Is it possible to get around the island of La Digue in Seychelles? Seychelles in the rainy season: La Digue island and its paradise beaches

Now the time has come for the last part of our adventures in the Seychelles, namely, it remains to tell about the island of La Digue and its paradise beaches. In previous parts, we talked about the island of Mahe, visited the island of Curieuse turtles, traveled on buses on the island of Praslin, shared general information in Seychelles. During the rainy season, we found Seychelles on the island of La Digue with incessant rain, wind and very unfriendly clouds, but this could not spoil our holiday.

In our review of La Digue there will be two types of photographs: December “rainy” and April “sunny”, so that you can see the difference, how much landscapes can differ depending on the season. Of course, rain in the Seychelles is an integral part of the climate, humid tropical, with the only difference being that the intensity of rain in December will be much higher than in June. That same April, it rained every day for 15 minutes. Having moistened the dense thickets of forests, the clouds move away and the bright sun shines again.

View of the islands from an airplane

So, on the second day of our stay in the Seychelles, we were doused with rain, but it was not a short-term downpour, but full-fledged day and night “out of the bucket”. It is for this reason that we decided to go to the island of La Digue and leave for a possible sunny next day. No one can guarantee sunny weather in the Seychelles.

I’ll tell you about how to get to La Digue. There is no airport on La Digue, so the only option is a ferry from Mahe or Praslin. From Mahe to Praslin you can get either by ferry (1.5 hours) or 15 minutes by plane.

Airplane Mahe - Praslin

We bought tickets at the pier, arriving 3 minutes before the ferry departed at 11.45. For the April trip, tickets were purchased in advance on this website. It is important to know, as mentioned in a previous review, that the ferry will not leave for La Digue until the ferry from Mahe arrives, therefore, if you took a Mahe-Praslin-La Digue ticket, do not be afraid that you will be late. Most tourists go this way, since the direct ferry from Mahe to La Digue runs rarely and not every day.

Ferry prices vary: the cabin on the first tier is cheaper than on the second open. Eyewitnesses say that dolphins can sometimes be seen. But we didn’t see them, but we chased wild dolphins in Mauritius.

The ferry ride takes 20 minutes and if you get caught in the rain there will be some shaking.

The pier on the island is quite small. For those traveling with luggage there is a rare service to take you to the hotel by car, but if you live near the pier, you can walk.

Marina La Digue

The island of La Digue has only a small population and tourists travel exclusively on bicycles. The island is very small, about 5 kilometers in length, so good weather It will be a pleasure to ride your bike in a breeze.

For those who don’t like two-wheelers or don’t fit in one, there is special offer – three-wheeled, and also tandem bike which we rented. Vehicles are rented either directly at the pier or at any hotel.

On the island of La Digue there is a school, a church, shops, restaurants and cafes for takeaway, and you can top up your phone.

We started our journey from the port towards Anse Source d´Argent. The rain got heavier with every pedal stroke, we were completely wet, but quite happy. To get to this beach, you need to drive into national park, having paid 7 euros per person (100 rupees). Before reaching the park we turned onto the beach Anse La Reunion under a wide tree, which with its leaves and roots slightly protected us from the rain and shared the Christmas pannetoni, giving half to the local skinny dog.

There are a lot of dogs in the Seychelles, but they are very well-mannered and will wait as long as necessary until you share some goodies with her. If you don’t share and leave, she will continue to sit where she was sitting and will not bother you.

We did not visit Anse Source d'Argent in the rain, but in April we took many, many photographs of the beautiful park of the island of La Digue. What is remarkable about this beach? Of course the same ones boulders from pictures and blue lagoons, that surround them.

Well, secondly - vanilla trees that grow in the park. Do not try to disturb the flora - the sign is threatening.

From Anse Source d´Argent you can walk to the beaches Anse Pierrot, Anse aux Cedres, Anse Bonnet Carre, but you need to have comfortable shoes, as the path is blocked by rocks.

The reward for a difficult journey will be quiet secluded beaches, on which several kayaks are nestled.

