Come, fall in love with the Seychelles

Take a handful of exotic islands, and disperse them across the Indian Ocean - a thousand miles off the coast of Africa. Blend with white sand, turquoise water, and stir in some tropical spice and fruits. Surround in heaps of warm, blue water and wrap up with a dusting of travellers steeped in heaven. That’s my special recipe for the Seychelles.

The sky was vibrant, the water was turquoise and the grass was really green. The plane approached the hills of Mahé Island, and landed at the airport with views of the runway, the neighbouring islands and coastline. This was a dream come true!!

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The minute I stepped off the plane, I took a fresh breath of tropical air, which smelled fresh, like banana trees. There was a distinctive humidity in the air and it was hot, with the thermometer indicating 270C. I immediately went through the passport security checks, got my entry stamp in the shape of a coco de mer when at last I saw the sign I've been eagerly waiting for: "Welcome to the Seychelles".

To be totally honest, I never planned to visit The Seychelles islands. It just happened.

But tell me, have you ever dreamt of sitting on one of the most stunning beaches on earth? I’m so grateful to say, I had the opportunity to set foot on the islands, called The Seychelles!

Before I'm going to share our adventures in the Seychelles islands, I'd like you to get ready for an experience of heaven.

Intriguingly, the Seychelles is world renowned to be the home of nature’s best kept secrets. In its each curve, a secret is waiting to be discovered. Untouched, striking, breath-taking, words are less to label the exquisiteness of this heaven.

The contrast of colours, cultures and flavours styles the island so alluring making it a magnificent place, a true paradise.

Pinch me, I can’t believe it

I was fêting the variety of colours and casts found on the dream beaches of the Indian Ocean with the complete spectrum: Sun, Beach and Water in every feasible shade.

This Island nation is certainly blessed, because of its welcoming people, mesmerising climate, far-fetched scenery, and since it relishes freedom from most natural hazards. This great recipe makes the Seychelles one of the best tourist places in the world.

Even though water is colourless here, as it sparkles in hypnotising shades, this is actually like a fairytale.

The never ending flora and fauna, the unending beaches and endless Pina Coladas, the warm ocean water, I can’t take off my mind from here!!

It’s more or less too much to take in and I found myself rubbing my eyes with incredulity, that this could truly be nature’s best-kept secret, a piece of heaven here on earth, and that was the ‘pinch me, I can’t believe I’m experiencing something so heavenly’ moment.

Ready to explore

Even though tired after 12 hours of travel, my enthusiasm at last kicked in. I forgot about sleeping, eating or getting over my jet lag: I was ready to explore. After a while, I was sipping coconut water.

It may come as a surprise that the Seychelles not only furnishes luxury resort accommodation (out of the budget range for most travellers), but also loads of mid-range guesthouses and self-catering apartments & chalets.

I stayed at Hotel Kempinski which is so far the best hotel I have stayed in. The beach was very clean, lunch spread was huge and everything was delicious. There were around 3-4 Indian dishes in the menu.

I think there is no better means to venture around the island of Mahé than by car. I wanted the flexibility to visit all beaches, trek all trails and drive to the shops at any given time. Fortunately, the Seychelles Tourism Board arranged a special cab for me.

Before visiting the Seychelles, I had heard a lot about the enthralling tropical islands. A secluded island archipelago situated in the Indian Ocean north east of Madagascar, the Seychelles has fascinated visitors from all over the world for over 40 years - mostly due to the islands many beautiful beaches, amazing mountain scenery, lush vegetation, and exceptional flora and fauna.

On my second day, I decided to visit the only Hindu Temple in the Seychelles, which was not far from the center of Victoria. It had nice aroma, spiritual divine - a must see place for people who love going to see different temples.

Anyone expecting large shopping centres and streets in the Seychelles will quickly learn that this is far from the reality. Instead of mega shopping malls you will find some small interesting shops and markets that are somewhat laid-back. Some of the specialty shops on Mahe Island deal with locally-made products such as tea and perfume. I found the flavour and aroma of these products totally exceptional.

Fresh fruit, vegetables, and fish can be found at small stalls on some of the Seychelles' streets. I also tasted the mouth-watering chapatti stuffed with dhal curry (influenced by India but with an African twist) at the night street market in Mahe.

