Seychelles

The Seychelles is as close to a natural visual paradise as you can ever hope to see. Plus it's geographically, botanically and culturally diverse. So a Seychelles beach holiday makes for the perfect end to an East African safari. Or as a standalone week-long escape in the sun.

A ‘thousand miles from anywhere’ is the catch-phrase. The Seychelles archipelago of 109 islets and six larger islands lies 4º south of the Equator. This means it's outside the cyclone belt. plus it has no malaria or serious diseases. Its people are a multi-ethnic blend of settlers from Europe, Africa and Asia who have assimilated different traditions and religions into the relaxed Seychellois culture.

Indeed a Seychelles beach holiday offers lots of contrast. Some islands are like tiny emeralds dropped in the azure ocean, home only to birds and indolent holiday-makers. Other Seychelles islands have rainforests and waterfalls to beckon you away from the white powder beaches. Searching for the perfect viewpoint becomes as addictive as the hunt for the perfect undiscovered cove.

So a Seychelles beach holiday usually appeals more to the nature-lover than the glamour-seeker. It’s a place to see things rather than to be seen. Sports fisherman, divers, birders and families alike enjoy the ultimate escape from life’s pressures on one of the private islands. And of course, the pampering and delicious seafood appeals to honeymooners and all romantics.