This resort is an absolute insider tip in Africa: an island off the coast of Mozambique with majestic sand dunes rolling gently into the blue ocean on one side and dense green palm trees on the other side of the island. The Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort in Mozambique is a unique hotel with an even more unique location for an unforgettable trip! Find out in this hotel review whether this resort the right choice for you!

My review of the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resorts in Mozambique

Location & Accessibility

Where exactly is the resort located?

The Anantara Bazaruto Resort is located in the south of Mozambique – a destination that very few of us have on our minds when we think of a vacation with “sun, palm trees and sea”. Even though this destination has all that and so much more to offer.

The Anantara is located on the island of Bazaruto, the main island of the archipelago with the same name: the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park. This protected area consists of five islands and numerous sandbanks in an incredibly diverse ecosystem. It is a true paradise for snorkeling and diving.

How to get to the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort?

Bazaruto is located off the coast of Mozambique, in the south of the country. Unlike the north of Mozambique, the south is very quiet, politically stable and safe. The nearest airport is the one of the coastal town Vilanculos (VNX). We combined our visit to the resort with a longer trip to Africa and therefore took the short flight to Vilanculos from Johannesburg (JNB) in South Africa which is a common route to get here.

At the small airport, we were greeted directly by the Anantara team and driven through the small village to the beach in an open off-road vehicle. Here we boarded a small speedboat and traveled for around 45 minutes across the turquoise-blue water to the resort, where we received a traditional welcome.

Alternatively, the resort also offers a more comfortable transfer from the airport by helicopter. This costs around EUR 200 more than the regular transfer, is much quicker and offers a great view of Bazaruto National Park from the air!

The concept of the Anantara Bazaruto Resort in Mozambique

Surrounded by the unique landscape of the Bazaruto archipelago, you feel very close to nature when you visit the resort. There is no main building with rooms at the resort, only wooden villas on the beach in various designs. All villas and other areas of the hotel are connected by a wooden walkway that leads over the green vegetation. The Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort is located on the “palm side” of the island. This is because Bazaruto Island has a very special layout: While the west side of the island is covered in greenery, with a beach lined with palm trees, on the east side there are sand dunes up to a hundred meters high, which flow into the ocean.

The island is therefore not just a paradisiacal vacation destination for lying on the beach, but also offers a wide range of different excursions and adventures.

The villas at Anantara Bazaruto Resorts in Mozambique

As already mentioned, there are no classic “hotel rooms” at Anantara Bazaruto Island, only villas in various designs with one or two bedrooms.

Beach Villa

We stayed in a Beach Villa, which is the entry-level villa category at the resort. However, it is no different in size and design to the higher “Beach Villa Pool” category, which, as the name suggests, has its own pool. But this is the only difference.

Our villa is located in the immediate vicinity of the beach. Upon entering, you first enter a small corridor that connects the two main rooms of the villa:

The bedroom and living room with a large bed and a seating lounge as well as the terrace with access to the beach. Each villa also has its own space on the beach with a parasol and sun loungers.

The second half of the villa consists of the spacious bathroom. This was one of my absolute highlights of the villa. In addition to plenty of space, a rain shower and an additional outdoor shower, each villa has a bathtub by a window front which can be opened completely.

→ Click here to book your stay at the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort

Beach & Pools

The endless sandy beach right next to the resort is a dream for swimming, sunbathing and marveling at the sunset in the evening. Despite the direct location on the water, there are two pools in the resort. The main pool with a view of the sunset at the cocktail bar and a family pool with a great slide for kids at the other end of the resort. So everyone will find their ideal place to relax.

Even when the resort is fully booked, even the public areas are never overcrowded. This is due to the fact that the resort only has 45 villas but is still very spacious. You often get that “lonely island” feeling!

Anantara Bazaruto Spa

The spa area of the Anantara Bazaruto Resort is slightly hidden away, but is an absolute gem in the resort. For me, it is the most beautiful place to enjoy the sunset.

It is located high up on a hill overlooking the beach, which is a short walk or buggy ride away. The spa reception is an open space with a unique view of the sea. The treatment rooms are located along the hill and also offer great views thanks to large terrace doors.

The special thing is that there is also a small pool here, which is rarely used by guests, and even a hidden Jacuzzi under a pavilion. I can’t imagine a more romantic way to end the day: We first booked a traditional couple’s massage and then marveled at the sunset from the pool and jacuzzi!

Dining at the Anantara Bazaruto Island

There are a total of three restaurants at the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort as well as the poolside bar. All villas at the resort come with an all-inclusive package – which is excellent! The food and the drinks and wines included were always very good!

