Web www.albaspectrum.com

Popular articles

A hundred islands and islets make up the Seychelles, yet the total land area is a mere 175 sq miles. The Seychelles may seem a million miles away from the UK and unreachable but in truth these stunning islands become more accessible to average holiday maker all the time. The archipelago lies 1,000 miles east off the coast of Mombasa and 4 degrees south of the equator. Not a million miles away but a 12 hour flight from Heathrow that Air Seychelles schedule twice a week – on a Friday and a Sunday and or with a variety of other airlines flying indirectly.

The population numbers nearly 70,000 Seychellois made up of French, English, Indian, Chinese and African origin, nine out of ten live on Mahé, the largest island, 27 km (17 miles) long and 8 km (5 miles) wide, with Victoria as the capital city and home to the excellent international airport and deep- water harbour. Most of the hotels are on this island, but beaches are far from crowded since the coastline boasts 68 beaches and coves on this one island alone.

This is a gentle world, where the insects are strictly non-poisonous, there are no snakes, and even the fish are unafraid of men. Everything on these unspoilt islands is friendly, courteous and clean. The land gives generously with coconuts, mangoes, bananas, breadfruit, pineapples, and an equally bountiful sea yields up tuna, snapper, barracuda and kingfish. The climate is temperate all year round, the sea clear crystal blue and the sand soft and white and stretching for miles. The frangipani’s blossom perfumes the night air and the tropical birds call to one another creating the perfect atmosphere when astonishingly dramatic violet and orange sunsets pattern the sky.

Poetic I know, but seeing is believing. I can’t stop myself from getting carried away. Having recently returned from a stunning 2 week trip I feel compelled to encourage my fellow traveller to go visit The Seychelles. It’s natural, stunning and not as expensive as you might have previously been lead to believe. The abundance of good quality accommodation ranging from small and friendly hotels to luxurious world renowned resorts has opened up this collection of islands. The smaller islands allow us to holiday on a small desert island with perhaps no more that 20 detached cottages scattered among the palm trees, the ultimate in privacy, relaxation and indulgence.

Conservation is very important to The Seychelles, with many of the smaller islands forbidding or restricting visitors and much of the waters have become designated Marine Parks to protect the enviroment. St Anne Marine National Park, just off the coast of Mahe, is one of four marine parks in Seychelles. Apart from enjoying swimming and snorkelling opportunities, you can descend to the deep in a semi-submersible sub sea viewer and see the fish without getting wet.

Praslin is the second largest island, and home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles, Anse Lazio. Situated just 24 miles northeast from Mahe, and a quick 15 minute flight or 60 minute catarman trip across the water Praslin is not to be missed. The islands are scattered with beauty. Praslin is home to the UNESCO World heritage Site 'Valle de Mai' that is said to be the original site of the garden of Eden and one of the few places the famous Coco-de-mer, grows. East of Praslin, La Digue is the fourth largest island in the archipelago. In sweet laziness, transport is by oxcart, by bicycle or on foot—you can walk anywhere on the island within an hour. Perhaps the most romantic of the Seychelles islands, La Digue is characterized by the unruly heaps of massive granite boulders tumbling into the sea, tinged pink at dawn, grey at noon, and glowing red in the sunset.

Denis Island is home to a unique hotel and the staff that live and work there, creating the perfect location for those seeking escapism, total relaxation and tranquillity. You land on the private air strip surrounded by tropical plants and crystal blue sea that appears to be in the middle of nowhere. Each of the 25 individual cottages are both spacious and beautifully furnished set with-in the privacy of there own gardens on the shore edge. The lodges unique style blends relaxed charm and simplicity with homely comforts. In comparison North Island has become home to an exclusive luxury lodge sympathetically blended into the habitat. You arrive by helicopter into a world of barefoot luxury mixed with the opportunity to experience, and participate, in the educational and conservational programs undertaken on the island. A true sanctuary for the senses

There are so many lovely islands its difficult to know where to visit but where ever you choose you can be sure that the infrastructure between the islands is superb. Inter islands flights are scheduled to coordinate with transatlantic flights. Boats, ferries and buses weave across the islands ensuring where ever you want to visit is accessible and never far away. On the island of Mahe car hire is reasonably priced, they drive in the left and an international licence is acceptable so there’s no reason not to explore. Paradise is really only 12 hours away and well worth the trip.