From the lush tropical forests on Praslin Island, to the prehistoric-looking landscape of La Digue Island, and the giant tortoises on Curieuse Island. Take a look at three of the most beautiful and unique islands from one of the most incredible destinations on the planet – the Seychelles.
1. La Digue Island
La Digue Island is the third most populated island of the Seychelles. It’s also home to the most famous beach in the Seychelles – Anse Source d’Argent Beach. The beach is said to be the most photographed in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Anse Source d’Argent Beach is the stuff of tropical dreams. With gigantic granite boulders that have been shaped by nature, lush jungle palms, powdery white sand and clear aqua water, the beach is as photogenic as it gets. The landscape has an almost surreal look to it, with the huge boulders scattered across the beach forming coves and caves.
We visited Anse Source d’Argent Beach a few times each day while staying on La Digue. As the tide and light changes throughout the day, so too does the landscape. It was spectacular to see these changes, especially from a drone photography perspective. We were able to capture the beach at high tide where the ocean looked wild. And at low tide, where the exposed reef revealed a kaleidoscope of aqua.
Island life on La Digue moves at a much slower pace than Praslin and Mahé and not just because the island is so small. La Digue is a car-free island, so the only way to beach hop is by bike. With no cars on the island, you’ll be feeling the island vibes as soon as you step off the ferry.
2. Praslin Island
Praslin Island in the Seychelles is one of my favourite island destinations of all time. It’s the second largest island in the Seychelles, but there’s nothing touristy or crowded about it. It’s got the ultimate mix of everything I love about island life. Beautiful beaches, mind-blowing UNESCO sites, luxurious resorts, and the coolest car rentals.
The island has a beach that’s not far off La Digue’s Anse Source d’Argent level fame. Anse Lazio Beach is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Like its famous counterpart, Anse Lazio’s huge granite boulders dominate the landscape and are fringed by coconut palms. The sand is white and soft between your toes and the water is incredibly clear. But that’s where the differences end. Anse Lazio Beach is huge – there is so much sand that you won’t need to worry about fighting with tourists for beach real estate. There is also a lot to explore. If you wander down the beach to the south end, you’ll find little coves that are easy to access. We spent most of our time at the first cove, taking drone shots and cooling off under the shady takamaka trees.
As beautiful as this beach is, it’s not the main attraction on Praslin Island. The island is also home to the incredible Vallée de Mai – a UNESCO jungle of giant palms that’s home to the famous Coco de Mer palm which is the bearer of the largest seed in the plant kingdom. The ancient palms are a remnant of the prehistoric jungles that existed when the Seychelles were still part of Gondwana.
On Praslin Island you can also rent the perfect car for island life adventures – the Mini Moke! We spent our days cruising around the island exploring the beaches and jungles, and dreaming that this Mini Moke was our regular ride back home.
3. Curieuse Island
Located off the coast of Praslin Island lies Curieuse – one of the most unique islands on the planet. This tiny granite island is a national park and one of the few places in the world where giant Aldabra tortoises roam wild. Curieuse Island is home to more than 300 of these magnificent reptiles, ranging from super cute baby hatchlings in the nursery, right up to the leathery oldies who were 80 to 120 years old.
These guys aren’t just old, they are also wise. During our time visiting the island, a ranger told us that one day in 2004 the tortoises disappeared. The rangers went to feed them by the beach like they do every night, but the tortoises had left and were heading up into the mountains. No one knew why until a day later when a tsunami hit the island. It’s incredible that they knew the tsunami was coming and ever since then, the rangers monitor their behaviour very closely.
The island’s history is just as fascinating as its inhabitants. In 1829, Curieuse Island became the home of a leper colony and it functioned in this capacity until 1965. This was to help protect the tortoises from poachers and to protect the island’s ecosystem from human influence. The giant Aldabra tortoises aren’t the only thing on the island that the poachers want to get their hands on. The island is also home to the Coco De Mer Palm – a giant prehistoric palm with the world’s biggest seed – a seed that can fetch a hefty price on the black market. The island is now protected by a dedicated group of rangers who are passionate about the conversation of this incredibly unique island. Read more.
