Mauritius Vs. Seychelles for your Honeymoon
Mauritius and Seychelles are two of our most popular destinations for honeymooners. Many may believe that Mauritius and Seychelles are very comparable in the sense that they both offer breathtakingly beautiful beaches, they are both not far from the East Coast of Africa, and were once British and French colonies. They also both offer a delicious cuisine which is a blend of several cultures due their interesting national histories. If you are the type of couple who will want to lounge on the beach for the duration of your honeymoon, then either of these two destinations would be quintessential. However, if you and your loved one will be wanting to be a little more active on your honeymoon, then read on to find out what sort of attractions each of these destinations offer.
A Few Things to do in Mauritius…
Sainte Anne Marine National Park
Whether you are regular divers or you have never dived before, if you love exploring wildlife, you should certainly pay the Sainte Anne Marine National Park a visit. With one of the largest areas of sea grass out of the granitic islands, hawksbill turtles and green turtles are often found roaming these glimmering waters. You may even spot a bottlenose dolphin, as these are not uncommon either. This national marine park is one of best in the world for its variance in underwater life, as well as its amazing reefs, where you can find amazing canyons, drop-offs, crags and ship wrecks to explore. Visit between March and April to experience the waters at their calmest, but they are fine to dive in all year round.
Blue Bay
Blue Bay is an asset to Mauritius as it attracts the chilled-out beach loungers as well as the sportier and adventure seeking types who want to try out all the water-sports. This beach is every holiday-makers dream, with its stunning scenery and blissful atmosphere where one can tune into nature whether it’s in or out of the water.
Black River Gorges National Park
This is certainly a feature for the explorers to check out! Mauritius’ only National Park (on land) is the one and only Black River Gorges National Park. Covering a remarkable 3.5% of the island’s surface area, 300 flowering plant species and 9 native birds abide in this lush foliage. The black River Gorges makes the perfect adventure for people who love to go on walks and hikes and those who love to witness stunning wildlife in its natural habitat.
A Few Things to do in Seychelles…
Praslin Island Museum
Here you can observe some of the Seychelles’ oldest traditions and practises, giving you an enlightening insight to its culture. Its beautiful gardens grow endemic and medicinal plants and are home to many fruit bats which can be witnessed. Visitors can drink Citronelle tea or locally made fruit juice. To get a real taste of what life used to be like in Mauritius, why not participate in some coconut dehusking or breadfruit grilling? A very interesting trip for everyone!
Vallée de Mai – an UNESCO World Heritage Site
Administered by the Seychelles Islands Foundation, Vallée de Mai is the second UNESCO world heritage site in Seychelles. The Vallée is home to 6 native palm species and indigenous trees, as well as being the very last habitat of the black parrot in the world. Considered to be one of the botanical wonders of the world, Vallée de Mai is home to 6000 coco-de-mer trees, it is also so beautiful and enriching that it has been considered to be the original Garden of Eden.
Aldabra Atoll – an UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Aldabra Atoll is set on raised coral and is extremely remote and inaccessible to many, which is why it has been so untouched by people. It is an essential natural habitat for the study of ecological and evolutionary processes. The atoll has an aesthetically scenic appeal to it filled with beautiful formations and colours. One of its most popular attributes is that it is home to the largest kind of giant tortoise in the world! This is definitely worth a visit if you and your partner love to discover untouched nature.
Differences Between the Mauritius and Seychelles…
Beaches: Both destinations have stunning beaches, although they are different. Mauritius’ beaches have coral islands and beautiful lagoons, and Seychelles’ beaches are defined by wind-swept sands with huge granite boulders.
Activities: As Mauritius is one big island, it has lots of opportunity for excursions, golf, water sports and other activities making is the best destination out of the two in terms of the diversity of things to do. Seychelles is best for observing ingenious plants and animals that you may never see anywhere else in the world.
Atmosphere: Once again, due the size of Mauritius there is seemingly more going on, there is more of a general buzz everywhere you go, whereas Seychelles appears more relaxed and quieter. It could be argued that Mauritius is slightly more commercial for this reason, with more tourist driven attractions.
Luxury Hotels: Although both offer stunning 4* and 5* luxury hotels and resorts, it is thought that Seychelles offers a slightly more expensive, top of the range accommodation than Mauritius. This being said, they are both fairly equal in this sense and you are bound to find the perfect resort for you if you book with one of Honeymoon Dream’s travel experts.
Take a look at our stunning Mauritius and Seychelles resorts here. Call us on 0121 440 6268 to speak to one of our honeymoon experts or leave us an online enquiry.