Is it possible to get to on foot? Anse Marron, Pointe Camille, Grand Cap and Grand l´Anse I won’t say - the road in flip-flops to Anse Bonnet Carre was too dangerous.

From the Anse Source d´Argent beach to the opposite side of the island to Grand Anse there is two ways: easy and difficult. The easy one is not on the map, but it is visible and it runs along the river, and the difficult one goes uphill and without some physical preparation it will not be easy to overcome, but on the way you will not meet a soul, pick ripe mangoes and tear yourself some bananas by lunchtime, and also take a breath of moist, fresh air. We chose the second option.

The bike had to be pulled manually if the mountain was steep, but more often we pedaled in second gear. The situation was complicated by the incessant downpour; it was almost impossible to film with a camera; a GoPro was used.

Grand Anse Beach beautiful, as if from a picture, but the wind and rain brought waves.

The air temperature did not drop below 25 degrees, but wet clothes cooled the body, water squelched in the sneakers.

We didn’t have time to relax in the cafe - the last boat to Praslin was leaving at 17.25 and there was no way we could miss it. Of course, if you miss the ferry, you can rent a motor boat, but you will also have to pay a certain amount.

From Grand Anse to Anse Petit and Anse Cocos You can only get there on foot along the trail, which was done in April.

It’s quite easy to get from Gramd Anse to Anse Petit - if you indicate, they will lead you, but with Anse Cocos things are much more complicated. If it weren’t for knowledgeable travelers, the trail, namely the path along the rocks, would never have been found. There was not a soul on Anse Cocos, only a humble sea. And Anse Petit is an airy bay with a couple of sunbathers and complete silence.

On our December trip, instead of Anse Petit and Anse Cocos, we drove around the northern part of the island, photographing all its beaches.

On one of them, Anse Gross Roche, a large turtle was resting, chewing grass in dense thickets. We did not disturb it, but only took a few photographs of the turtle in the wild in the Seychelles.

Anse Banane in the rain

The downpour and wind intensified, but we no longer noticed what was happening around us - it was very wet, but fun. On extreme point islands on the east side near Anse Fourmis found several bicycles and a path leading into the mountains.

If the weather is good, you can take a short hike through the jungle to Anse Cocos Beach.

It seemed that the rain had stopped, the sky had brightened, but after 5 minutes a new cloud arrived and poured into an incredible downpour. At that moment we were pushing ourselves for the tenth time, but it was not getting any better. The situation was getting worse like crazy the wind blowing away caps and umbrellas.

Grand Anse beach in the rain

On the way, we could see the only cafe in the area, where we decided to stop to warm up, because our fingers were wrinkled from the water, our mascara was running, our backpack resembled a sieve, and liters of clean rainwater were squelching in our shoes - just like in childhood. The cafe was protected from the rain, but it was blown by the wind and there was no light. We were fed delicious grilled fish and made mango and pineapple juice. All together it came out to 40 euros. Expensive. The April trip showed what to eat in Gala Takeaway much more economical - for 5 euros you get rice with fish and a drink and everything is just as fresh and tasty.

The time was approaching five in the evening and it was time for us to leave, and the clouds continued to water the dense vegetation of the Seychelles. Thanks to the climbs, we were not frozen to the bone, but actively pedaled. At the pier we handed over our transport and we had time to once again wring out our clothes and run into a very cold, half-empty boat. Half an hour and we're there.

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Day excursion to La Digue Island from Praslin Island (- previous part of the review about the Seychelles)

How to get to La Digue from Praslin Island

- arrive at the pier Cat Cocos(see map of Praslin Island)
– you buy water and chips at the nearest general store so that the 15-minute ferry ride won’t be boring.
– after that, park your car in front of the entrance to the pier and buy ferry tickets at one of the ticket offices.

For some reason, the cashiers ask about the return departure time from La Digue Island.
We didn’t know when we would go back, so we assumed that the last ferry would be at 17:00.