Breakfast

In the morning, breakfast is served as a buffet in the main restaurant Golfinho. It is a small but very well equipped breakfast buffet with the option of having fresh egg dishes and co. prepared for you

Lunch

For lunch, small snacks or full three-course a la carte menus can be ordered in one of two other restaurants. The Clube Naval focuses on local dishes and fish, while Sonhos offers a fusion cuisine of Mediterranean dishes and sushi. An all-day breakfast menu is also available for late risers!

Dinner

The dinner location changes depending on the day. On some evenings, a themed dinner is offered in the Golfinho with a buffet and live cooking stations, on others a BBQ on the beach with your feet in the sand. This means that dinner never gets boring, even during a longer stay. The wines on offer, most of which come from South Africa, were also excellent! Unfortunately, not all cocktails, but only certain ones on the drinks menu, are included in the all-inclusive concept, but they can be ordered for a small surcharge.

Dining by Design

Our best evening was our “Dining by Design” dinner on the last day. This private dinner is specially designed for a special occasion or simply to enjoy romantic moments together. The team put a lot of effort into preparing a wonderful setting for us right by the sea. With our feet in the sand and the stars shining above us. A four-course menu is served, which either corresponds to the local, vegetarian/vegan or seafood theme. But even individual adjustments were no problem. This was the most beautiful and best dinner of our stay!

Activities

The special feature of a stay at the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort is that it is not a classic beach vacation, but rather a place that offers numerous opportunities for adventure and activities. These were my favorites:

Diving & snorkeling

Exploring the underwater world of the Bazaruto archipelago is an absolute MUST! From dolphins to turtles, colorful fish, reef sharks to manta rays, and even whales (depending on the season) and manatees, everything can be found in the waters of the protected national park! Our diving trip in particular was unforgettable. There is a PADI-certified diving center at the resort where you can even get your diving license or book other excursions.

Sand dunes tour

An excursion to the sand dunes on the other side of the island, which are up to a hundred meters high, is a must during your stay at the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort. In fact, we liked it so much that we booked two different tours: A sunset tour in the afternoon for sand boarding and a sunrise tour. Despite getting up early, the sunrise tour was our absolute favorite. The sun slowly rises over the ocean and bathes the dunes in a golden light. It is such a unique landscape!

To reach the sand dunes, we drove a few minutes across the island from the resort in an off-road vehicle and covered the rest on foot.

Bazaruto Archipelago boat tour

Another great half-day tour is the boat trip to another smaller island in the Bazaruto archipelago. First we went to a snorkeling spot, met dolphins on the way and finally stopped on an island, which we could explore and swim in the blue water while our guides prepared a delicious beach BBQ for us. We then headed back to the resort. It’s been one of my favorite days duirng the whole trip!

Résumé of our stay at the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort in Mozambique

During our trip to Africa, the Anantara Bazaruto Island was the ideal place to relax and recharge our batteries. This unique destination is the ideal combination of relaxation and adventure, and you can choose your personal mix of both every day. Whether you prefer to spend the day exploring the island and its surroundings, or relaxing by the pool, enjoying a massage and sipping cocktails.

The resort is the ideal choice for couples as well as families who value their peace and privacy while enjoying great service and food. Each villa has a personal host who takes care of all requests, reservations and similar.

You simply have to put the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort on your bucket list!

→ Click here to book your stay at the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort

We had a sponsored stay at the Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort, which does not affect my opinion and review of the hotel.

One of the most spectacular waterfalls on our planet and the largest in Africa – the Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe are an incredible natural spectacle that should definitely be on your bucket list! This post is a travel guide with useful tips on how you can visit the Victoria Falls yourself and what you should definitely keep in mind before visiting.

How to visit the Victoria Falls in Zambia & Zimbabwe – the ultimate guide

When is the best time to visit the Victoria Falls?

In general, the Victoria Falls can be visited all year round. However, there are significant differences whether you want to travel to this beautiful part of Africa during the dry season or the rainy season:

Rainy season or dry season?

The rainy season begins in December and extends into March.

Pros: The masses of water flowing through the Zambezi River, which is the source of the Victoria Falls, increases tenfold during this time! Especially at the end of the rainy season, when the water volumes are at their highest, it is a tremendous sight that shows the true dimensions of the waterfalls. During the dry season, these can only be guessed at. You will find the highest water levels in April and May, after the end of the rainy season. Temperatures are also significantly cooler in winter (which corresponds to our summer in the northern hemisphere) and can even drop below 10°C at night.

Cons: The enormous masses of water also mean an enormous spray by the waterfall, which can hardly be put into words. Especially on the Zimbabwe side, you will get drenched when visiting the Victoria Falls National Park during the rainy season. This is the case even during the dry season at some viewpoints, but when the water masses have reached their maximum, you can already feel the spray on the road leading into the national park – a few minutes’ walk from the first viewpoint.

