Destinations Africa
Kaitlyn Rosati
The Seychelles, located in the Indian Ocean, is a sought-after tropical paradise and one of the best honeymoon destinations for travelers from all over the world. While the country is made up of 115 islands, only eight of them are inhabited. Amongst those eight is one of the most picturesque islands in the world: La Digue.
La Digue is home to Anse Source D’Argent, a beach with dramatic granite rocks that create a naturally stunning scene. The Seychelles are uniquely the only mid-oceanic granitic islands in the world, as well as home to some of the world’s rarest fruits — like the coco de mer — and to several species of tortoises.
But getting to this remote slice of paradise requires some planning. You might also need to save up since it can be an expensive destination, but a visit to the Seychelles, particularly to La Digue, is well worth the effort.
How to get to La Digue
fokke baarssen/Shutterstock
The Seychelles are in a remote part of the Indian Ocean, so you’ll need to fly to get there. All international flights into the Seychelles go to Mahé International Airport (SEZ). Many travelers choose to spend a few days on Mahé Island, the largest island in the country, best known for Baie Beau Vallon, one of Africa’s most beautiful beaches.
If you want to get to Seychelles’ most famous beach, and one of the best beaches in the world for that matter, you’ll need to make your way to La Digue to visit Anse Source d’Argent. From Mahé, there are two ways to get to La Digue. The most efficient way is to take the Cat Cocos high-speed ferry. The journey takes around 90 minutes with one short stop in Praslin (another island in the Seychelles). The ferry usually runs two to three times a day and is highly recommended to book in advance.
Aside from the high-speed ferry, there is the option to fly from Mahé to Praslin, and then take a 20-minute ferry to La Digue from Praslin. This option is not necessarily faster, because, despite the flight only being 20 minutes, you still need to transfer to get on the ferry, and it ends up being more of a hassle than a convenience.
What to do on the island (other than bask in its beauty)
Finn Hafemann/Getty Images
Once you make it to the paradise of La Digue, what is there to do other than bask in its natural beauty? One of the most exciting activities to really get a grasp on just how clear the water is in La Digue is to take a ride in a glass-bottom crystal kayak.
The most famous beach in La Digue is Anse Source d’Argent, which is a must for any visitor to the island. Anse Source d’Argent is best known for its monstrous granite rock formations, creating dramatic scenery contrasting against the unbelievably blue water. You’ll want to spend a day here taking in one of the most unique beaches in the world.
Many visitors to the Seychelles are interested in seeing the giant tortoises, or the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, native to the islands. In La Digue, you can visit these gentle giants at L’Union Estate Park.
Finally, if you’ve ever wanted to own one of the rarest fruits in the world, you can purchase it on the island. Coco de mer is funnily shaped like a derrière, and if you want to own this cheeky rarity, they can be purchased only at a licensed gift shop. Make sure to get a government certificate when you purchase it to ensure its legitimacy. Note that coco de mer is not found anywhere else in the world, and one of these funny-looking fruits typically costs $300 or more.