Map of La Digue Island

Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the ferry company - there are several of them in the Seychelles.
There are direct ferries from Mahe to La Digue, and there are direct ferries from Praslin to La Digue

Having gone “there” you can’t go wrong - board your ferry, and back you need to pay attention to the name of the ferry so as not to leave for Mahe.
Ferry tickets cost 400 rupees return

Travel time from Praslin to La Digue is 15 minutes - the island itself is visible to the naked eye.
Upon arrival in La Digue, I recommend renting bicycles right at the pier - there is only one road on the island, the island itself is small and one of its parts is actually a national park.

That’s where we go – to the national park – and the first thing we do is jump into the saddle and push the pedals.
Renting two bikes for the day cost 300 rupees, or just under $30.

After leaving the port, you need to turn right and drive straight all the time in one place, keeping to the right - you will run into a barrier of the national park.
The guard at the entrance asked for 150 rupees from each person to visit the park.

Our path takes us through an enclosure with turtles trying to mate in full view of tourists on the way to the most photographed beach on La Digue: Anse Source D’Argent

Beach Anse Source D'Argent

The beach is beautiful.
Lots of weddings.

We found a ceremonial structure that had not yet been dismantled: an arch with flowers.
After the photo shoot, the newlyweds retire to their bedchambers - there are quite a few hotels on the island.

You can view prices and book through the hotel booking site: 31 hotels on La Digue island with reviews and instant booking without prepayment.

The sea in the Source D’Argent area is shallow - however, everything is visible in the photos and videos.

People wander waist-deep in water along a special path between corals with access to a “clearing”
Here the water is clear and schools of fish are visible, so people in masks dart around underfoot.

Video from La Digue Island

The beach is bordered by rounded rocks and has several bays.
As a rule, newlyweds try to occupy the most secluded ones. But not for what you think - they just make a demobilization photo album.

After we lay in the water, we can drive to the other end of the island and to another beach.

Grand Anse Beach

This beach is not for swimmers - there are red flags and warnings about treacherous currents.
But people still jump on the waves, and the waves here are sharp

4.91 /5 (11 )

La Digue has restaurants serving both Creole and European cuisine. It is worth considering that all establishments accept orders only until 22:00, after which you can only order drinks. The cuisine is dominated by seafood dishes.

It is worth visiting the La Digue Island restaurant, which is located in the hotel of the same name.

This restaurant is located on the territory of the L’Ocean hotel. The tables are located on a large terrace, which offers a simply enchanting panoramic view. It is probably included in the price of the dishes, since the prices here are quite expensive.

The restaurant is located near Source D’Argent Bay. There are very tasty Creole dishes (sea creatures, poultry, meat). But the speed of preparation leaves much to be desired.

The cafe premises are a large hut under palm leaves. Inside, instead of the floor, there is sand, and tables and chairs are replaced by large and small stumps. The signature dish of the establishment is the core of a cabbage palm with rice.
People often come here to quench their thirst with cool drinks. Hot drinks are free.
Also, the desserts here are very tasty. Every Sunday the café serves a seafood buffet. This pleasure costs only $10.

The cafe has very affordable prices, and from the terrace you can see the neighboring island of Praslin. Be sure to try the vanilla ice cream.

Popular dishes:
- soup from sea reptiles;
- bat meat;
- octopus with coconut curry;
- coconut pudding with vanilla.

Beaches of La Digue

This beach on La Digue several times recognized as one of the most best beaches in the world. It can be seen on most souvenir postcards. Entrance to the beach is paid - about $8.
On the beach there is a restaurant, cafe, grocery stores, and souvenir shops.
Green palm trees, azure ocean, white sand and red granite rocks growing from the water - all this makes the beach truly a piece of paradise.
But that's all fabulous place has its drawbacks. The main nuisance that can await you here and on other local beaches is sea urchins. You should be wary of them while swimming. Also, due to its mega-popularity, there are a lot of tourists on the beach.

Very picturesque beach, having the shape of a crescent. Here you can often see filming for advertising or cinema.
Warm waters of the Indian Ocean on one side and tropical greenery on the other, and on the side a beach framed by rocks.

