The Seychelles: A Dream Honeymoon Destination as Experienced by Teagan
Working in the travel industry definitely has its perks and when the Seychelles Tourism Board invited me to join 8 others in the Seychelles for a week, it was definitely an exciting moment to say the least. As I boarded the Etihad flight to the Seychelles via Abu Dhabi, I wondered what awaited me on the other end having never visited the Indian Ocean before. As the plane descended on what I can only describe as a tropical paradise, I saw the sparkling turquoise Indian Ocean and white sandy beaches, but what I did not prepare for was the lush green mountain landscape that really differentiates the Seychelles from other destinations and I felt a sudden urge to explore this tropical honeymoon destination.
We were greeted by smiling, friendly Seychellois and were given a bottle of water and cold towel each which was well received in the warm Seychelles climate. As we drove out of the airport, the view was simply indescribable with the Indian Ocean to one side where it looks as if giants have dropped large perfectly formed rocks into the turquoise water and to the left where lush green mountains lay. This was the beginning of our whirlwind adventure of our week spent in the Seychelles. We arrived early at our first stop: Constance Ephelia.
Constance Ephelia is a five-star resort on Mahé and one that we highly recommend to honeymoon couples, so it was great to really experience the product we sell. We were greeted with a refreshing lemon drink and sent for breakfast, which was great considering we were not due to check-in until later. The breakfast choices were incredible, ranging from fruit, crepes, waffles, sausages, bacon, yoghurts and my personal favourite, the egg station where the chef would make you fresh fried eggs or omelettes with any ingredients. Once we had breakfast it was off to check-in to our rooms and were treated to an upgrade to the spacious Senior Suites.
As I stepped into my private Senior Suite at Constance Ephelia, I couldn’t believe the size with a large living area with lounge and Apple TV welcoming me to Constance Ephelia. After stretching out on the large bed and putting on my robe and slippers, I sat on my private balcony and listened to the sounds of the ocean and found myself relaxing for the first time in months. If the Seychelles can do this to me on the first day, just think how relaxed you will become after one week spent during your Seychelles honeymoon. It was time to meet the group as we got a shuttle bus to the South of the Island where our Seychelles Tourism Board representative Lena showed us around the island she calls home.
We arrived at Chez Batista Restaurant on what you would only describe as a perfect day, the sun was shining, emphasising the rich blue of the Indian Ocean and gleaming white sands. The restaurant was literally on the beach (shoes not needed) where we enjoyed beachfront views and delicious fresh Creole food of coconut fish curry, rice and my favourite green papaya salad. The cuisine is deliciously light, fresh and full of flavour. After a delicious lunch and some time on the beach, we headed back to the hotel where we had some time to get ready before meeting on the North Beach at Constance Ephelia for a dinner arranged by the General Manager. The restaurant Seselwa is a buffet style restaurant and features different themed nights. The night we ate there, it was a seafood evening and the fresh seafood available was too good to miss. We ended the evening tasting the homemade flavoured rums made from fresh ingredients, my favourite was the coconut rum with pieces of coconut inside.
It was an early start to explore the city of Victoria on Mahé and a guide led us through the city, where it was evident to see the English influence on this tropical island with a miniature Big Ben in the centre of the city. We had some free time to explore the city’s market where the local’s go to buy fresh fruit and vegetables and the traditional cuisine of salted fish. We took some time to buy local souvenirs and speak with the locals. I would definitely recommend a visit to Victoria if you are staying on Mahé during your Seychelles honeymoon as it is good to experience the culture and traditions of the island.
After a busy morning of shopping, it was off for a well-earned lunch at Marie-Antoinette Restaurant, the oldest Creole restaurants in Seychelles. The food was delicious where we shared traditional Seychellois dishes, I particularly enjoyed the aubergine fritters – there were deliciously addictive. Don’t forget to check out the resident tortoises at the back of the restaurant. After a brief stop in Mahé, it was time to head to the airport again and head to Desroches Island. We climbed aboard a small plane which seats approximately 18 people and is owned by Desroches Island. Just keep in mind, the baggage limit is only 15kgs, but don’t worry about that, you won’t need much – ladies, leave the heels at home for this one.
The flight from Mahé to Desroches Island is just 35 minutes and in my opinion, is the perfect way to arrive at any hotel. As we were boarding, the pilot told me to sit on the left side of the plane with a smile, so I did and I will let you into a little secret, the left side offers the most incredible view as you approach Desroches Island. As we flew through the clouds I noticed on my left the island approaching in the distance and as we swooped around the island, I got to see just how small and tropical this private island is. The coolest part is the runway which runs directly through the middle of the island, I mean how many private islands have runways? As we were landing, the team of staff were waving at us to welcome us to the island, we felt like celebrities and we loved it.
From the moment we arrived at Desroches Island we were greeted with a friendly team of staff with their flip flops on and shorts, a nice relaxed feel. Now, this island is simply made for honeymooners, Desroches Island is as close to heaven on Earth as you will find. We jumped aboard the back of a truck as we rode through the lush gardens of the island with the wind sweeping through our hair, it was just so laidback and I loved it. We arrived at a private four bedroom pool villa and were told we would be separated into two pool villas where we would all have our own private bedroom. My bedroom opened up directly onto a stretch of beach hidden by trees with an infinity pool to the left. We were each given a cute bicycle with a picnic basket on the front to get around the island. Each private pool villa had its own kitchen, living room and outdoor living areas with sunbeds. I never wanted to leave!
