After some time on Praslin island and La Digue, our final stop in Seychelles was to the big island of Mahe. At 61 square miles and home to 77,000 residents, Mahe is by far the largest and most populated island in the archipelago. Mahe is also home to the international airport making it a great island to either start or end your time in the Seychelles. Great beaches, full scale resorts, hiking, island hopping—Mahe has something for everyone.
— BEAU VALLON —
We spent only two nights on Mahe which was just enough to get a small taste of the island. Home base was a lovely little AirBnb in Beau Vallon on the north-west side of the island. After successfully driving ourselves from the airport to our rental house, we made our way to the beach just a few minutes walk away. Beau Vallon is a long stretch of sand with several restaurants, hotels and water sports rentals lining the beach. The water is shallow and calm, perfect for swimming. There’s a nice pedestrian-only street just off the beach with vendors selling food and souvenirs. As one of the more busy beaches on the island, it’s important not to leave your things unattended as you may return to find them missing.
Stripe Pants | Faithfull the brand (similar here)
White Tee | Madewell
Tan Slides | H&M (similar)
Straw Hat | Lack of Color (similar)
Sunglasses | Ray-ban
Gold Necklace | Missoma London
Beach Bag | Abaca (smaller version)
^La Maison Hibiscus – each unit is one entire floor so plenty of space
^Chateau Elysium, another beautiful rental house right on the beach
— FOUR SEASONS PETITE ANSE —
Our second day we spend at the Four Seasons located on Petite Anse, the most picturesque private cove on the island. Non guests can purchase a day pass allowing you to use all the facilities granted there is availability (beach chairs, towels, pool, restaurants, water equipment, etc. for approx $60 per person.) Make sure to call ahead and ask as this may not be an option during the busy season. When you reach the hotel, a staff member will escort you through the property and down to the beach in a golf cart. Your reserved beach chairs are prepared with fresh towels, a cooler of bottled water, cold towels to clean your hands, a welcome drink and fresh frozen fruit. The water at Petite Anse is a neon turquoise, the kind that looks photoshopped but isn’t. There are lots of options available for water sports including snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards and surfing, as well as knowledgable staff to help guide you should you have any questions on how to use the equipment. There is also a large pool for adults as well as a dedicated kids pool and play area. Being our last day on a two week trip of adventure, we wanted nothing more than to simply relax with all necessities taken care of. The Four Seasons is the most expensive resort on the island with a nightly rate starting at around $1,300 for a garden unit and exceeding $13,000 for the 6 bedroom private villa, making the day pass an excellent option for anyone who wants the pampering experience without the large price tag.
Source
Navy Tie Top | Mango (near exact replica here)
White Linen Shorts | Nice Martin (similar here)
There is such much of this island we didn’t get to see, but I’m glad we at least had a small taste of what Mahe has to offer. With more time I would suggest checking out the other southern beaches including Baie Lazare, Anse Takamaka and Anse Intendence. Additionally snorkeling the nearby St. Anne Marine National Park, hiking in Morne National Park, a visit to the Jardin du Roi Spice Garden, and spending some time exploring Victoria, the worlds smallest capitol city.
SHOP THE POST
Travel Tips:
Mahe is a huge island so renting a car is a good idea if you plan to do some exploring.
The South end of the island has the best beaches but is also more secluded so determine whether you want to spend more time at your resort or more time exploring the island to help in deciding which area is best for you to stay.
Where to Stay:
SPLURGE: Four Seasons, Banyan Tree
MID RANGE: Savoy
BUDGET SELF CATERING: La Maison Hibiscus, Anse Soleil Beachcomber Self Catering
Where to Eat:
CASUAL: Boat House (Beau Vallon), La Plage (Beau Vallon)
FANCY: La Perle Noire (Beau Vallon), ZEZ and Kannel (Four Seasons)
Beach Getaway Packing Essentials:
Sun Bum Travel-Sized Sun Care Pack
Cucumber and Sage Cleansing Towelettes
Lightweight Turkish Beach Towel
Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Photography: Images shot using the Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 R LM OIS Lens