If you want to feel like you're desert island, then you should visit this beach.
About a kilometer of snow-white sand, reminiscent of powder, tall palm trees and quiet surf guarantee this.

Attractions La Digue

A local landmark is the 18th-century Creole-style house where the film Emmanuelle was filmed. Now the president lives there Seychelles. It is located near the national park. Among the religious monuments on the island there is the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. It was built more than 100 years ago. The temple is located near the port.Also, a special place in historical heritage occupied by the graves of the first colonialists, which can be seen when visiting Cape Barbie.

The ancient architectural monument has been perfectly preserved to this day.

In the northern part of the island there is a beautiful cape, which is surrounded on both sides by bays. Palm trees, breadfruit trees and large ferns grow here. The cape can be reached via the only road. Very often you can see artists and divers in this part of the island. The former paint pictures with beautiful landscapes, while the latter study the underwater world.

Union Estate Park is located in the northwestern part of the island. An ancient colonial building has been preserved here, where the famous film “Emmanuelle” was filmed.
Near a high granite mountain there is a farm with giant turtles. Also, in the park there are coconut and vanilla plantations. Everyone can see the process of making coconut oil and visit the Plantation House, which was built in the French colonial style.
In the park, tourists are offered horseback riding (cost: $10).

Granite Boulder is a giant rock that formed after magma cooled, even in the early stages of the Earth's development. Its age is about 750 million years.

The park is open every day, from seven in the morning until five in the evening, the ticket price for adults is $5, admission for children is free.

From this mountain there is an amazing view of the entire island. You can get to the very foot by bicycle. There is also a small restaurant where you can relax before climbing up. True, you don’t need much effort to climb, just desire and comfortable shoes.

In this national park live rare tropical birds - flycatchers. It is also the symbol of the island. This is the only reserve in the world where these birds live in the wild.
It is very difficult to see these birds of paradise - they are too shy. But still, you can see tropical plants and other inhabitants of the park. The reserve is located near the Nid d'Aigle mountain.

The island is great for water sports. Spearfishing, yachting, diving and surfing are very popular. There are about 30 sports centers on Lag Digue, where you can choose any type of water activity to suit your taste.
For those who want to take a tour of the island, they offer to do it by cart or by helicopter. Such adventures will not always remain in your memory.

Shopping

On the island, shopping can hardly be called an important event. There are very few shops here, mostly grocery stores. For basic shopping, the local population goes to the capital of the state - Victoria.
Most of the purchases will be souvenirs from local residents.

Popular souvenirs:
- coconut (special permission required);
- earthenware products;
- Creole spices.

La Digue Island stands out for its incredible beauty. Amazing landscapes sometimes seem like just a mirage. On some beaches, due to the red granite rocks, the sand takes on a pink tint. It is these beautiful views that attract many photographers from different countries world to take fantastic pictures of this earthly Eden. Almost complete isolation from the outside world allows you to relax 100% during your vacation.

Even among amazing beautiful islands The island of La Digue in the Seychelles archipelago stands out for its beautiful landscapes, which often seem simply unreal, they are so flawless.

This island, unspoiled by human intervention, appears to its guests in the form in which it existed hundreds, and maybe thousands of years ago.

Staying here creates a feeling of complete isolation from the outside world, which is dominated by the latest technologies and the economic crisis.

It is here, surrounded truly pristine beauty You can forget about the bustle, rush and stress of everyday life.

La Digue is the fourth largest island in Seychelles in terms of size and population density, ahead of only Mahe, Praslin and Silouette.

At the same time, the island is somewhat inferior to them in terms of the level of civilization, since there are no enterprises here, and even the road network is represented by only one dead-end branch.

However, this does not mean that tourists will not be able to receive a fairly high level of service and a comfortable stay here.

Due to the fact that the tourism industry in La Digue is the only source of income for the population, excellent conditions have been created for accommodation, food and entertainment for foreign guests.

The territory of La Digue Island extends 3 km wide and 5 km long in the western part of the Seychelles archipelago.

The nearest large island is Praslin, located only 6 km away, the distance to Mahe Island is 43 km.

