La Digue

La Digue in Seychelles has the smallest population of the main granitic islands with around 2,800 inhabitants. This statistic is reflected in the slow pace of life and immediate sense of winding down that visitors enjoy upon landing. Very few cars are allowed on La Digue and transport is mainly by ox cart or bicycle. Bicycles can be hired easily on arrival and allow visitors to discover the many beaches of the island at their leisure. Among the attractions is the l’Union estate, a restored planter’s house that used to be at the centre of a vanilla plantation. The estate offers a rather rambling but interesting insight into settler life on the island.

Within the l’Union estate is Anse Source d’Argent, one of the most photographed beaches in the world. With towering granite boulders and the Eagle’s Nest Mountain rising into the clouds behind you, the scenery is only surpassed by a dip in the warm, still waters. The waves break on the reef a short distance from the beach creating a calm, shallow lagoon. This is a perfect area for snorkelling, and visitors can spend hours dreaming their way through an underwater world of blue coral, a rainbow variety of fish, anemones and urchins. Afterwards you can relax on the beach and take a walk across the perfect, powder white sands.

You may also have time to visit the flycatcher reserve where you may be lucky enough to see the Seychelles black paradise Flycatcher, one of the rarest birds in the world.