Seychelles (La Digue, Praslin and Mahé)

The smallest of the three main inhabited islands, La Digue has a tiny population of just 2,000 people. With no airport, and just a handful of road vehicles, this is an extremely laid back place, with some of the most iconic beaches in the Seychelles. All visitors to La Digue will land in the village of La Passe on the east coast of the island, from where you can enjoy magnificent views back across the water to Praslin. The beaches of La Digue are not to be missed. It's no surprise they frequently win awards as among the most beautiful on the planet and they never fail to impress. Whether you prefer the long sweeping arcs of pristine white sand to the south, or the beautiful Anse Source D'Argent, which is framed by massive granite boulders, these beaches will take your breath away. Surprisingly, despite their unmatched beauty, these are not the best swimming beaches the Seychelles or La Digue has to offer. You can never have it all - but while the island's better swimming spots, Anse Severe and Patates on the northern coast, may not be quite as outstanding as their neighbours they can still knock the spots off beaches in other parts of the world!.

With stunning white sand beaches and lush tropical forests covering the hills, Praslin is a delight. Despite being the second biggest island in the Seychelles it has fraction of the population, inhabited by a mere 6,500 people. It is sleepy, laid back and far less developed than neighbouring Mahe, yet still large enough to explore when you tire of your nearest beach. The beaches on Praslin stand out, with famous names like Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette frequently making top ten lists of best beaches and most beautiful destinations worldwide, and with good reason. Cote D'Or is another great draw too. But Praslin is also the only island where you can enjoy an 18 hole round of golf on a championship course, or discover the amazing Coco De Mer, an exotic plant that lead to the belief the Seychelles were the true Garden of Eden. It's a great base for day trips to neighbouring islands, too; where you can visit the amazing sea birds on Cousine Island, explore the hills and mangroves and meet giant tortoises in the wild on Curieuse, or go swimming or scuba diving around St Pierre or any one of the fantastic dive sites around the island.

Mahe may be the biggest and most populated island in the Seychelles, housing roughly 90% of the nation's 89,000 citizens, but with the majority of people living in and around the capital of Victoria in the north east of the island it is easy to escape and find your own Robinson Crusoe experience. The joy of Mahe is the variety the island offers: yes, more beach hopping than you could possibly squeeze into a two week holiday, but also waterfalls, jungle, mountain walks and stunning viewpoints, with a whole host of activities from rock climbing to sea kayaking and scuba diving. The beaches are wonderful and many are on a par with those found on Praslin and La Digue, but if you like to mix your beach break with exploration and adventure Mahe is a delight to drive around and find your own corner. But the city of Victoria also makes for a great day trip, with a botanical garden, market and various sights.