You can get to La Digue either by boat or by helicopter from the same Praslin and Mahe.

The island's population is about 2.5 thousand inhabitants, the bulk of whom live in the town of La Pass.

This populated area It can hardly even be called a village, it is so small. However, there are several shops, a police station and other municipal buildings.

In addition, there are also settlements on the island: La Reunion and Union. All of them are located in the western, most populated part of the island. In addition to the service sector, the local population is engaged in agriculture, namely the cultivation of coconut and cinnamon plantations.

The landscapes of La Digue harmoniously combine pinkish beaches of the coast, virgin rain-forest the central part of the island and granite cliffs and boulders scattered throughout its territory.

Main mountain range La Diga - Mount Ni d'Aigle, whose name translates as “eagle's nest,” occupies a significant part of the island.

Its peak rises 300 m above sea level.

The main natural attraction here are large granite boulders, which under the influence of water and monsoon winds have acquired unusual shapes.

Pink at dawn and crimson-red at sunset, they add a fantastic quality to the surrounding landscape, creating the feeling of being on another planet.

Despite the fact that La Digue was discovered by Arab travelers in the first half of the first millennium, the island began to be developed only in the middle of the 18th century.

In 1744, La Digue was put on the map of the Indian Ocean by the navigator Lazarus Pico. For its granite rocks of a reddish hue, it received the name Red.

In 1768, a French expedition landed on its territory, sailing on the sailing ship La Digue, in honor of which the island received its modern name.

From this period, the settlement of the island by settlers from India and European colonialists began.

The graves of the first inhabitants of La Digue, who sailed here from Reunion Island, are still preserved in the northern part of the island.

In addition to these graves, the cultural and historical attractions of the island include the art gallery, which is located in La Pass. Its size is as small as everything else on La Digue.

Also on the island there is a Creole house, in which certain scenes from the film “The Return of Emmanuelle” were once filmed.

In general, the nature of La Digue has inspired and continues to inspire creative people, and just tourists who come to sunbathe on the local beaches.

You can start exploring the island from, which locals call the most beautiful place in the Seychelles.

Its name is translated from French as “source of wealth.”

However, no treasures are buried here; its main treasure is its unearthly beauty.

Against the backdrop of green palm trees and the azure of the ocean, red granite rocks look especially bright, and their bizarre contours are especially sharp.

Only in this bay you can see so many incredible piles of stones of different sizes and amazing shapes.

In the coastal bends of the Source d'Argent there are several long and not very large beaches, but they are all quite narrow, their width does not exceed several meters.

No less picturesque than Source d'Argent is Coco Bay, but its beauty is of a slightly different kind.

It represents the classic shore of a desert island, as most people see it in their dreams.

The snow-white, crescent-shaped beach, sandwiched on both sides by steep cliffs and surrounded by dense tropical greenery, harmonizes perfectly with the ocean waves rolling onto the shore.

In the west of the island there is one of the protected areas of La Digue - the Union Estate National Park (L’Union Estate).

Here, giant Aldabra tortoises, whose age can reach 150 years, live in specially equipped enclosures.

Within the park is a huge granite formation called Union Rock. The area of ​​this sloping hill, polished by time, is about 1 hectare.

In addition to exploring the local attractions, Union Estate offers its guests such activities as horseback riding along the shore and watching how the locals process coconuts into copra and coconut oil.

Another reserve, La Diga, located in its eastern part, was created specifically for the protection of paradise or Seychelles flycatchers, which live only on this island.

The reserve itself is miniature, like these rare birds, but its territory contains many interesting representatives of the local flora and fauna. Among them are flying foxes, huge snails, strange insects, as well as a variety of tropical flowers and huge trees.

The island's beaches differ from other Seychelles beaches with their pink sand, which is given to it by tiny particles of granite.

The largest beach on the island is Grande Anse; Anse Cocos and Petit Anse beaches are also popular among tourists.

The coastal water temperature is comfortable for swimming throughout the year.

However, from April to October, when monsoon winds blow on the island, quite high waves rise here, which can be dangerous not only for beginners, but also for experienced swimmers.