In Zambia, the Devils Pool cannot be visited during the rainy season for safety reasons.

The dry season begins in May and extends into September.

Significantly lower water volumes also mean significantly lower water levels. But even at only a tenth of their maximum strength, the Victoria Falls are still impressive. We ourselves were there at the end of November, when the water level is at its lowest, and were still speechless.

There is a huge advantage for all adventure lovers who want to swim in the legendary Devil’s Pool, which is located at the source of the waterfall in Zambia. It can only be visited when the Zambezi River has a low water level and therefore less power. You can find out more about the Devil’s Pool later in this post under “Activities”.

Temperatures are significantly higher during the dry season. However, even at over 30 degrees Celsius during our visit in November, it never felt oppressive, but pleasant, as it was not humid.

You can therefore choose the ideal travel time for Victoria Falls according to your personal preferences from this naturally recurring change in water and weather.

How many days should you plan for the visit of the Victoria Falls?

One day is not enough to experience the Victoria Falls. Especially if you also want to explore the surrounding area and relax a little in a great hotel, I recommend five days.

You can visit the Victoria Falls from both Zambia and Zimbabwe and do different activities from each. The Mosi Oa Tunya National Park in Zambia is also great for safaris!

Which side is more beautiful to see the Victoria Falls? Zambia or Zimbabwe?

Again, both options offer different advantages. However, due to their close proximity, they are easy to combine:

The Zambezi River, which is the source of the Victoria Falls, flows through Zambia and plunges into a deep gorge that forms the border with Zimbabwe. Therefore, you have the best view of the falls themselves from the Zimbabwean side at the Victoria Falls National Park.

Nevertheless, we opted to stay at a very special hotel in Zambia and only took a day trip to Zimbabwe. And this was the best decision, because the location of the hotel on the Zambezi River in Zambia, just a few meters from the start of the Victoria Falls, was unique! You can find out more about this under “Hotel recommendation for the Victoria Falls”. Another benefit of Zambia is, that the Devils Pool is also located on that side!

Book the best tours at the Victoria Falls here:

How to reach the Victoria Falls?

No matter which side you choose, your journey will be by plane. The closest airport is Livingstone (LVI) in Zambia, but Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) is, as the name suggests, also a very close airport in Zimbabwe.

We ourselves first flew to Johannesburg (JNB) in South Africa and then on to Livingstone with the airline Safair. And it’s hard to believe, but there are even direct flights with Eurowings Discover from Frankfurt to Livingstone!

Do you need to apply for a visa for your trip to Victoria Falls?

Since 2023, it has become much easier for German citizens to enter Zambia and Zimbabwe with a visa on arrival! On → this website you will find a list of all countries that do not need to apply for a visa for Zambia. On → this website you can find the entry requirements for Zimbabwe.

The entry from Zambia to Zimbabwe by car during our day trip also went smoothly.

Costs for the Visa on Arrival:

in Zambia: 25 USD

in Zimbabwe: 30 USD

!! Please note – some countries still require you to apply for a visa for both countries before traveling. You can find more information on this in the links above.

Can I fly a drone at Victoria Falls?

Shooting the Victoria Falls with a drone would be a dream come true for nature and hobby photographers! But unfortunately this is not very easy. Drones may only be imported into Zambia with a special registration. As we didn’t have such a permit, this was the first time we had to hand out our drones at the airport when we entered the country. Fortunately, we got them back when we left Zambia without any problems.

Here you can find more information about the drone regulations → in Zambia and in → Zimbabwe!

Is it safe to visit the Victoria Falls?

We always felt safe during our visit to the Victoria Falls, both in Zambia and in Zimbabwe. The contacts we had with the locals were always warm and hospitable – even outside the hotel. The hotels, national parks and activities offered on both sides are an important source of income for most of the locals who live near the Victoria Falls. Negative events would deter tourists, discourage them from traveling and thus minimize revenue. Therefore, almost everyone is concerned that tourists feel comfortable.

Nevertheless, one should never forget that Zambia is one of the poorest countries in the world (but also a country with one of the fastest growing economies in the world). The “ideal world” in the secure hotel grounds therefore does not necessarily reflect the outside world. When exploring the Victoria Falls, you should therefore refrain from carrying obvious valuables and always keep a close eye on and secure your belongings.

Hotel tip at the Victoria Falls

My absolute hotel tip at the Victoria Falls is the Royal Livingstone by Anantara Hotels. We had one of the most beautiful and unique stays here ever! As the name suggests, the Royal Livingstone is located in Livingstone in Zambia, in the middle of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The location on the banks of the Zambezi River, right at the source of the waterfalls, is incomparable. Wild zebras, giraffes and monkeys roam the hotel grounds and you can marvel at hippos up close by the river. The hotel also has direct access to the Victoria Falls! The Royal Livingstone is an incredibly great hotel that will make your trip to the Victoria Falls even more unforgettable!

