Seychelles Some of the most pristine, uncrowded and beautiful beaches in the world, the Seychelles is the perfect place to retreat and escape the world completely.

Famous for having some of the most pristine, uncrowded and beautiful beaches in the world, the stunning Seychelles is located in the middle of the warm, clear azure coloured waters of the Indian Ocean about 1,600 kilometres east of Kenya. A tropical paradise where you can truly get away from it all and unwind, the Seychelles archipelago is made up of 115 islands scattered over 400,000 square kilometres. A relatively young nation, settlement can be traced back to 1770 by the French, though there’s evidence to show that the Portuguese visited the islands in the early 1500s and possibly by Indian and Arab traders before that.

Resplendent with natural beauty, the islands vary in landscape between mountainous rainforest covered interiors, never-ending bays and secluded coves, rocky outcrops of perfectly formed granite boulders, soft, white sand beaches with lapping, turquoise coloured waters to the low-lying atolls, reef islands and coralline cays.

Because of its isolation, the Seychelles is a living museum of some of the rarest species of flora and fauna in the world. It is also home to Aldabra, the largest raised atoll in the world and believed to be the original site of the Garden of Eden.

Each island is uniquely different so it’s advisable to visit a couple of the islands. Only 16 of the islands currently offer accommodation though many others can be explored on a visit here. With magnificent snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities in the countless reefs and atolls, the waters in this area are teeming with colourful corals and marine life. Enjoy a spot of bird watching for the most vibrantly coloured birds you will ever see.

Look out for some of the largest Giant Tortoise’s in the world plodding around some of the islands or just relax under a palm tree, with the gentle rhythm of the waves lulling you into a state of pure relaxation. Inspired by the country’s beauty, there are many art studios and galleries to visit on the islands; take a charter boat out to try your hand at game-fishing or walk along one of many inland jungle trails for spectacular views of the archipelago.