The rest of the year, the water of the Indian Ocean is clean and clear, making it ideal for fishing and diving.

La Digue has all the facilities to practice these two sports.

You can fish both from the shore and on a rented boat directly in the ocean.

Since in many places the island is surrounded by a coral reef, the water is quite calm.

So divers can enjoy without any problem underwater world La Digue Island, which is represented by a whole variety of marine fish, shells and more than 100 species of corals.

Due to the fact that there is only one road on the island, and it is not asphalted, but paved with stone, there is practically no road transport on La Digue.

General information

La Digue is located close to the larger Seychelles islands - 6 km from Praslin and 43 km from Mahe, with which it is connected by ferry service. The island measures 3 by 4 km, with the main territory occupied by impenetrable jungle, as well as cinnamon and coconut plantations.

In La Digue, there are only a few small pickup trucks, half a dozen carts, dozens of scooters and hundreds of bicycles - these are the only available modes of transport, which is enough for 2.5 thousand local residents. The inhabitants of the island are engaged in fishing, agriculture or serving tourists. La Digue has an atmosphere of amazing friendliness and tranquility.

Most residents are concentrated in La Passa, on the west coast of the island. Ferries from Praslin arrive here daily. Right here is tourist office and dozens of hotels - you can walk to any of them from the pier. In other parts of La Digue you can also find small hotels.

Along the coast is laid good road, bordered by tropical vegetation. Moving north, you come to Anse Nord beach. Beyond it, the road turns south and passes rocky bays. From May to September the southeast monsoon blows here and the sea becomes very rough. From Anse Banana Bay, hiking trails lead to more secluded coves.

Grand Anse is the most big beach La Diga, but this place is wild, rocky and dangerous. There are warning signs on the beach in several languages. Powerful currents pose a serious danger to swimmers and divers. But Anse Source d'Argent, which is located very close to La Pass, is a true pearl of La Digue.

Climate and weather

La Digue is influenced by a marine subequatorial climate. Due to the proximity of the Seychelles to the equator, the air temperature fluctuates slightly throughout the year, and it is quite comfortable to relax on the island at any time. However, the high tourist season in La Digue is considered to be the period from April to October, when the likelihood of precipitation is lower than in winter. During these months, the thermometer reaches +25...+29 °C, a refreshing breeze blows, and the waves are small. The water in the ocean is warm, +24...+26 °C. The nights on the island are warm. Even during the wet season, it rains for no more than an hour.

History of La Digue

According to modern data, the island was first noticed by the French navigator Lazare Picao in 1742. La Digue did not have a name until 1768, when it was visited by the navigator Marc Joseph Marion-Dufresne. The first people settled on the island in 1789, when French colonists arrived with their African slaves. Most of them returned to France, but some people remained, and some of today's residents have the same names. More French were subsequently deported here, followed by freed slaves and Asian immigrants.

Among the first inhabitants of La Digue were exiles from Bourbon. (French island of Reunion in Indian Ocean) , who opposed increasing taxes and transferring the island to the British. They settled here in 1798.

In 1854, the first Catholic chapel was built on La Digue by Father Theophilus. Most of the island's inhabitants are Catholic. French colonists produced coral lime on La Digue, which led to the decline of the island's coral reefs. They also made copra from coconuts and planted vanilla in their plantations. This tradition was continued.

Walk around the island

The length of the main tourist route in La Digue is 3 km. You will see the main attractions of the island. Departure is from La Passa.

The walk will take about an hour if you walk, and less if you bike. We recommend leaving plenty of time to take spectacular photos and swim at the beach at the end of the journey.

1. La Passe

Nowadays La Passe is a lively town with several restaurants and bars, a hospital, bicycle rental shops and brightly painted carriages driven by cheerful young people. Continue south. Passing by the hospital (right), at the first turn, turn left. After 200 meters you will see the Chateau Sainte-Claude.

