The Seychelles have a slogan that describes their harm; 'unique by a thousand miles'. A thousand miles distant from their closest neighbours on the East African coast, the country is made up of over one hundred tropical islands, scattered over a million square kilometres.

Unique in geography, climate and also culture, these islands have a wildly colourful storybook history of spies, pirates and shipwrecked sailors that has brought about the integration of European, African, Indian, Arab and Chinese islanders with a heady Creole culture.

This is a natural paradise of fabulously fair weather, mercifully free of malarial mosquitoes, and with glorious tropical forests, woodlands and beaches unspoilt by the rigours of the modern world. The Seychellois, keen to preserve the character and natural beauty of their island home, have encouraged low-impact, high quality opportunities for holidays here. The result is an inspiring choice of small and absolutely private island hideaways, set among deserted beaches and sandy pathways to be explored blissfully alone, in dreamy seclusion.

The Main Islands

The main islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue are characterised by the granite rocks from which they are formed, creating impressive rocky peaks at their centre, and softened boulder sculptures around each coast.

Mahe is the largest island, the first contact, and its tiny capital bustles with the business of colourful island life beneath a backdrop of forests and granite outcrops. Praslin is quieter, less populated and a perfect location for exploring impressively beautiful beaches and nearby islands, such as the smaller, laid back latitude of La Digue.

The Outer Islands

The numerous outlying islands are mainly coral atolls, natural enclaves for absolute peace and relaxation surrounded by startlingly clear seas that are pure joy to dive, snorkel and swim.

These are worlds apart, mostly unpopulated but for the single, small lodge that overlooks their clear coral sands, and for the masses of birds, turtles and coral reef dwelling creatures that make these colourful islands their home.

Each so distant and so distinct, these islands shine like individual jewels, each with their own natural beauty and brimming with endemic bird, animal and plant species – such as the strange and beautiful Coco-de-Mer, the largest seed in the world and the signature of the Seychelles’ wealth of endemic natural phenomena. These are most easily seen in the startlingly primeval trails of the Vallee de Mai World Heritage site on Praslin, where over 6,000 Coco-de-Mai palms continue to thrive.