→ Here you can find my full hotel review of the Royal Livingstone

→ Book your stay here for the best price!

Which excursions at Victoria Falls are really worthwhile?

The Devils Pool

If you are traveling to Victoria Falls between August and January, you should definitely not miss a boat trip to Livingstone Island and the Devil’s Pool. The tour starts with a boat trip across the Zambezi River in Zambia to the small Livingstone Island. It is located directly at the point where the Zambezi River plunges into the gorge to form the Victoria Falls. The more adventurous can even swim to the Devil’s Pool with a guide. It is a natural pool at the source of the Victoria Falls. But don’t worry, even if the pictures look daring, this excursion is safer than it might seem. To date, there has never been an accident at Devils Pool. From around mid-January to July, however, it is closed for safety reasons as the power water is too strong during these months.

→ You can book the same excursion to the Devil’s Pool here!

Cost: approx. 170 EUR per person (including breakfast or lunch)

Recommendation: 10/10!

Helicopter flight over the Victoria Falls

A helicopter flight offers a unique bird’s eye view of the mighty masses of water and the Mosi-oa-Tunay National Park with its wild animals. Prices are similar in both countries. If you decide to take a helicopter flight, I strongly recommend booking the longer 22-minute route, which includes a flight through the gorge. It is a little more expensive, but the experience is incredible! After the regular tour, the pilot flies in a small helicopter deep into the gorge into which the Victoria Falls plunge. This is not for the faint-hearted, but it is the most impressive helicopter flight we have ever experienced! You can find some impressions in my “Zambia” story highlight on my Instagram profile

→ You can book your helicopter flight here! *The 22-minute option includes the flight through the gorge.

Cost: 170 USD without the flight through the gorge & 250 USD for the longer flight through the gorge

Recommendation: 10/10!

Microlight flight

Another option for admiring the waterfalls from the air is a microlight flight. This is a small motorized machine that is attached to a paraglider. One person at a time can sit behind the pilot at lofty heights. A helmet with a visor protects your face from the wind and you are secured to the seat with an airplane harness. This is probably a horror for anyone with a fear of flying, but I personally found it very exciting and more peaceful than the helicopter flight. The microlight planes glide gently through the sky and are closer to the ground than the helicopters.

However, it is not a great option if you like to take photos as any cameras, GoPros and cell phones are strictly forbidden during the flight. The wind is far too strong and the devices could get into the rotor! However, a GoPro is attached to the wing of the plane and you can buy the footage after the flight.

→ You can book your microlight flight here!

Cost: approx. 160,- EUR (plus approx. 30 EUR for the GoPro footage)

Recommendation: 7/10

Visit to the Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe

Even if you’re staying in Zambia, a trip to Victoria Falls wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe! Here you will find spectacular views of the waterfalls from numerous vantage points. In sunny weather you can see rainbows everywhere thanks to the mist and it’s a magical sight! We booked a tour to Zimbabwe starting at the hotel. This included the drive to border control, the drive over the Victoria Falls Bridge to Zimbabwe, entry into Zimbabwe and the short drive to the entrance of the national park as well as a personal guide for the national park. Even though we usually travel without tours and guides, it is very worthwhile in this case and a very safe option to marvel at the Victoria Falls from two countries.

→ You can book your excursion here!

Cost: from USD 45 per person for the private tour plus USD 30 for the visa for Zimbabwe

Recommendation: 10/10

The Victoria Falls Bridge connects Zambia with Zimbabwe and is crossed at the border crossing.

Other activities

Of course, there are numerous other activities that you can experience at the Victoria Falls: Such as wild water rafting through the gorge on the Zambezi River or bungee jumping and zip lining from the Victoria Falls Bridge or a sunset dinner cruise. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to do these activities, which is why I can’t report on my personal experiences.

However, I would advise against the so-called Lion Walks, which are unfortunately very popular here. Walking with a trained lion on a leash and taking photos with baby lions is in my opinion not animal friendly at all! Much more impressive is a safari tour with an open off-road vehicle through the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park to see elephants, giraffes, hippos and zebras – and with a bit of luck also the endangered black rhinos – in their natural habitat!

Book the best activities at the Victoria Falls here:

Visiting the Victoria Falls is an incredible experience that I definitely want to do again! It was an unforgettable tour, which has been one of my favorite travel moments ever – especially in combination with a stay at the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia!

I hope this post helps you plan your own travels to Victoria Falls and I was able to give you some important tips for your trip! If you have any further questions about visiting the Victoria Falls, feel free to write a comment or message me on Instagram!