Colours of the Carnaval

Day three: It was approximately two hours to go before the commencement of the Carnaval, but there was already a vibe of keen anticipation in the air. I was surrounded by beautiful faces painted in vibrant colours, some with flashy feathers in their hair and yet others in bright wigs. People - both locals and tourists - started lining up along the main street of Victoria, the tiny capital city of the Seychelles on Mahé Island. Though people were keen to grab prime positions, there was no pushing or shoving, no raised voices.

I had teaser glimpses of the performances from the different troupes at the inaugural events on the preceding days, and I knew what to expect. I was indeed looking forward to the dancers from Brazil.

The carnival showcased a charged atmosphere wrapped in vivacious colours laced with loud music, eccentric costumes, flashy characters, and grating bodies bringing both participants and spectators together in a scene of fun, enthusiasm and hospitality as one rolling mass of rambunctious energy. This was in a nutshell what Carnaval International de Victoria is all about.

The enthusiasm of the Carnaval was hardly over the next morning, when I head out for a hike on the hills to see the views from Mission Point.

Praslin was waiting for me!

My trip in the Seychelles took me to the Island of Praslin next. Off I headed by local ferry, an efficient and simple way to travel between the Islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. I was standing on the deck of a ferry, with the wind fondling my hair and the seagulls whispering my name, as I numbered the shades of blue in the vast ocean before me.

An hours trip on choppy seas (don’t forget the sea sick tablets) and I arrived at the port. It seemed that I was in a completely different country. I remember constantly exchanging smiles with people.

Praslin revolves almost totally around tourism and all the people of the island are very laid-back, the population a portion of what it is on Mahe. Less hilly than Mahe, but just as stunning, Praslin is effortless to get around on the local bus network, so travellers can discover the many spectacular beaches and unseen coves by local transport and on foot.

As on Mahe, I was surprised by the splendour of the island and also the lack of people on so many of the beaches. It was uncomplicated to get away from the crowds and find our own private beach were we spent the day playing in the waves, snorkelling, catching crabs and building sandcastles. Many of the beaches are wild and secluded, while others are line with resorts but even on these resort lined beaches, it’s easy to find a private spot.

Praslin has its share of resorts and luxury hotels catering to the rich, but just as on Mahe, Praslin has plenty of locally run guesthouses and well-equipped self-catering apartments. I spent two wonderful days at a guest house directly opposite the well-known white sand beach of Cote D’Or. This area is the tourist hub of Praslin lined with shops, restaurants, and dive centres. Day trips to the nearby islands of Curieuse, St Pierre, Cousin, and Aride can also be arranged.

If you visit Praslin Island, it's worth taking a day trip to Curiese Island, where you can get pleasure from gentle, giant tortoises, an exquisite beach and marine park. This secluded island embraces the eco-friendly simple way of life. There are no hotels here and day tourism is limited, but spending a day here makes you feel as if you have traveled back centuries, which is truly soothing and pleasant.

Experience a royal honeymoon

I had often heard that the Seychelles was a tropical playground classified to the lifestyles of the rich and renowned. But it is without a doubt a destination that suits any type of traveller - it lends itself to groping travel as much as the more conventional resort stay.

Yes, it is known for its quixotic beauty and epic luxury. Well thought-out to be a play field of the riches, it is gradually rising as the hottest honeymoon destination, particularly for Indian couples. Its white sand, untouched turquoise water, and ultra-luxurious resorts & hotels make for a good combination to start a new life together on your honeymoon.

The Seychelles offers everything you’d want on your honeymoon - sparkling beaches, delicate exquisiteness, delish delicacies, heart-warming people and carnival-like spirit of the place.

And it fascinates nature lovers, hikers, divers, golfers, honeymooners, and those looking to loosen up and get away from it all. The laid-back people, the all year round warm weather, the white sandy beaches and turquoise blue waters, the ease of getting around, and the huge range of accommodations available make it the perfect island retreat!

The Seychelles is home to some of the world’s most photographed beaches. Yes, it is. It also had a moment of eminence when Kate & William went there for their royal honeymoon. Feeling royal myself, I had to add it on after my Kenyan safari.

During my stay there, I rekindled my love affair with the Indian Ocean, spent lazy afternoons on a hammock, snorkelled into the underwater world, rediscovered the goodness of Creole curries, and settled into the island life.

I was feeling sad to be at the end of my trip. The drive back to the airport - tears flowing down my face. Me falling in love with the Seychelles; would love to be here again!!

*Note: I was in Seychelles on invitation from the Seychelles Tourism Board.

From the September 2017 issue of FHM India.