La Digue -Seychelles, a Brief Love Affair
Not many places can truly do justice to the tag of “paradise beach”, but that was the exact word that came into my head as we arrived in La Digue, Seychelles
It was always in our holiday plan to visit La Digue, since it is famed for some of the most iconic beaches of the Seychelles, with a laid back vibe and lack of vehicles and traffic. It is also a very short ferry ride away from Praslin, where we had been staying for almost two weeks. Another reason for our visit to La Digue was to meet up with our new friends, a lovely Norwegian family we had been hanging out with around Praslin.
This diminutive island of only 10.08 Km2/4 sq miles can easily be explored on a day trip from Mahe or Praslin. Visitors usually land by ferry boat in the village of La Passe on the east coast of the Island, unless money is no object when with a bit more cash to spare you can fly in by helicopter and land in possibly one of the most scenic helipads in the world. That was certainly not our case, we paid about 30 euros for a return ferry ride from Baie St. Anne in Praslin which took about 20 minutes to hop across the calm waters to La Digue.
As we stepped from the ferry we saw our friends Kent, Sessile and Symen holding 4 bicycles and waving to us from the entrance to the pier. We all greeted each other excited to be meeting up again, they had been on the Island for few days already and were eager to show us some of their favourite hang outs. So with a little Island to explore and very little time on our hands we all got on our rented bicycles and set off to explore this pretty Island. Bicycles are the main means of transportation in the Island and to hire it for the day costs around 6 euros. There are very few vehicles on the Island, mostly owned by the hotels. There is a traditional rural and laid back feel to La Digue and although tourism is the main source of income we did not see many big hotels and resorts during our explorations which I was quite relieved to find out, since a big resort would feel very wrong and one can only feel a sense that they don’t belong here at all. Although one can argue that the small population of about 3, 000 people need jobs to survive, as always there are no easy answers to the question on how to best preserve a small Island like this. To keep its charm and identity whist providing a livelihood to local’s?…… It is a tricky one.
We cycled towards the L’Union Estate and its coconut plantation where you have to pay about R$ 100 to enter the fabulous Anse Source D’Argent, possibly the most famous beach in the Seychelles. Certainly the most photographed, located in the most idyllic spot among the naturally sculpted granite boulders that frame the tropical vegetation. The pure white sand is lapped by the transparent and impossibly emerald green waters of the Indian Ocean. A couple of shacks sell fruits and a variety of fruit juices and shakes. We found a perfect spot for us to relax and enjoy few hours in paradise.
The shallow water, although beautiful and inviting, was not great for swimming, but who cares when you are surrounded by such beauty? In any case swimming was far too energetic for us, since hanging out with our friends, relaxing and tasting some of the delicious fresh fruit and refreshments on offer at our charming local beach bar was exactly what we felt most like doing.
The hours passed very quickly and we started feeling very hungry so we got back on our bicycles and cycled around in search of a good place to eat, the choice was limited in particular because it was already 2 pm and many places were not serving lunch any more. In any case we eventually found a lovely restaurant by the sea to eat our last meal altogether, and then bid farewell to our lovely friends. We promised to meet again either in Norway or in England in the very near future.
Our love affair with La Digue was rather brief but fulfilling, although as our ferry pulled away we looked at each other and felt that it would have been lovely to have stayed at least for one night in the Island and experience it more like a local and less like a tourist.
Have you been to the Island of La Digue in the Seychelles? What other paradise Island would you recommend? Let me know in the comments.
Looks as if you enjoyed a lovely afternoon with new found friends. Riding bicycles has always been a favorite activity of ours but sadly, we have not had the chance to ride in a number of years. We need to get back to it sooner than later. The beaches in your photos look lovely and are seemingly a beautiful back drop for a day of relaxation!
Patti, cycling in La Digue was such a great way of seeing the Island and it was lovely to have friends to show us around. Now back at work I often think of those carefree days with nostalgia ?
Nowhere that exotic, Gilda 🙁 It does look rather wonderful 🙂
The most perfect little Island Jo, I wish we could have stayed there longer?
I am digging “La Digue” from your lovely pictures! I wouldn’t mind spending some time there :-). Seychelles is on my list..sigh.. Glad you had a good time.
Hahaha I like your play on the words Kemkem, you would love it there.
Gilda that lead photo could be on a tourism brochure! What a gorgeous beach you found. It looks like paradise to me.
Sue La Digue is the most beautiful place I have ever visited, the granite boulders look like giant sculptures hidden among the tropical vegetation. You would love cycling around it, although it would not be challenging enough for you super fit lady?
Ooh what gorgeous photos! That beach looks like paradise!
Why was it not good for swimming? I grew up in South Africa hearing good things about the Seychelles and have always wanted to visit there.
Peta
Sounds like a perfect island day of exploration; I love renting a bike and cycling around islands too. I think my best ‘paradise islands’ were in the Philippines and also the Gili Islands in Indonesia. The Seychelles does look spectacular though, picture-postcard paradise!
The water is too shallow for swimming near the beach, but further out to sea it would be ok. The Seychelles would not disappoint you, these islands are are true paradise. La Digue was so beautiful I wished we had stayed there overnight.
Good to know!
Hi Peta, thanks for visiting the blog.
Some days are just perfect and it looks like your time on La Digue was one of them! It’s so fun to meet and visit new places with new friends. We value our old friends but our new friends are equally treasured too, especially travelers we meet in passing and stay in touch with. Some we’ve even managed to meet again in new countries and on new continents to pick up where we left off! Anita
Anita, meeting people along the way makes traveling even more worth while and it is amazing how the new friendship develops and deepens much faster than when we are back on home territory. We did have the most pefect day in La Digue and our friends made sure of that. Thanks for commenting ?
I’ve never been to the Seychelles Gilda, but I love your photographs and the fact that you can cycle across the island and find interesting spots. I love islands where’s so much more to do than just snooze!
Count me in!
Victoria, this little Island was so beautiful and had a very exciting vibe, cycling around was a big plus. Like you I enjoy being active and exploring rather than just sit on the beach all day. I am loving all your posts on the summer European challenge on visiting a different country every week.
Thanks! Visiting a different country was exhausting, but well worth the effort lol! 🙂
Yes, traveling can be exhausting but you appear to have endless energy Victoria ?
Linas as fotos. Gostei muito. Awesome Paradise photos!
Obrigada:) Impossivel não tirar fotos lindas nessa ilha maravilhosa. Paisagens belissimas, céu azul e sol radiante…adoramos ter tido a oportunidade de conhecer.