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Paradise beaches, incredible view points and a lush vegetation: These are the Seychelles! This blog post includes useful travel tips you need to know before booking your vacation and the ultimate Seychelles itinerary for the perfect stay!

Seychelles Travel Tips and the perfect Itinerary

What is the best time to visit the Seychelles?

The Seychelles are a great travel destination with lots of sunshine and blue water throughout the whole year so the best time to visit depends on you personal preferences:
– Do you want to skip the peak season when mosts tourists are on the islands? Then book your stay January to April to avoid the high season during the summer months May – August. This is also the right season if you want to experience the hatching of the endangered Hawksbill sea turtles at the beaches (Jan – March). April is one of the best months since the weather is warm and mild.

We’ve been to the Seychelles in November and had beautiful sunny weather but sometimes strong winds which means higher waves. During November – January you also have a bigger change of the tides at the beaches.

How many days are ideal for the Seychelles?

The right amount of days you’re planning to spend on the Seychelles, depends on how many islands you’re planning to visit.

• Mahé is the biggest Seychelles island and I would suggest you at least five days. If you want to spend a few more days of relaxing & doing nothing, then I would suggest even more. We decided to split our time on Mahé and spent six nights in total, including five days of exploring and one full day of pampering ourselves in a luxury resort.
• Praslin is smaller than Mahé but has many beautiful beaches and must see places. We spent four days on this island, including a full day boat trip and it was absolutely perfect.
• La Digue is tiny so we only planned two nights there but I would suggest to stay three nights.

This makes a total of 12 days which is exactly what we did & it has been perfect!

Which budget should I plan for the Seychelles?

Many people think that the Seychelles are a high-end luxury destination and not suitable for budget travelers. But that’s not 100% true: Yes, the Seychelles have amazing luxury resorts and the prices for a stay have no limit to the top. But at the same time you can definitely plan a budget friendly trip to the Seychelles.

A big saving trick is to book apartments with your own kitchen. Even basic restaurants in the Seychelles are quite expensive and main courses are usually between 15 – 30 EUR per person. That’s why you can save a lot of money if you cook your own meals and breakfast. The groceries in the supermarkets are still a bit more expensive than back home, especially if the products have been imported, but you will still save a lot of money!

We decided for a mix of budget friendly apartments, some nice mid-priced hotels and a few days in a luxury resort to pamper ourselves.

Here is a price example for one week on Praslin per person

• Accommodation: Nice apartment at the beach with kitchen (f.e. The Seashell Beach Villa → Book it here!): 100,- per night for 2 persons = 350,- EUR per week / person
• Food: 10-15 EUR per day / person when cooking your own meals or 25-35 EUR per day / person eating out = 70 – 245,- EUR per week / person
• Transfer between islands = 100,- EUR per person
• Entrance to National Parks & Full day Boat Tour = 150,- EUR per person
• Rental Ca:r 40 – 50 EUR per day = 140 – 175 EUR per week / person (The price is based on traveling as a couple. In case you’re traveling as a bigger group, the price per person will be lower.)

= 910 – 1.120 EUR per week / person

What are the best beaches in the Seychelles?

If you want to experience postcard worthy beaches with blue water, soft & white sand, framed by palm trees and dark granite rocks, then you will fall in love with the Seychelles. Some of the beaches we visited belong to the most beautiful ones I’ve ever seen during all our travels!

Make sure to check out my blog post with → the best beaches in the Seychelles, including useful information and a map to find them!

The perfect Seychelles Itinerary – Island Hopping

Every island in the Seychelles is unique in its own way. That’s why island hopping is the best way to see the Seychelles properly and experience as many sides of these beautiful islands as possible.
We focused on the three most famous islands: Mahé, the biggest one with the airport, Praslin with unique beaches and nature and La Digue which is well known for the most photographed and famous beach in the Seychelles.

This is the ultimate Seychelles Itinerary to make the most out of your time:

Seychelles Itinerary: Mahé (Part 1)

• our accommodation: → PARADISE CHALETS SEYCHELLES – Book it here!
  newly opened, mid-priced and modern apartments with kitchen, available with one or two bedrooms and pool
• time: three nights (we came back to Mahé at the end of our trip)

Day 1

• Arrival at the International Airport, picking up the rental car (we booked via Sixt)
• Checking in a → Paradise Chalet Seychelles – Book it here!
• Stocking up on groceries for the next days

Day 2

Visiting Cap Ternay

There is basically one main road which leads around Mahé so for our first day we decided to visit the part of the island which is the farthest away from our accommodation: The North of Mahé.

