Victoria, Seychelles

Depart: 6:00 pm

Discover Mahe, the main island of Seychelles and also the largest of the archipelago, home to the capital Victoria. Mahe has almost 70 beaches of fine sand, framed by the emblematic granite rocks, and whose crystal-clear waters are renowned for their rich underwater life. The island is also famous for its splendid mountain panoramas accessible on hikes, such as the Morne Seychellois, which is 905 metres high and overlooks the Indian Ocean. Mahe is also an island full of history where fine colonial properties rub shoulders with Creole houses - and don't forget the marvellous Botanical Gardens in Victoria.

African Banks, Seychelles

Located 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) north of Remire, on the edge of the Amirantes Group, the African Banks were discovered in 1797 by Admiral Willaumez, commanding the frigate Regeneree. The group of two islets, separated by a lagoon, forms a pseudo-atoll, their common base being granitic. The coast of these small uninhabited islands appearing only at low tide is gradually being eroded. This former important nesting site for terns and seabirds is surrounded by waters teeming with fish. Renowned among divers, the African Banks boast the most beautiful sea beds visible at such a short distance from the shore: in the east of the North Island is an exceptional drop-off to 300 meters (984 feet). This promises a memorable dive.

St. Francois Island, Seychelles

In the heart of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, St. Francois Atoll paints the Indian Ocean in an infinite palette of blues. This coral atoll, made up of the Bijoutier and St. Francois islands, is exactly what people imagine when they think of the Seychelles. Formed around volcanos having vanished into the abyssal depths of the Indian Ocean, its islands are protected by splendid and fragile coral reefs. Here, the population is composed of myriad birds on land and of sea turtles and a multitude of fish in the water, making this the ideal place for hiking or snorkeling.

Poivre Island, Poivre Islands, Seychelles

Some 120 miles south-west of Mahe, discover Poivre Atoll, a small paradise that is part of the Amirantes archipelago, in the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. Consisting of two coral islands, Poivre Island and Ile du Sud, separated by a small lagoon, it owes its name to Pierre Poivre, the Mauritius intendant who introduced spices to the Seychelles in the late 18th century. Once used for coconut plantations, Poivre Island is now focused on tourism. Visitors come here for scuba diving or big-game fishing in waters that are particularly rich and preserved, and where the marine life includes sea turtles.

Therese Island, Seychelles

Therese is an uninhabited island of the Inner Seychelles. From the heights of this tiny island covered in abundant vegetation, the Mahe summits can be seen. Its tropical beach, a 700-meter-long (2,300 feet) ribbon of golden sand lined with coconut trees, is one of the most beautiful in the Seychelles. The crystal-clear waters in shades of turquoise edging this piece of confetti in the Indian Ocean are home to numerous species of multicolored tropical fish. In this stunning setting, away from the world, the myth of Robinson Crusoe can be reinvented.

Curieuse, Seychelles

Situated off the coast of Praslin, Curieuse has a distinguishing feature: its red earth. Discovered in 1768 by the French explorer Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne, it was ravaged by a fire in 1771 and then home to a leper colony of which a few vestiges still remain. Declared a national marine park in 1979, it is home to many underwater species, which can be discovered while scuba diving or snorkelling in the idyllic waters of the Indian Ocean. But above all, Curieuse is renowned for the hundreds of Aldabra giant tortoises that live there. It is highly likely that you will get the chance to meet these fascinating reptiles. Along with Praslin, it is also the only island on which the sea coconut grows wild.

La Digue, Seychelles

La Digue Island is a veritable concentration of all the beauty of the Seychelles. Located 6 kilometres south-east of Praslin, this small piece of land that looks like paradise is the third-largest island in the Seychelles, despite its modest size (5 km by 3 km)! Turquoise waters just asking you to swim in them, lush vegetation sheltering giant tortoises, beaches of fine sand fringed with coconut trees and surrounded with those emblematic large granite rocks with their pink highlights like at the famous Anse Source d'Argent: the perfect picture postcard... Authentic and preserved, the island follows a peaceful rhythm, with the only means of transport along its little roads being bikes or traditional oxcarts.

Praslin Island, Seychelles

Situated some forty kilometres away from Victoria, Praslin is the second-largest island in Seychelles. Its idyllic beaches where granite rocks nestle in immaculate sand correspond perfectly to how we imagine Seychelles to be. They invite visitors to dive into the turquoise waters, which are ideal for snorkelling. In the centre of the island, hidden in the heart of the stunning tropical rainforest, lies the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this veritable plant sanctuary, several endemic species of palm trees can be observed, as well as the famous sea coconut, which can weigh up to 20 kg and is sometimes called "coco fesse" because its shape calls to mind a pair of buttocks.

Aride Island, Seychelles

Aride is an island in the Seychelles situated a few kilometres north-west of Praslin. Listed as a nature reserve, this pearl of the Indian Ocean will seduce you with the beauty of its landscapes of wild cliffs and fine-sand beaches. Protected from human impact and sometimes called "bird capital", it is home to several endemic plants as well as exceptional wildlife. Most notably, it is the refuge of an impressive number of seabirds (Seychelles magpie-robins, terns, noddies, and more) and reptiles, such as Wright's skinks, which can be found in the island's wooded areas. Sea turtles can also be observed on the island's beaches.

Big Sister Island, Seychelles

Located 6 kilometers north of La Digue, Grande Soeur Island is renowned for its two sumptuous beaches and translucent waters, protected by a coral reef. An ideal spot for snorkeling and observing the sea turtles that co-exist here with the many multi-colored fish. The pristine Grande Soeur is considered to be one of the most beautiful islands in the Seychelles.

Victoria, Seychelles

Discover Mahe, the main island of Seychelles and also the largest of the archipelago, home to the capital Victoria. Mahe has almost 70 beaches of fine sand, framed by the emblematic granite rocks, and whose crystal-clear waters are renowned for their rich underwater life. The island is also famous for its splendid mountain panoramas accessible on hikes, such as the Morne Seychellois, which is 905 metres high and overlooks the Indian Ocean. Mahe is also an island full of history where fine colonial properties rub shoulders with Creole houses - and don't forget the marvellous Botanical Gardens in Victoria.

9 Night Seychelles under the Trade Winds Cruise from Victoria

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