Explore Praslin’s small villages and lush Valle de Mai National Park with its magnificent coco de mer palms then head to the Kempinski resort on Mahé for days filled with activity both on land and beach.
What's Included:
5 nights Praslin, room only including excursion detailed; 5 nights Mahé, bed and breakfast. Includes flights and transfers.
13 days from £3,420pp
who's been there
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Seychelles specialists
- 01993 838 515
- Make an enquiry
On the beach - 7 days
Les Villas D'Or, Praslin
Located on the stunning Cote D’Or, Les Villas D’Or is a small self-catering resort that offers spacious free-standing villas on the edge of a powdery white sand beach.
With the option to cook your own meals and the space to just sit back and relax, the villas here offer a very comfortable and homely atmosphere, albeit in an incredible tropical location. There is a beautiful swimming pool and friendly yet attentive service and if you don’t feel like cooking, breakfast and dinner can be provided on request. Alternatively, you can stroll along the pristine beach to the nearby village where a variety of restaurants and shops await. There are bicycles and kayaks available for hire so you can explore the nearby national parks with their craggy limestone outcrops and glorious beaches strewn with smooth boulders. Alternatively, take to the water and discover the remote coral reefs that teem with marine life including giant tortoises and drifting turtles.
All of the tastefully furnished one or two bedroom villas feature a compact but well-equipped kitchen, king size beds and a spacious lounge leading to a private wooden veranda. Set apart from each other in mature tropical gardens, they offer a good degree of privacy.
Before the beach - 6 days
Praslin
A ridge of mountains blanketed in lush vegetation runs along the spine of Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles, while its coast is fringed with powder-white beaches strewn with smooth boulders.
An exceptionally pretty place where the unhurried pace of life lends itself to lazy days, Praslin is criss-crossed with walking trails leading to spectacular viewpoints and deserted coves should you get the urge to explore. At its heart is Vallée de Mai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site home to magnificent coco de mer palms, while vibrant reefs rich in colourful marine life surround the island and offer excellent diving and snorkelling.
A small self-catering resort offering spacious free-standing apartments on the edge of an immaculate white-sand beach, Les Villas D'Or is well placed to explore both local villages and the nearby national parks.
Les Villas D'Or, Praslin
10 rooms 1 pool
Description
The ten self catering villas at Les Villas D'Or have a laid-back tropical feel and are just steps from Côte D'Or beach. The pretty gardens blend in with the surrounding jungle, creating an exotic and relaxing atmosphere.
Here you can enjoy the freedom and space of self catering in a beautiful beachfront location with relaxed meals on the veranda and plenty of room to spread out.
Service is friendly and unobtrusive, with guests left to their own devices if they prefer, although the villas have a daily maid service and breakfast is available. The hotel can also arrange dinner at local restaurants. With only a few other guests in residence, it's a particularly tranquil place.
Most people come here to enjoy the stunning beach. Away from the beach there is a pool set among the tropical foliage, and the hotel can organise bicycles or excursions to explore the island further.
For families
Due to the self catering nature of this property Les Villas D'Or is ideal for families. Family groups can fit comfortably into the two bedroom villas which sleep up to five, or the one bedroom villas sleep three. High chairs and cots are available and the hotel can arrange babysitting.
Location
Les Villas D'Or has a tranquil location on the white sand Côte D'Or beach on the island of Praslin, the second largest of the Seychelles Archipelago.
The beach is picture perfect; soft sand leads to a warm turquoise sea, fringed by tropical jungle. In the grounds of the hotel it's possible to meet giant tortoises and spot exotic birds.
The area round Les Villas D'Or is quiet and relaxed but there are several restaurants and bars within comfortable walking distance.
Our opinion
This is a really friendly and relaxed property on a gorgeous beach that is ideal for those looking for a quiet and peaceful time in beautiful surrounds. Please bear in mind that there will not be a huge range of supermarkets to choose from, and that restaurants are a 15-minute walk away, or a short taxi ride.
Rooms
Choose from either one bedroom or two bedroom villas. The villas are all set in tropical gardens and have a large veranda, spacious living room and bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.
Single Villa 1 bedroom
The One Bedroom Villas are semi-detached villas set among the gardens.
In the living room there's a TV and video, as well as comfy sofas, dining table and chairs. Internet access is payable locally and high chairs and cots are available for families. Bedrooms have king size beds or twin single beds and are cooled by fan and air conditioning. There is an en suite bathroom attached.
The large verandas look out over the gardens and have deck chairs to relax in, while there are sun loungers on the lawns in front of the villas. The villas have plenty of space to spread out and self catering is straightforward thanks to the fully equipped kitchen, with hobs, microwave, toaster and kettle.
Twin Villa 2 bedroom
The Two Bedroom Villas are larger, detached villas with a second bedroom in addition to the benefits of the One Bedroom Villa.
Pictures of the rooms
Activities, diving & excursions
Only steps away from the white sand beach, the Villas D'Or is perfect for paddling and swimming in the warm Indian Ocean and relaxing on the loungers provided by the hotel.
There is also a small swimming pool ideal for a cooling dip, and there are loungers outside each villa for sunbathing.
The hotel can organise bikes and kayaks, and internet access is available and payable locally.
The hotel can help arrange diving with reputable local dive centres.
The diving around Praslin is superb, from dives suitable for beginners through to experts. Most locations are between 5 and 50 minutes' boat ride and all are less than 20 m in depth, so the majority of qualified divers can explore them all. The only deeper dives in the Seychelles are in the outer islands that lie off the continental shelf.
Look forward to swimming amidst blenny and pipefish and seasonal visitors such as manta rays and whale sharks. The best dive months are March to April and September to October, but whale sharks visit in October to January and August.