Cap Ternay is located at the end of the main road and a very unpopular beach among tourists. It is a calm bay with shallow emerald green water surrounded by a lush greenery which will make you feel like you stepped right into Jurassic Park!

Sans Soucis Road & Victoria

Sans Soucis Road is a scenic drive through the mountains of Mahé with lovely view points which connects the Northern part with the capital Victoria. There are several hikes you can do along this road. We did one of them during our last days on the Seychelles, when we came back to Mahé – but read more about this later.

Victoria is not only the capital of the Seychelles but also the only city in the country! With less than 30,000 inhabitants Victoria is one of the smallest capitals in the world. Exploring the city will not take very long: Visiting the market, the national museum or the botanical garden and seeing the clock tower – a mini version of the Big Ben – and enjoying a burger and cold drink at the harbour.

Sunset Beach

In the evening we came to a beach which is ideal to watch the sunset: Sunset Beach – what a fitting name Park your car at the road side and walk a few steps to the small beach which is usually almost empty! The view and the colors are absolutely incredible.

Day 4

Sunrise at Anse Baleine

We decided to split our time on Mahé in a few days at the beginning and some more at the end of our trip, since we had to come back for out international flight anyways.
On the fourth day we planned to take the ferry to Praslin.

Before we took the boat in the late morning, we started the day at the beach Anse Baleine just in front of our accommodation. The beach offers a direct view at the sunrise and is incredibly photogenic with palm trees leaning over the waves. If you’re planning to stay at the Paradise Chalets or at another accommodation in the South, it is definitely worth a visit to take some photos in the morning.

Seychelles Itinerary: Praslin

• accommodation: → SEASHELL BEACH VILLA – Book it here!
  a small, family owned and budget friendly hotel with several apartments with kitchen, located at a beautiful beach at the West coast of Praslin
  P.S. It is way nicer in reality than as it looks on the booking website! I can highly recommend this accommodation.
• time: four nights

Day 4

After our sunrise at the beach we drove to the ferry station on Mahé to remove our rental car. The good thing about the Sixt company is, that they have a station at the airport and ferry station which is very convenient.
The ferry to Praslin takes around 1 – 1,5 hrs and costs 50,- EUR per person which is not cheap but definitely more affordable than the 200,- EUR for a plane flight between both islands.

Arriving at the ferry station we rented a car with a small local company and drove to our accommodation at the beach and got some groceries.

Seashell Beach Villa

Day 5

Vallée de Mai

After relaxing at the hotel beach in the morning, we drove to the center of the island to one of the biggest landmarks in the Seychelles: The Nature Reserve and UNESCO heritage side Vallée de Mai which is home of the Coco de Mer – the biggest seed in the world! This palm forest in the green heart of Praslin has been isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years which led to the evolution of a unique flora and fauna. Many species can only be found here! That’s why visiting Vallée de Mai feels like traveling back in time to the ancient palm forests of the Seychelles.

The Coco de Mer palm is not only producing the biggest nut in the world but is also highly endangered. The nuts only grow on the female palm trees and it takes around seven year for one nut to be fully ripe, fall to the ground and produce a new palm tree. That’s why it is highly forbidden to eat the Coco de Mer by the Seychelles Gouvernement. Our guide told us that the taste is incredibly flavorful (he knew the taste from when he was still a child and it was still allowed to eat them). When you pick up the shell of a fallen Coco De Mer on the ground to smell it, you will get an idea of the taste – it smells like a Pina Colada.

• cost: 350 SCR (around 22,- EUR) per person, without guide
• opening times: 8.30 am – 4.30 pm (Fridays only until 1pm)

Book the best activities on Praslin here:

Anse Georgette

In the afternoon we drove to the Constance Lemuria Resort which is where you will find the most beautiful beach in the Seychelles: Anse Georgette! By Seychelles law all beaches have to be accessible to the public even if they are surrounded by a resort. You just have to register your visit at the Constance resort in advance. The best is to do this one or two days before your planned visit. Simply tell the receptionist of your hotel your preferred date and they will take care of it! You find more Information about Anse Georgette and how to reach it in my “Best Beaches in the Seychelles” blog post!

For me Anse Georgette is clearly the most beautiful beach we’ve seen in the Seychelles and even belongs to my Top 3 beaches around the world – so it is definitely a must see on your Seychelles Itinerary! The water is blue and perfect for a swim, the sand is soft and the whole scenery is incredibly photogenic. Beside that it is a perfect spot to watch the sunset in the evening.

Restaurant Paradisier

After watching the sunset at Anse Georgette we decided to treat ourselves for dinner at the lovely Restaurant Paradisier. It is not far away from the Seashell Beach Villas and has really delicious food. We paid 310 SCR (19 EUR) for a big pizza which is not cheap at all but a typical price for the Seychelles.