2. Chateau St Cloud

The majestic colonial-style castle was built at the beginning of the 19th century on top of a hill. Chateau Sainte-Claude is surrounded by a garden with breadfruit, mango and papaya trees. The castle was named after a city near Paris. The house belonged to the owners of a large vanilla plantation - one of the oldest families on the island. Now there is a stylish hotel here, the interiors of which are reminiscent of its former grandeur. Turn left behind the chateau and at the next intersection turn right towards the La Veve nature reserve.

3. La Veuve Special Reserve

You can walk through this nature reserve in less than 10 minutes. Large takamaka and Indian almond trees grow here, where paradise flycatchers, or long-tailed flycatchers, like to nest. Local residents call these birds “widow birds.” (la veuve), because the long black tail feathers resemble a widow's veil. You can see freshwater terrapin turtles, Seychelles waterfowl and cave swiftlets that live in the La Supape marshland.

Information center: tel.: 234-353. Open: 8.00-16.00. Free admission.

When leaving the reserve, turn left, and then left again. Walk 200 meters and you will reach the entrance to Union Estate. You can go to the beach, which runs parallel to the estate.

4. Union Estate

This plantation grows vanilla and produces copra and coconut oil. Coconut oil is used in perfumery and cooking. Giant turtles roam throughout the plantation. The huge granite rock of La Digue is considered a national monument. Like other granite rocks, it was formed as a result of the gradual cooling of volcanic magma. This is part of the mountains formed 750 million years ago. The attraction of the estate is the planter's house, the oldest in the Seychelles. The house is surrounded by lawns that open directly onto the beach.

L"Union Estate. Tel.: 234-240. Open: 7.00-17.00. Entrance fee - 7.5 € per person. Turn left to Anse Source d'Argent beach.

5. Anse Source d'Argent

Seeing dozens of bizarre rocks on the path leading to the most famous beach of the island of La Digue, you will probably not be able to contain your delight. This beach, with giant granite boulders scattered throughout, is the perfect place to relax. Even on the cloudiest day, the beach is so romantic that many couples choose this place for a sunset wedding.

Anse Source d'Argent has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best beaches on the planet. Plus, it's the most photographed beach in the world according to National Geographic. It can be seen on most Seychelles postcards. The greenery of palm trees is combined with snow-white sand and azure water of the ocean, and granite rocks complement the landscape. You should enter the water with caution, as sea urchins live here.

Entrance to the beach is paid, its visit is included in the price of the ticket to L'Union Estate. On the beach there is a restaurant, cafe, grocery stores, souvenir shops. There are always a lot of vacationers on the beach.

After swimming and a photo shoot at Anse Source d'Argent, tourists return to La Passe.

Anse Source d'Argent beach from above

10 things to do in La Digue

• Feed the giant turtles in L'Union Estate Park.
• See the bungalow in which scenes from the film “Farewell Emmanuelle!”, which became the completion of the erotic trilogy, were filmed.
• Rent a bike and ride along the spreading palm trees, local vegetable gardens and plantations.
• Climb Mount Nid d'Aigle, from which the entire island is visible at a glance.
• Get to Cap Barbie, located in the north, surrounded by two bays, and beloved by artists. Here are the graves of the first colonialists who came from Reunion Island.
• Try Creole cuisine at one of the local restaurants. Whether you stick to coconut curry or order bat meat is up to you.
• Wait until the tide goes out to go far into the ocean. We recommend wearing special shoes for walking on coral.
• Go diving or snorkeling - there are more than 30 dive sites around La Digue.
• Go to unusual excursion around the island - by cart or even by helicopter.
• Take a break from the crowds of tourists on Anse Coco beach, the road to which runs through the jungle. Grand Anse is suitable for the same purposes.

La Digue and neighboring islands

From the pier in La Pass, yachts depart daily for excursions to the neighboring islands located northeast of La Digue. These small islands resemble the mountain peaks of a lost continent destroyed by the Great Flood. Large valleys and caves are hidden under the water. The coastal waters are home to a wide variety of marine life. Here you can see whole schools of parrotfish, sweetlips and groupers. Even whale sharks appear here in November. All islands except Felicite can be visited from Praslin.

