Article: Some Destinations Fall Short of the Fantasy, the Seychelles Isn’t One of Them
A childhood dream brought to life, and why the real thing outshone even my high expectations.
Some destinations seduce us with glossy promises, only to falter under the weight of our expectations. The Seychelles is not one of them.
In fact, it is one of very few places I’ve visited where reality didn’t just meet the fantasy, it quietly, powerfully surpassed it. Not because it’s more polished, more luxurious, or more exotic than I imagined, but because it remains utterly and unapologetically itself. The Seychelles doesn’t need to try too hard. It just is. And that is its magic.
My love affair with these islands began long before I could point to them on a map. Growing up in suburban England in the 1980s, exotic travel was the stuff of other people’s stories.
For me, it was the Seychellois friend whose family photo filled boxes with scenes so vivid they almost looked fictional.
Granite boulders the size of small houses, sand as white as sugar, sea in every imaginable shade of blue.
We’d sit at her kitchen table, eating fragrant Creole rice and fish, flicking through glossy images that seemed to exist outside of reality.
I couldn’t believe such places were real. But I quietly promised myself that one day, somehow, I would see it with my own eyes.
From Imagined Paradise to Professional Calling
Years passed, life happened, and travel became my world. When the opportunity arose to work as a Seychelles Specialist, I took it without hesitation. Suddenly, the destination I’d only known in daydreams became my professional canvas.
I was tasked not just with selling it, but with knowing it intimately.
I’ve spent much time visiting its islands, meeting with hoteliers, walking beaches at dawn, learning to navigate its seasons, subtleties and lesser-known secrets.
But my first visit? That was something else entirely.
Arriving in Mahé for the first time felt like stepping into a memory I hadn’t made yet. I recognised the backdrop and the particular slant of the light from those childhood photo albums. The scent in the air—salt, earth, frangipani, felt oddly familiar. And yet nothing prepared me for how the Seychelles would make me feel.
There’s a calmness to the place that slows your breath, and a warmth (not just from the sun, but from the people) that envelops you without effort.
The Truth Behind the Postcards
The brochures get a lot right. Yes, the beaches really are that pristine. Yes, the granite boulders are sculptural and dramatic, and yes, the ocean looks like it’s been filtered for effect.
But what the glossy spreads never quite capture is the soul of the Seychelles. It’s in the way locals will pause for a proper chat, not just a passing pleasantry. It’s in the food, layered with spice, salt, and comfort. It’s in the Creole rhythms you hear at roadside cafés and the scent of cinnamon drifting through market stalls. And it’s in the quiet confidence of a destination that doesn’t shout for attention, it simply welcomes you in.
As a Seychelles specialist, my job is to know when to go, where to stay, and how to match people with itineraries that suit their travel aspirations. But here, it’s less about the 'what' and more about the 'how'.
How you want to feel? How you like to move through a place?
Whether you want barefoot luxury or rustic remoteness, island-hopping by helicopter or one island for slow days on a single beach, with no agenda but rest and relaxation. The Seychelles delivers.
Denis Private Island, Seychelles
The Art of Travelling Deeper
To experience the Seychelles properly, you must resist the urge to overplan. Yes, have a plan (preferably, designed by a Seychelles Specialist) and stay somewhere charming (and there are plenty of exquisite places to choose from) but also make time to wander. Visit local markets in Victoria. Taste breadfruit curry in a family-run eatery. Take the slow boat to La Digue and cycle past vanilla plantations and ox carts. Swim off the rocks on Anse Lazio, then sip fresh coconut water straight from the shell.
You’ll find the best beaches by accident. You’ll remember the meals you didn’t expect. And if you’re lucky, you’ll have a conversation that stays with you long after your tan has faded.
When I have visited, sometimes for work, sometimes for play, I see something new. A detail I’d missed before. A shift in light. A deeper sense of belonging. The Seychelles isn’t static. It doesn’t reveal itself all at once. It invites you to come back, again and again.
Island-Hopping Itinerary Examples (Seychelles)
I have clients who’ve chosen island hopping in the Seychelles for solo trips, honeymoons, milestone birthdays, and private group celebrations. It’s straightforward when you know how.
What I always say is this: the islands are beautiful, yes, but it’s their rhythm that leaves a mark, so get the itinerary right in advance of your arrival.
These are two very popular ways to island hop in the Seychelles, but there are plenty more:
1) Denis Island → Félicité Island → Praslin (by helicopter)
For those who want the Seychelles in its most elevated form, a helicopter island-hop is the ultimate way to travel. Begin with the serene seclusion of Denis Island, where barefoot luxury and untouched nature set the tone. From there, soar over the sparkling Indian Ocean to Félicité Island, a private-island haven where dramatic granite cliffs and hidden coves feel like a secret. Finish on Praslin, home to the iconic Anse Lazio and Vallée de Mai, a place where the landscape is as legendary as the beaches. This itinerary is pure indulgence, with each island offering a distinctly different slice of Seychelles paradise.
2) Mahé → Praslin → La Digue (by ferry)
This classic island-hop is the perfect introduction to the Seychelles’ varied charm. Start on Mahé where vibrant markets, Creole culture and world-class beaches create the perfect first impression. From there, take the ferry to Praslin, where lush rainforest and postcard-perfect shores like Anse Lazio await. Finish on La Digue, a slower-paced island where bicycles replace cars, vanilla plantations line the roads, and the iconic Anse Source d’Argent makes every moment feel like a dream. It’s a beautifully balanced itinerary — lively, lush, and utterly idyllic.
(This option depends on your flight arrival / departure time into/ out of Mahe - you may be best to make Mahe your last stop, and make your way straight to Praslin, then La Digue and finish on Mahe)
There’s something almost sacred about the stillness you find here in the Seychelles. A kind of grounded luxury that doesn’t need embellishment.
For a first visit, my advice is simple: choose your itinerary carefully, stay long enough to settle into the pace of life, and let the destination lead your pace.
Just (26th January 2026) as I’m sharing why this Indian Ocean beauty never fails to steal hearts, Andi Peters over on Good Morning Britain has launched a brilliant competition to win: £52,000, a Mercedes & a Holiday to the Seychelles, Staying at Niva Labriz!
When I stayed here, it was still known as Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, but today Niva Labriz (Silhouette Island) remains one of the Seychelles most refined luxury escapes. This five-star, all-villa resort sits within a protected Marine Park, offering a rare sense of privacy framed by soaring mountains and powder-soft white sand.
Call it coincidence… or call it your sign to ENTER NOW.
Let’s get planning your Seychelles adventure today, contact us to start designing the perfect, tailor-made itinerary: hello@loveofbeaches.com
