
We had a lovely lunch at the Jardin du Roi Restaurant which is popular with the tour buses. After lunch we continued the tour of the beautiful island including a stop at the Banyan Tree and Hilton hotel before heading back to the hotel.
On our last day we reflected back on an amazing holiday. I would say it was one of my best ever holidays. We wish we had more time in the Seychelles as our experience was a good one with lots of places to explore together with the lovely people and food. My concept of the Seychelles was that it would be an expensive destination and I would not be able to afford it but I have now changed my mind. There are hotels to suit everyone’s budget and airfares are cheap if booked in advance with several options and airlines including Emirates and Air France. There is no direct service from the UK. The Seychelles is a year round destination and a good Indian Ocean option.
Climate Seychelles enjoys a pleasant tropical climate all year long. The islands lie outside the cyclone belt and there are no extremes of weather. The temperature seldom drops below 24 degrees or rises above 33 degrees Celsius. Between the months of October and May the sea is generally calm and the weather hot and humid. This is the best time of the year for diving and other water sports. However short-lived tropical downpours can occur at any time of the year.
Health Regulations Seychelles is proud to be a disease-free environment. There is no risk of contracting malaria or yellow fever.
Entry/Exit Formalities There are no visa requirements to enter the Seychelles. Documents required for immigration clearance are a passport valid for more than six months, return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient funds for the duration of your stay.