A fusion town. The land of perpetual summers. Sparkling rocky beaches. European, Indian & Asian vibes. An all-in-one destination with mountains, jungles, beaches and town-shopping. The only other kind that offers all this is Fiji – with a flair.
Seychelles is the perfect pairing for your safari trip. After an intense experience chasing wildlife, all we need is a cooling by the beach, and Seychelles gives you the best – a luxe beach escape. Surreal at best, this laid-back, diver’s paradise is a perfect family getaway or honeymoon choice – I am sure towards the end you will agree too!
The tropics will save you! A close friend of mine used to say this every time I had had enough of being a workaholic. The Indian Ocean holds this sparkling collection of over 100 islands sprawling a few hundred miles off Africa’s coast – little gems of white and blue (and some green too!).
Home to unspoiled beauty and islands carpeted with the richest flora and fauna – here you will find the heaviest tortoise and the Indian Ocean’s only flightless bird (psssst, not Ostrich, we are talking about a mighty Albatross here!). All you need is a car to navigate winding coconut lined lanes, that reach you either into the emerald jungles or a white-sandy beach!
Land in Mahe, and take your pick from whether to stay on the mainland, or one of the lesser-populated private islands (my personal choice and spoil would be Fregate Island). Mahe-Island should be your choice for tropical, yet British colonial architecture, the island offers the best of history, beach, cuisine and luxury!
Praslin Island for those with a penchant for nature reserves, because it houses the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve, a thick green jungle with primitive plant and animal species, isolated since the island was formed – get a glimpse of the Seychelles black parrot if you are lucky!
La Digue is the instagram island – the picture of beaches with scaly smooth black rocks, is right here! The Anse Source d’Argent beach is housed in La Digue. If you want seclusion, here is where to find it!
But my personal favourite, a National Geographic Unique Lodge, is a tropical gem. Best I let you know, I do have a side that loves seclusion, pampering, relaxation and still some raw and rustic added to the mix! Just 16 private pool villas, a private island with a conservation sanctuary surrounded by emerald jungles and sapphire seas, not to mention, its own PADI for diving enthusiasts and just enough flora and fauna to deem it the Galapagos of Seychelles!
Drawing on Balinese and Thai influences, no wonder this hotel’s private beach was declared the Best beach on the Planet by the New York Times! Head on over for a private stay with experiences to last a lifetime, also some astonishing Creole cuisine from their house-kitchen, as I have heard! Hope you go before me, but if I do, I will write here how amazing my experience will be!
Written By Mohit Gupta
Week 42, October ’20