Day 6

Full Day Boat Trip to St. Pierre & Curieuse Island

When you’re visiting Praslin, you should definitely plan one day for a boat tour around the island to go snorkeling and most importantly: to visit the nearby Curieuse Island! It is a National Park and home of around 200 Seychelles Giant Tortoises which roam around freely on the island.

We can highly recommend the full day tour with Angel Tours, which the friendly owner of the Seashell Beach Villa organized for us. The price for the tour is 100,- EUR per person, which includes the following:

• pick up from the hotel in the morning
• visiting two different snorkeling spots – one of them is the beautiful tiny island St. Pierre which you can see on the photo below
• Exploring Curieuse Island to see the tortoises and hike to a hidden beach
• Delicious lunch at Curieuse Island
• National Park fee
• Visiting Anse Georgette at the end of the tour for a swim

We were back at our hotel for sunset and spent a cozy evening at the beach of our accommodation.

→ Book the best day tour to St.Pierre & Curieuse Island here!

Day 7

Anse Lazio

There are two beaches on Praslin which are battling to be the most beautiful one in the Seychelles: Anse Georgette & Anse Lazio. You already know which one these two is my personal favorite but I also understand why some people prefer Anse Lazio: It is a huge beach which is easy to access. The parking lot is just a few steps away from the beach. Anse Lazio is great to go swimming and snorkeling which makes it to the ideal beach for families.

Hike to Lovers Bay

From Anse Lazio you can do a small hike to a picturesque small cove called Lovers Bay or Petite Anse Lazio. In my blog post with the → best beaches in the Seychelles you’ll find a brief explanation how to find the hidden path!
Lovers Bay looks like a place out of a fairytale and most likely you will have the tiny beach all to yourself. But make sure to watch out for the sea urges in the water if you want to go for a swim.

Anse Volbert

After spending the whole day at the beach, we decided to visit the area around Anse Volbert in the late afternoon. It is a bustling area and if you walk along the beach you can find different bars and cafes to relax. We stopped at Café des Artes for a small snack and coffee to end the day.

Day 8

Time to say goodbye to Praslin! On the eighth day of our Seychelles trip, we booked a ferry to La Digue in the afternoon. This meant that we still had enough time to visit one place which can’t be missed on your Seychelles Itinerary:

Fond Ferdinand

Fond Ferdinand is a nature park on Praslin with a native lush vegetation. You will also find the endemic and huge Coco de Mer but the best part (& the main reason for our visit) can be found at the end of the trail: After walking 600 steps through the jungle, you reach the top of Fond Ferdinand with incredible views over the neighbored islands and the ocean – you can even spot La Digue!

• times: Fond Ferdinand can only be visited during a guided tour, weekdays: 9.30 am, 11am, 12.30 pm or 1.30 pm
• price: 150 SCR (10 EUR) including guide

Seychelles Itinerary: La Digue

Day 8

In the afternoon we took the quick 20-mins ferry connection to La Digue. The first thing we did after arriving at the ferry station was renting bicycles since they are the only means of transportation on the island. One bicycle costs 150 SCR (10 EUR) per day.

• accommodation: We stayed at a hotel (without our own kitchen) called “Le Relax Luxury Lodge” which we were totally disappointed of for several reasons. That’s why I wouldn’t recommend it. We actually planned to stay at the Le Nautique which has a way better location and is really beautiful but unfortunately it was already booked out! Nevertheless we came here every night for dinner since it has an amazing sunset view and the cuisine was the best we had in the Seychelles! Can highly recommend to stay at Le Nautique or at least to enjoy your dinner here!
• time: We stayed two nights on La Digue but I would suggest three nights

Sunset view at Le Nautique

Day 9

Unfortunately we only stayed two nights on La Digue which meant that Day 9 has been our only full day on the island which we wanted to use to the fullest:

Grand Anse

One of the beaches you can’t miss during your time on La Digue is the beautiful Grand Anse. To reach it, you have to ride quite a bit with your bicycles on streets which lead up and down the whole time. But the strenuous way is all worth it for this amazing blue water and white soft beach with picturesque granite rocks.

P.S. A local told us that there are more beaches behind Grand Anse which are not connected to the street and can only be reached after climbing over the granite rock piles at the end of the Grand Anse.
The first beach you will reach is Petite Anse. There are less visitors on this beach than on Grand Anse but in my opinion it is not as beautiful.
The second one is Coco Beach which we heard has amazing natural pools. But when we arrived, they were quite disappointing (maybe just because we had low tide?) and definitely not worth the 50 mins hike in the heat from Grand Anse. Especially since it was our only full day on La Digue and I felt like we were wasting time..

