Seychelles

La Digue is unquestionably one of the most unforgettable islands of the Seychelles. Connected by boat or helicopter, this big rock 3 miles long and 3 km wide can be the reason for a day trip from Praslin. Once there, for travelling around you should opt for walking, using a bike or travelling by horse and cart, a means of transport that is just as picturesque as touristy. Because apart from a few rare commercial ones, vehicles here are undesirable. Departing from La Passe and its small businesses, where most visitors disembark, the island has remained very wild and offers a gentle way of life, reinforced by the legendary friendliness of its people. Towards the south, La Digue mainly encloses a small geological wonder, the Source d'Argent bay, the Seychelles beach par excellence, and certainly the most photographed of the entire archipelago. You should give the right of way to have the privilege of approaching its large blocks of granite, harmoniously piled along the shore. It is located on the perimeter of the vast coconut grove Union Estate, guarded by a gatehouse, where you will also discover an ancient cemetery, a huge turtle park, an old colonial house (where various scenes were shot for the film "Emmanuelle" with Sylvia Kristel), the reconstruction of a mill to extract copra oil, a shipyard ... Horseback riding is also available here. The popularity of this beach makes it a very busy, even too busy a site, that is best to discover, if you are staying on this island, at sunset. Lovers of peace and postcard scenery will nevertheless be pleased with the the other side of La Digue, in Grand Anse, of an equally striking beauty. What a reward for the half-hour bike ride necessary to get there on a path filled with potholes, ruts and roots. As for accommodation, small hotels (around twenty rooms on average) and family hotels welcome visitors. Grouped on the western coast, these establishments know how to be discreet, to the point of blending into the surrounding landscape.