5 Activities To Enjoy On A Seychelles Family Holiday

5 Activities To Enjoy On A Seychelles Family Holiday

As a family holiday destination, the Seychelles offer a peaceful getaway, with plenty of stunning scenery and rare wildlife to spot. The Seychelles are also safe and convenient for children to travel to, with no extra vaccinations being compulsory before your holiday and the islands being practically devoid of any dangerous animals or plants. With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at five of the best activities to enjoy on a Seychelles family holiday.

Visit Vallee de Mai

When you visit the Vallée de Mai, you’ll understand why Praslin Island was originally thought to be the real garden of Eden. A pristine natural rainforest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it really is one not to miss. The Vallée de Mai is famous for the Coco De Mer, the world’s largest nut. Once thought to have grown in an underwater forest (hence the name), their old botanical moniker is Lodoicea callipyge, with the callipyge being Greek for ‘beautiful rump’. The Vallée de Mai is also home to the Black Parrot and many other indigenous species and throughout your visit you’ll be enchanted by the stunning views on offer. 

Discover Marine Life At Ste Anne National Marine Park

If you and your family are looking to thoroughly experience the vast range of marine life on the Seychelles, then Ste Anne National Marine Park is a must. The park consists of six islands, all with their own unique personality and wildlife. Ste Anne Island is the largest of the islands and boasts stunning beaches, Round Island was formerly home to a leper colony but is now known for its offshore snorkelling, and the smallest island of the six is the uninhabited Cachée Island. Over 40,000 tourists visit the islands every year, making them one of the biggest tourist attractions on the Seychelles. Snorkelling is a popular method of discovering the marine life, the Ste Anne channel in particular is a real hotbed for snorkelling, and is home to over 150 species of marine life amongst vivid and colourful reefs. 

Bike Ride On La Digue Island

Despite being the third largest island in the Seychelles, La Digue holds a tiny population of just 2,800, so offers a relaxing getaway from the busier areas of the Seychelles. The island is quiet and remote with very few vehicles, and synonymous with bike riding. Spanning just over ten square kilometres, the island can be explored not only by bike, but also on foot. Bikes with child seats or tandem bikes are available so this makes for the perfect way to spend a day exploring the island together. 

Feed The Rare Giant Tortoise

Of all the rare and wonderful life that can be found on Seychelles, the most famous and sought-after attraction is arguably the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. A protected species on the island under Seychelles law since 1974, giant tortoises once roamed almost every continent in the world but are now at the point of being listed as a vulnerable species, with over 150,000 now residing on the Seychelles. The best place to visit and feed these incredible creatures is the Aldabra Atoll, the very namesake of the species and the largest atoll in the world. The Aldabra Atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and although not easy to get to (all trips there must be approved by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and visiting numbers are restricted) the trip is a must-do for families with over 150,000 giant tortoises to be seen. Other islands which are easier trips to make but still tick all the boxes as habitats of the giant tortoise are North Island, Cousin Island and Curieuse Island, with the latter housing approximately 500. 

Visit The Island Of Mahé

Home to the capital of the Republic of Seychelles, Victoria and containing one third of the population of the Seychelles, Mahé Island is the most prominent of the 115 islands in the area. There is plenty on Mahé Island to keep the children entertained, and also plenty of educational benefits. The Seychelles Natural History Museum is free to enter for children under 12 and demonstrates the evolution of the plant life, animal life and the geographical history of the islands with fascinating artefacts and dioramas. The Tea Factory is one of the most famous and popular tourist spots on the island and is another fun and informative way for families to spend some time. A tour will teach you about the tea plantation and its manufacturing process, and you’ll be able to taste and buy the different flavoured teas throughout the day.

The National Botanical Gardens house some of the rarest indigenous plant species in the world, some of which are in danger of becoming extinct so don’t miss out on the opportunity to see some of this rare plant life. As a family day out, the National Botanical Gardens are ideal with 15 acres available to explore, relax and have a picnic together, or introduce your children to authentic Creole cuisine at the nearby restaurant. Another ideal site for exploration on the island is the Morne Seychelles National Park, 12 separate trails are spread across 10 kilometres of lush green land for you to enjoy.