Sunset at Source d’Argent

The most photographed and popular beach in the Seychelles is Source d’Argent on La Digue. It is located in the state park “L’Union Estate” and is easy to access. At the entrance gate you have to pay an entrance fee of 115 SCR (around 8 EUR) per person which is valid for the next day as well.

P.S. L’Union Estate has more to offer than just the famous beach. You will find vanilla plantations and the Aldabra giant tortoises! It is also popular to rent one of the famous glass kayaks which have to be reserved online a few days in advance.

After sunset we came back to the Le Nautique Hotel and Restaurant one more time for an amazing dinner!

Day 10

Anse Source d’Argent

On our last day on La Digue we came back to the L’Union Estate Park to explore it properly and to enjoy the beautiful Anse Source d’Argent during daylight.
Tip: Due to its popularity Anse Source d’Argent is quite packed during the day but many visitors just stop at the first beach and don’t know that, when you follow the path a little further, you will find even more beautiful little beaches with less visitors and enough space!

After a few hours of relaxation and taking a lot of photos we drove back to the hotel to check out and reach our ferry to Mahé.

Seychelles Itinerary: Mahé (Part 2)

Day 10

Ferry to Mahé

When you take the ferry from La Digue to Mahé you will always have a short stop in Praslin since there is no direct connection. But anyways it is bookable as one ticket with SeyFerry and during the stop you can usually stay on the same boat.

After arriving back at the port in Mahé it was almost sunset time so we picked up our rental car and drove to our hotel. For our last days on the Seychelles we decided to pamper ourselves and booked a five star resort which we absolutely fell in love with:

• accommodation: → HILTON NORTHOLME RESORT & SPA – Book it here!
  luxury resort with incredible rooms and pool villas, perfect to relax a few days at the beach or pool, great dining choices and especially amazing breakfast!
• time: 2 nights

The Hilton Northolme

Day 11

Relaxation & Snorkeling at the Hilton Northolme

After ten days of exploring we decided to take it a bit slow during our last days to recharge our batteries. So we spent the whole day baking in the sun and snorkeling in the lagoon until the late afternoon.

Sunset at Petite Anse

If you’re looking for a long beach with an amazing sunset view you should definitely check out the Petite Anse. It is located at the property of the Four Seasons Seychelles, but just like all beaches in the Seychelles, Petite Anse has to be accessible to the public as well. You don’t need to pre-register yourself for the visit. Just drive to the resort, park your car outside of the gate and walk through the resort after a health check at the gate. The resort it huge so you will have to walk quite a bit but it is definitely worth it!

Day 12

Our flight has been leaving at 11pm on the 12th day in the Seychelles so we still had one full day to explore Mahé and one hike which can not be missed on your Seychelles Itinerary:

Trois Freres Trail

You may remember that we drove along the scenic Sans Soucis Road during our first days on Mahé but didn’t had time to do one of the amazing hikes. That’s why we planned this for our last day.
From the many hikes you can do along Sans Soucis Road we decided for Trois Freres Trail since it has the best views and is not as long and exhausting as some others are.

How to reach Trois Freres Trail: With your rental car, drive all the way to the bus station of the Sans Soucis Road where you will see a small street leading uphill. Behind it is a parking lot located where you can safely leave your car and start the hike.
Trois Freres Trail is quite short but – especially at the end – very steep. We needed 45-50 mins to reach the top and where blown away by the incredible views! I can definitely recommend this moderate hike during your stay in Mahé!

Eden Island

Not far from Victoria is an artificial island located, which is connected to Mahé and has a big harbor for yachts. But even if you’re not traveling with a yacht, it is worth visiting Eden Island to enjoy the many restaurants, bars, shops and biggest supermarket on Mahé.
After our hike we had a nice lunch at Eden Island, overlooking the yachts before we were on our way to the last beach on our Seychelles Itinerary:

Anse Intendance

The last beach we were visiting happened to be my favorite one on Mahé! Anse Intendance is a long beach stripe with soft sand and easy to access with your rental car. Due to its length you will easily find an empty spot for yourself to lay on the sand and take a dip in a blue water with soft waves. Make sure to come in the afternoon and stay until sunset since the view is absolutely lovable!

After our last sunset, we had to say goodbye to the Seychelles, return our rental car at the airport and Check in for our late night flight!

Résumé:

We were absolutely amazed by the Seychelles! In fact so much that this island paradise turned out to be our favorite destination we visited in 2021! The incredible beaches and unique scenery are outstandingly beautiful and we’re already looking forward to return to the Seychelles in the near future

I hope my Seychelles Itinerary & Travel Tips will help you to plan your own Seychelles vacation! If you have any other questions, please put them in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!

Make sure to check out the following blog post as well:

• The best beaches in the Seychelles!

Plan your own Seychelles trip: