If you ever find yourself lucky enough to be floating through the Indian Ocean, you have to carve out a day for La Digue and Praslin in the Seychelles. Trust me – it’s like stepping straight into a screensaver. We arrived by tender (those little boats that take you ashore from a ship), and even just the approach to La Digue was enough to make my jaw drop. The water was every shade of turquoise you can imagine, and the shoreline was fringed with giant granite boulders that looked like they’d been sculpted by the gods.
Once we hit land, La Digue instantly wrapped me up in its slow, tropical vibe. There are barely any cars here – most people zip around on bicycles or ox-carts! It’s honestly the kind of place where you half expect to see a parrot offering you a drink with a tiny umbrella in it. Some people (not me) rented bikes and cycled along sandy paths shaded by palm trees. Absolute paradise.
Top La Digue tip: Anse Source d’Argent is the star of the show here. It’s consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the world, and when you see it, you’ll get why. Giant pinkish rocks, powdery white sand, and shallow, crystal-clear water that stays warm like bathwater.
After soaking up La Digue’s magic, it was time for a quick hop over to Praslin – another stunner, but with a totally different feel. It’s a bit bigger but still has great charm.
First stop: Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that looks like something straight out of Jurassic Park. No dinosaurs, but plenty of ancient palms and the famous Coco de Mer trees – you know, the ones with the world’s largest seeds that cheekily look like, well… you’ll see.
Walking through this lush, untouched forest was honestly like stepping back in time. Every rustle in the leaves made me think some secret creature was about to emerge. Magical doesn’t even cover it.
A quick stop by for a photo to Anse Lazio too – another beach that’s basically begging to be plastered all over your Instagram. Wide stretches of velvety sand, perfect for long, lazy swims and sipping something tropical under the shade of a palm tree. And if you’re into snorkelling, the waters here are packed with colourful fish and even the odd turtle if you’re lucky. I saw two stingray but was then disappointed that my photos weren’t really clear enough…
Both islands had this incredibly relaxed, welcoming feel. No pressure, no crowds, just pure, postcard-perfect beauty everywhere you turned. Leaving felt a bit like waking up from a dream – but at least I’ve got lots of photos to remember it by.
If you ever get the chance, go. Better yet, stay awhile. La Digue and Praslin are the kind of places that stay in your heart forever.