It used to be a whaling station. As the headquarters of the Marine Parks Authority during the Second World War, it was used as a fuel store. Now it is the site of a five star hotel called the Sainte Anne Resort, and only its guests are allowed access to the island.

There is the pretty village of Baie Ste Anne which is the first thing you see as you arrive on the island by boat. The Cote d’Or or Anse Volbert as it is also known is the island’s main tourism centre, which has safe beaches ideal for snorkeling and swimming. Cote d’Or also has many hotels, guest houses and restaurants. The presence of more than a few boat operators and souvenir shops make this place quite a hub of tourist activity.

Other places worth exploring include Grand Anse, which is the largest village on Praslin, Curieuse Island or “The Red Island” just off the north coast of Praslin in the centre of a Marine National Park.

The best time to visit the island is June through October. There is a wide variety of accommodation available. Luxury hotels like the Paradise Sun or L’archipel are on the north coast of the island.

The pace of life is leisurely. Public transport exists, but hired cars and bicycles are good methods for exploring the island.

You can fly to Praslin by Air Seychelles from Mahe, the journey takes just 15 minutes. There is also the option of a fast catamaran ferry or a more relaxed schooner to get to Baie Ste Anne on Praslin.

Most visitors who come to Mahe are in transit to some of the other islands, but Mahe itself certainly deserves a second look if you have the inclination. There are the beaches of course, but to the interior of the island the topography changes to hills densely covered in rainforests shrouded in mist frequently.

Victoria, which is the capital of the Seychelles is situated on the east coast of Mahe. It is a natural harbor created by a string of six small islands that surround it. Sainte Anne is the largest of these islands. It is home to the five star resort Sainte Anne Resort and only guests of this hotel can visit the island. The remaining islands have some interesting piece of history or story of their own. The novelist Wilbur Smith used to live on Ile au Cerf. The island Ile Moyenne has a story about a pirate treasure and the ghost of an old woman and her dogs. Ile Longue which was once a quarantine station is now a prison. Ile Ronde’s famed restaurant, Chez Gaby, was once a leper’s camp!

On the west coast, is Beau Vallon the main tourist centre of Mahe. Beau Vallon has a good beach with facilities for various water sports like sailing, waterskiing, windsurfing, banana boat rides and par ascending.

Other interesting places on Mahe are Baie Lazare with its long expanse of beach, and the artists’ studios in Anse a la Mouche and Anse aux Poules Bleues.

This is one of the most beautiful islands of the Seychelles group and is the fourth largest island in the archipelago. The island is characterized by palm-fringed beaches and towering boulders of granite.

Interesting sights on the island are the bustling fish market at La Passe, and the Veuve Reserve which is home to the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher and a variety of other birds. The island also has the most beautiful beach of the Seychelles, the Anse Source d’Argent with its silvery white sand and beautiful palms trees. The island has a luxury resort called the La Digue Lodge situated a little further inland.

Bicycles available on hire are the best way to explore the most beautiful island of the Seychelles.

Fregate is one of the granite islands. It is surrounded by coral reefs and is quite isolated. Fregate Island has its own contribution to conservation efforts in the Seychelles. The magpie-robin which used to be found only on Fregate, was on the brink of extinction with hardly 20 birds of the species being available at one time. It is now a thriving species and is being introduced to the other islands where it is hoped they will breed and thrive.

Desroches is a small low lying island 6kms long, with secluded fine sandy beaches and a sheltered lagoon. It is a secluded island, sheltered by coconut palms and hardwood trees. It is the place for those who value privacy.

There are only 50 inhabitants on the island, who live in a settlement on the north-western shore of the island. Their occupation is agriculture.

To the south of the island, on an old coconut plantation is a small luxury hotel with its own airstrip.

The island of Desroches is famous for diving. It has a dive centre offering courses. The Desroches Drop is a famed diving spot, from the edge of a coral plateau, marked with underwater valleys and caves.

Big game fishing is very popular and a boat can be hired for fishing trips.

Denis island is one of the smaller of the Seychelles island and there is only one place for tourists to stay, Denis Lodge, where guests must stay for a minimum of three days. The island has an old still functional lighthouse from the top of which you can have one of the most panoramic views possible.

The island is famed for game fishing with several records being created and broken in its waters. Tuna, barracuda, sailfish, bonito and marlin are plentiful here.

The three islands are a breeding ground for a huge number of seabirds and several rare land birds too. Cousin can be visited on a guided day tour only, from Praslin. Cuisine is privately owned and day trips are not allowed here. There are four chalets for those who wish to stay.

Aride, the most unspoilt of the three houses over a million birds, so you can imagine the noise! Day trips can be organized to this island from any of the larger hotels on Praslin.

The best time to visit is the breeding season, from April through October. The island is a sanctuary to an enormous colony of about 800 000 Sooty Terns. It is a nesting site for the Green and Hawksbill Turtles and is also popular for game fishing.