Our personal Butler greeted us with a letter from the Resort Management inviting us to sunset drinks at the bar, so we jumped on the back of the truck again as we headed to meet the others for drinks, we wore sandals and one of us even wore heels for the occasion, but the hotel management told us to just take our shoes off and feel the sand between our toes, it was so relaxed and everyone was so happy.
The next morning we woke up to a fresh coconut left at our doors before I enjoyed a nice long walk along the beach, definitely the best way to wake up in the Seychelles! We rode our bikes to breakfast and enjoyed a hosted tour around the island to visit the other villas. We found out Desroches Island was where the Royal couple, Will and Kate spent their honeymoon. We had the afternoon free to relax and make the most of our private pool villa before an evening meal with the hotel management on the beach.
Our final day on Desroches Island and we definitely made the most of it as a group of us were treated to a snorkelling trip from two members of the excellent water sports team. A few of us were hesitant jumping into the open waters, but the team were very helpful and guided us to the best spots where I even got to swim alongside a turtle. It was an experience I will never forget. It was then time for us to leave Desroches Island as the team of staff came to wave goodbye to us and I said I would always go back. I highly recommend Desroches Island, it really is the ideal location for your Seychelles honeymoon where you can just relax and enjoy the company of each other in a beautiful location.
Next, it was off to Praslin Island as we jumped from one plane to the next and landed just as the sun was setting into Praslin. We then enjoyed an overnight stay at Constance Lemuria Resort, the sister property of Constance Ephelia. I loved the feel of this resort with its dark colours and tropical luxury. The Hotel Manager hosted our dinner and it was an excellent night with delicious food and great conversations. A few of us headed to the bar where the bar staff created delicious cocktails for us to try and the DJ played requests.
The next morning was an early start, ready for a busy day as we were taken to Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a tropical rainforest home to the Coco de Mer, the icon of the Seychelles. Our guide showed us the different flora and fauna of the Seychelles and answered any questions we had. It was time to head to Praslin Jetty where we caught a ferry to La Digue Island. I highly recommend to visit La Digue during your Seychelles honeymoon, it is a beautiful island with some amazing beaches. You can stay on the island, however I think a day trip is enough as you can spend the day soaking up the sun on the beaches and getting some great photos on the giant rock formations coming out of the Indian Ocean. As the sun began to set, it was time to head back to Praslin where we had another hostel dinner and headed to bed early after a busy day.
The next morning we had a site inspection and visited the golf course and hotel beaches. Constance Lemuria is home to some of the most incredible beaches I have ever seen and would be the perfect location for your Seychelles wedding. To give us a feel for all the modes of transport, we caught the ferry back from Praslin to Mahé, which was definitely an experience. As it was September, the Sea was a little rough, so I would recommend if taking the ferry across to sit up the top in the fresh air or take the plane journey back for a quicker journey. Our last night was spent back at Constance Ephelia on Mahe where we enjoyed a barbeque on the beach and Lena, from the Seychelles Tourism Board told us if you eat breadfruit in the Seychelles then legend has it that you will return, so it is safe to say we all ate plenty of breadfruit that night.
Well, our final day in the Seychelles and it is safe to say none of us were ready to leave. The past week had been amazing and we had experienced and seen so much in such a short amount of time. The last day was spent with a hosted breakfast at the Presidential Villa where we got to take some incredible photos and say goodbye to the Hotel Manager. We were taken around the resort to see all the suites and the Hillside Pool Villas were definitely a stand-out and the perfect location for your Seychelles honeymoon. To top off the trip, our Constance Hotels and Resorts representative Emma organised a relaxing spa treatment for us at Constance Ephelia’s USpa, the biggest in the Indian Ocean with private treatment rooms.
Teagan’s Top Tips for a Seychelles Honeymoon
Where to stay for a Seychelles honeymoon?
Your Seychelles honeymoon is yours to do with what you please, whether you want to relax and soak up the sun and if so, I definitely recommend staying at Desroches Island. For couples looking to explore more of the Seychelles, I would definitely recommend splitting your stay between Mahé and Praslin, the Constance Ephelia and Constance Lemuria are both excellent choices for your Seychelles honeymoon or for couples feeling extra adventurous, split your stay between all three. I would recommend a minimum of two weeks to fit some relaxation time in too.
Must Do’s during your Seychelles honeymoon:
Drink lots of coconut water, the fresh coconut water is so thirst quenching and makes for a great photo! Jump into the Indian Ocean with a snorkel and enjoy the views below, you won’t be disappointed. Opt for Half Board on Mahé and Praslin, there are so many great restaurants around the islands, just book a transfer to take you out.
You can’t leave Seychelles without…
Trying the breadfruit, it is something unlike anything else. Also, you never know, you could be returning back if you eat the breadfruit during your Seychelles honeymoon. It would make a great anniversary holiday.
Seychelles Travel Tips:
- Break up the trip with a stop-over in Dubai if travelling with Emirates or Abu Dhabi if travelling with Etihad.
- Don’t forget to get a photo with a Coco De Mer, the Seychelles is the only place in the world you will find one of these.
- Start your day with a morning walk along the beach, it really is the best way to start the day.
- Don’t worry about an adaptor, they use the same plugs as the UK!