Food & drink
Breakfast can be served in the villa and dinner can also be arranged by the hotel in a few local restaurants, with transport provided. For those self catering there are local shops to buy groceries, but don't expect large supermarkets. There are also several restaurants and bars within a 15-minute walk.
Praslin
Location: Praslin
Praslin is the second-largest island in the Seychelles, at 12 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide. It is exceptionally pretty, with thick emerald vegetation, sugar-white beaches and pale turquoise waters. Offshore, coral reefs surround the island, and small atolls are visited by myriad seabirds and nesting turtles. The pace of life on Praslin is gentle and unhurried. Small villages bask in the sun, and rainbow-coloured shops sell banana bread and smoked sailfish sandwiches.
While a sleepy island, there is plenty to see and do on Praslin. In the centre of the island, the Vallée de Mai National Park is a World Heritage Site, and the best place to see coco de mer palms growing in magnificent profusion. There are walking trails to viewpoints and paths that lead to deserted beaches and coves.
The diving and snorkelling are excellent, with rich reefs surrounded by shoals of butterfly fish, sweetlips, damselfish and more. You might want to take a boat trip to the nature reserve islands of Cousin, Aride or Curieuse, with their thousands of seabirds, or simply snooze on a beach on your own little island, a picnic and snorkel on the sand beside you.
Villas D’Or
Accommodation: Villas D’Or
The ten self-catering villas at Les Villas D'or have a laid-back tropical feel and are just steps from Côte d'Or Beach. The pretty gardens blend in with the surrounding jungle, creating an exotic and relaxing atmosphere.
Here you can enjoy the freedom and space of self-catering in a beautiful beachfront location with relaxed meals on the veranda and plenty of room to spread out.
Service is friendly and unobtrusive, with guests left to their own devices if they prefer, although the villas have a daily maid service and breakfast is available. The hotel can also arrange dinner at local restaurants. With only a few other guests in residence, it's a particularly tranquil place.
Most people come here to enjoy the stunning beach. Away from the beach there is a pool set among the tropical foliage, and the hotel can organise bicycles or excursions to explore the island further.
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1
Board your overnight flight to the Seychelles.
Day 2
On arrival into Mahé you will be met by an Audley representative who will direct you to your 20-minute flight to Praslin. Here you will be met and escorted to your driver for the 25-minute private transfer to Les Villas D'Or. Relax and settle into the hotel, set on one of the best beaches on the island.
Day 3
Today you will have a full day tour with a private guide. Start your exploration at the Vallée de Mai. Here a guide will show you some of the plants which are endemic to the Seychelles such as the Coco de mer, and if you're lucky you may even spot the very rare black parrot. In the afternoon you will stop at Anse Lazio, renowned as one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Day 4
Today you are free to explore at your leisure. You may wish to hire a car to drive yourself around the island, driving through pretty villages and stopping at deserted beach coves.
Day 5
Another day to explore. If you would like to venture a little further, the small, quiet island of La Digue is only 15 minutes away by boat. Here you can acquire bikes to travel round the island as there are few cars. Anse Source D'Argent is one of the most photographed beaches in the Seychelles.
Day 6
Your last day on Praslin. Why not take a boat trip out to Coco and Félicité Islands where you may spot turtles? Alternatively simply relax on beautiful Cote D'Or beach.
Day 7
Today you will be collected for the private transfer back to the airport and short flight back to Mahé. On arrival, you will then be driven to the Kempinski Seychelles Resort, set on a long stretch of the white sanded Baie Lazare beach.
Day 8
There is plenty to do at the Kempinski resort, take advantage of the long stretch of secluded white sand beach by relaxing on a sunlounger or exploring the waters with a snorkel. Or perhaps hike the tropical path to the hilltop view point for a yoga class with spectacular views.
Day 9
Today you could hire a car and explore Mahé, the largest of the islands in the Seychelles. Head to the capital of Victoria to learn the island's history, drive to the Mission Lodge viewpoint for panoramic views over the granite hills and then to the Takamaka Rum Distillery, to sample some local sugar cane rum.
Day 10
There are some great walking trails on Mahé and are an excellent way to spot endemic bird species and native plants. The Anse Major trail is a relatively easy coastal walk in the north of the island. Follow the path as you overlook sloping granite rock formations and tropical foliage until you reach Anse Major beach which is only accessible by boat or foot. Remember to take your swimwear for a dip on arrival.
Day 11
Spend your last day at leisure in the resort and perhaps visit the spa for an indulging treatment.
Day 12
Today you will be transferred back to the airport for your flight home.
Day 13
Arrive home.
Start planning your trip with Audley
Tailoring your trip
This itinerary is designed to give you a flavour of what is possible.
We can tailor this trip to suit your specific requirements
Any aspect of the itinerary can be altered, from excursions to accommodation
How to book
Contact a Hidden Beach specialist
Whether you wish to plan your trip around this itinerary idea or you have other ideas, please do get in touch by phone or online. If using our online form, a destination specialist will contact you by phone to discuss your requirements.
Discuss your requirements
Our destination specialists have the first-hand knowledge required to put your plans into action. They can answer your questions, offer suggestions and advice to suit your tastes and budget.
Refine your itinerary
Your specialist will carefully design your trip, creating a detailed itinerary which will be sent to you. Your specialist will answer any further questions you have and refine it until you are completely happy.
Confirm your trip
Once you are satisfied with all the arrangements, we ask you to complete a booking form and pay a deposit of 15% of the total cost of your trip.
Stay in touch
Even after booking, you'll undoubtedly think of more questions. Feel free to call your specialist at any time. The same specialist will handle your trip from start to finish.
