Seychelles travel

Суббота. Praslin

Расположенные чуть севернее Мадагаскара Сейшельские острова, со всех сторон омываемые теплыми волнами Индийского океана, словно специально созданы для яхтинга, а раз так, то команда True Wind непременно сюда заглянет!

Наше путешествие начинается с аэропорта острова Праслен, второго по величине острова архипелага. Прежде чем окунуться с головой в экзотику Сейшел, проведем закупку провизии, необходимого для дальнейшего комфортного путешествия. Но вот провизия доставлена на борт корабля, капитаном проведен краткий инструктаж по технике безопасности – самое время отправиться на променад по уникальному дождевому лесу, который остается в первозданном виде с самых первобытных времен. Завершим прогулку праздничным ужином – креветки, осьминоги и прочие морепродукты в разнообразных соусах, лангусты и шатини из акулы, кокосы, папайя, бананы и другие экзотические фрукты, бака и сейбрю, и даже специально приготовленное мясо летучей мыши – что из этого отважитесь попробовать Вы?

Sunday. Passage Praslin - La Digue

We go east to La Digue, an exotic island located just five miles from Praslin. Hundreds of small islands of the Seychelles archipelago, decorated with picturesque bays and hospitable coves, where you can make a minimum of effort to anchor, broad strokes are applied to the canvas of the Indian Ocean.

Do you know how La Digue got its name? This happened in 1768, when the frigate of the famous French sailor visited him and de Fresne presented the name of his ship to the unnamed island. Although several centuries have passed since that moment, La Digue has preserved its relict thickets in almost original form and thanks to this it remains a real pearl of the Indian Ocean. Carpets of snow-white beaches are widely spread between the bizarre granite boulders-giants. Sassy crabs scurry importantly from shell to shell. Palm trees, like slender girls, froze for a moment before a passionate dance. Sky-blue lagoons, entice you to coolness and peace.

Monday. La Digue

Surprisingly, until recently, there was a ban on the use of vehicles on La Digue. Today, of course, this unusual ban has been lifted, but even now the bicycle remains the most popular form of transport on La Digue. Let's saddle two-wheeled horses, and we!

Plantation House stands out among the main attractions of the island. In 1977, the French film Farewell Emmanuelle was filmed here, and a little later this striking example of so-called Creole architecture was even the residence of the country's president. But the main thing on La Digue is of course not the buildings, but the uninhibited beauty of the landscapes: a great many extraordinary plants, innumerable flocks of birds that you have hardly met before, a rich palette of colors and shades, a variety of aromas - it seems that nature here allows itself absolutely everything! We will try to visit as many picturesque bays as possible during our bike ride, not missing the opportunity to once again swim in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean.

Tuesday. Crossing La Digue - Curieuse

But now it's time to say goodbye to the island of La Digue, which has become such a home for us, and visit another Seychelles pearl. The wind fills our sails and very soon we drop anchor near the small island of Curieuse. The islands of the archipelago are located very close to each other, which leaves more time to enjoy their pristine nature.

There is a national park on the island of Curieuse; this is one of two places in the world where the famous Coco de mer palm tree, depicted on the coat of arms of the Seychelles, grows. Some devout natives seriously believe that the biblical serpent tempted Adam and Eve with the fruit of the Seychelles palm tree, and not with some banal apple. In addition, there is a plantation of huge land turtles, some of which grow up to 250 kilograms over a hundred and fifty years! Selfies with such cuties will be unforgettable and guaranteed to get the maximum number of likes!

Wednesday. Passage Curieuse - Praslin

Having seen enough of the giants of the Curieuse island, we return to Praslin. So that on this winter day you can soak up the warm salt water, dance on the ocean shore, feeling the heat of the white sand with your feet, soak up the gentle, but insidious sun with your whole body, have a picnic under the relict Seychelles palms, and forget that ever anywhere there is snow and cold. If you get tired of such a vacation, you can use the many paths for pedestrian research and get acquainted with those sights that, by an annoying oversight, were not covered on the first day of our trip. A farm for processing black pearls, tropical plantations of exotic spices, many rare species of exotic birds, colorful restaurants - what is there not in Praslin.

Thursday. Passage Praslin - Sainte Anne

We raise the anchor and head south to the Santa Anna Marine Reserve. There is only one hotel on the island, so it is never particularly noisy and crowded here - what tourists need who have escaped to the paradise islands from their hectic everyday life! The smallest sand, sliding through your fingers, beckons to lie down, relax and forget. The water here is so transparent that the seabed can be seen from many meters away, the ocean not only reveals its secrets, but also caresses the body like a warm blanket. Here everyone can go snorkeling and observe both tropical fish of all colors of the rainbow and more important ocean inhabitants: sea turtles, rays, barracuda and, if you're lucky, even sharks. But fear not, Seychelles sharks are small and completely harmless!

Friday. Transition Sainte Anne - Mahe.

We say goodbye to Santa Anna Island and go to the capital of the Seychelles - the city of Victoria, located on the largest island of the Mahe archipelago. Victoria was founded in the 18th century and named after the Queen of England. Experienced tourists can say that there are not so many historical monuments in Victoria - the colorful Clock Tower, Zom Lib, the National Museum, the village of artisans - these are, perhaps, all the main attractions. But this is more than compensated by the richness of nature - the Seychelles Morne reserve, the royal garden Jardin du Roi, the Mont Fleury botanical garden with many rare plants that you will not find anywhere outside the archipelago!

A walk around the capital will end with an unforgettable festive dinner, during which you can taste Creole, Thai, Indian and French cuisines.

Saturday. Mahe

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end - our tropical adventure has come to an end. Finally, we will certainly take a walk along the beach to once again see how the heavens connect with water and capture this moment in our hearts. Let's say goodbye to the yacht, which became for us a fulcrum in this journey, which took us away from reality. Seychelles seems to be created in order to take a vital pause and find inner peace and tranquility. But the passage of time is relentless, the hot southern sun will remain a tan on our skin and warmth in our hearts, and it's time for us to return home to share the new-found wealth of impressions with family and friends. Of course, we will not be able to convey in words the taste and caress of salt water, wild aromas of extraordinary colors, soft touches of dazzling white sand, but we can infect others with sincere positiveness and kindness.