Mahé, largest island of the Seychelles, is undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful islands thanks to its seventy-odd beaches of splendid white sand, each having a particular character of its own, its verdant tropical flora, hills and mountains covered by a luxuriant vegetation, and its striking rock formations of pure granite that often come right down to the sea.

The island covers an area of little more than fifty square miles, is some 17 miles long and has a width of about 4.5 miles; the highest mountain, Morne Seychellois, rises to some 3050 feet above sea level.

Victoria, the island’s capital (about 15 minutes by car from our home), has about twenty thousand inhabitants and must surely be one of the world’s smallest capitals. Heart of the economic and political life of the archipelago, its lively and ever busy streets with its wealthy of shops can be enjoyed on foot. At the centre of a picturesque neighbourhood full of old-time colonial houses, you will find Market Street with its covered market in typical Creole style, where the many stalls, full of fresh fish and vegetables, will convey to you the colours and the flavour of local life.
The market is open Monday to Friday from 7.00 a.m. to 4 p.m., while on Saturdays it opens at 6.00 a.m. and closes at noon. But Saturday morning is a particularly interesting moment for visiting it.

Within 15 minutes by car of our home, you will find the famous beach of Beau Vallon, two long miles of incredibly fine and white sand, where you can loll in the shade of its palms and Takamaka trees. Beloved and preferred by both locals and tourists, it is particularly suitable for families with children on account of its calm waters and is also a great favourite with those who love a stroll by the side of the sea and end it with a refreshing drink or by enjoying some fresh fish at one of the restaurants they will find on their way.

Here we shall mention only the beaches we love best, leaving you the joy of discovering and exploring the others:

Anse Soleil and Petit Anse, in the southern part of the island, can be reached by leaving the car at a certain point and then covering the final short distance on foot. Two splendid beaches hidden by a dense vegetation and surrounded by granite rocks.
Anse Intendance, immense, spectacular and only barely known, a place where you can walk alone for miles on end.
Anse Royale, excellent for swimming and exploring the sea bottom, a hunting ground for fishermen with their characteristic pirogues.
Baie Lazare, a fine large beach surrounded by green promontories, with calm waters for a good swim and beautiful pathways that invite you to explore the interior.
Anse Takamaka, which takes its name from the typical leaf-lade trees that offer their shade all along the beach.