Let’s face it — if you’ve ever seen the breathtaking and awe-inspiring images of the Seychelles, your mind starts to wander. Personally, I find myself wishing I could be transplanted to the Seychelles Islands’ pristine beaches for a relaxing or romantic week escape. After all, who wouldn’t want to swim in aqua clear waters and sip on a coconut cocktail among palm trees with nothing between you and the sea but a warm breeze against your face?
The vegetation is also incredible, from majestic granite boulders, unique flora and fauna, tortoises and the indigenous Coco de Mer palm, which is apparently the largest seed in the world, the jellyfish tree, with only eight surviving examples and countless picturesque views few get the chance to see.
Photo credit: http://seychelles.travel/
Yet, you’re likely to find few people who have been to these remarkable islands. You may be surprised to learn that the Seychelles is one of the world’s smallest countries, with a population of only around 100,000 across its 115 remote islands, all nestled in the Indian Ocean.
Photo credit: http://seychelles.travel/
With crystal clear waters and pristine beaches, there’s plenty of diving and snorkeling opportunities for visitors, mainly in and around the outer islands which offer beautiful reef coralline, sand cays and largely uninhabited areas, making the underwater citings more unique than the inner islands, which also have prolific marine life and where you can find accessible PADI diving facilities.
Culture enthusiasts and historians Seychelles is also home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Aldabra, which is the world’s largest raised coral atoll and Praslin’s Vallée de Mai, which apparently was once believed to be the original site of the Garden of Eden. How cool is that?
Nature lovers should also know about Curieuse Marine National Park, which has a rare combination of red earth hillsides with the unique green flora. This beautiful island is peppered with Coco de Mer trees, which as noted above, is one of the iconic symbols of Seychelles. There’s a trail that takes you from Baie Laraie to Anse José through a lush mangrove forest and leper colony ruins. Along the way, museum lovers will appreciate The Doctor’s House, which is designed in Creole colonial architecture and here, you’ll learn about the local beach sea turtles. Water lovers should book a dive at Coral Garden or Pointe Rouge.
The Seychelles is all about natural beauty and because of its purity, pristine beaches and glorious views in all directions, it is also referred to as the ‘islands of love’ so they make a great romantic getaway as well.
It is remote, largely untouched, private and brimming with serenity and tranquility. The islands have a wide range of stay options as well, from intimate hotels and five star resorts to charming Creole guesthouses and island hideaways.
Photo credit: http://seychelles.travel/
As for when to go? Apparently the climate is almost always warm and sunny and the temperature rarely drops below 24°C or above 32°C. If you want to avoid rainy season or potential cloudy days, they suggest avoiding December through February and if you’re not a fan of heat, they suggest going from May to October, which is slightly cooler.
When planning your Seychelles holidays, consider snorkeling, diving, sailing, wildlife, nature and hikes, fishing, pure relaxation or as a romantic getaway. Imagine going for beach walks with sunsets like this one?
Photo credit: http://seychelles.travel/
Note: this post is a partner/sponsor campaign, but all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