Felicite

Felicite Island is located 3 km northeast of La Digue. This private island is covered in dense forest and has stunning beaches. Tourism is actively developing on it; 66 magnificent residences await foreign buyers and investors.

Guests of the Zil Pasyon resort (Creole word for "passion") You can enjoy water sports, play tennis, enjoy excellent cuisine, relax in beautiful swimming pools and visit the world's first wine cellar, carved directly into the rock. The hotel has a spa complex "Per Aquum" and has its own helipad. The hotel opened in July 2011.

Grande Soeur and Petite Soeur

These two islands belong to the Morel family of Praslin. They are located 2 km south of Felicite Island. Gran Ser has two beaches fringed with coral reefs. Here is the home of the Morel family. The island of Petit Serre, which is three times smaller than Grand Seurat, is uninhabited. It is difficult to land on it, since there is no beach there. From La Digue you can get here with an organized excursion, which includes swimming and barbecue. You can spend up to a week on the Gran Ser. The Morel family also owns the Chateau de Feuilles hotel in Praslin. On weekends the island is reserved exclusively for its guests. The hotel also offers a free excursion to the island with barbecue. Gran Ser can also be visited on weekdays - the boat departs from the hotels in Bai Santa Anna.

Islands Cocos, Fouquet, Plat and Zave (Ile Cocos, Ile la Fouche, Ile Plate, Ile Zave)

The tiny Cocos Island, surrounded by a coral reef, is located just 500 m from the northern shore of Felicite. From the sea you will see green palm trees leaning over the turquoise waters. The shore is strewn with smooth boulders. This is an ideal place for snorkeling. In the 1980s tourists almost destroyed the local corals, and visiting the island was prohibited. Thanks to the efforts of nature, coral reefs are gradually being restored. The islands of Fouquet, Zave and Plat are just granite cliffs where seabirds, including petrels and a variety of terns, nest.

Marianne

Like Petit Serre, this island is uninhabited. It lies 5 km east of the southern coast of Felicite. Most of the granite island is covered with coconut palms. Unfortunately, much of the forest, along with its endemic birds, has disappeared, but favorable changes are emerging in the northern part of Marianna Island. There are only two beaches on the island. You can disembark from small boats only in the western part, which is protected by a coral reef. Masons Travel and hotels in La Digue organize excursions to this island.

Marianna Island

Kitchen

In La Digue you can find cafes and restaurants with Creole, Cajun, European, and Asian cuisine. It is worth keeping in mind that all establishments accept orders until 22:00; later you can only count on drinks. The menu is dominated by fish, seafood, chicken, rice, vegetables and fruits.

For haute cuisine The restaurant Combava is responsible for the island. The place is worthy to celebrate a wedding, anniversary or other significant event here. The restaurant specializes in seafood. Guests are surprised with a duet of hot and cold shrimp, crab risotto, tuna pate and other delicacies. For dessert, chocolate fondant with ice cream is served. The meal is accompanied by prosecco. Dinner for two will cost at least 150 €.

The leader in travelers' ratings was the inexpensive Rey & Josh Cafe Takeaway, offering both African and international snack options. Food can be taken away. Specialties include octopus salad, vegetarian curry, and grilled fish. The prices are pleasantly surprising, especially by Seychelles standards - you can have lunch for only 4-5 €.

You can admire the ocean and have a hearty dinner at Le Nautique Waterfront Restaurant, located in La Passe. We recommend ordering king prawns in garlic sauce, ribs in Takamaka rum or a king burger.

For freshly squeezed juices and delicious cocktails, head to the eastern part of La Digue at Chez Jules. Tourists often praise mango juice. Here you can also taste Creole cuisine. If you don't want to travel far, the Fruita Cabana bar is open in La Passa.

Among other places on the island, Mimi's Cafe, Mi Mum's Takeaway, Le repaire, Lanbousier have a positive reputation.

Where to stay

La Digue, despite its tiny size, has about 90 hotels, villas and guesthouses. Fans of the tropics and secluded holidays book accommodation in the center of the island, and lovers of water activities prefer to stay as close to the beaches as possible.