Our opinion: "arguably the most beautiful islands in the world. Charming local people and a myriad of extraordinary tropical islands create a picture-perfect oasis for our discerning travellers to enjoy sublime island life. Hosting an array of fine accommodations, a magnitude of spectacular white sand beaches and seas of such warmth and clarity imaginable, the Seychelles islands will surpass all expectations."

A thousand miles from anywhere the Seychelles Archipelago rears dramatically from the azure depths of the Indian Ocean. Strung like pearls, the 115 granitic and coralline islands lay abundant with rare and exotic plant and animal life, naturally enhanced by the endearing all-year-round tropical climate.

With over 232 species of Bird and more than 150 species of tropical fish identified within the four marine parks, Seychelles is a haven for wildlife lovers. Snorkelling these waters is an underwater extravaganza, a comfortable water temperature, good visibility, easy beach access, fantastic reefs and a host of fish and marine life makes this activity exciting and safe

The main island of Mahé shamelessly hosts one of smallest capital cities in the world, Victoria and the only major port in the Seychelles. Only 27 kilometres long and a maximum of 7 kilometres wide, this mountainous island climbs to a staggering 940 metres in height and offers an abundance of hillside slopes rich in lush vegetation, narrow coastal plains, exotic hidden coves and a glorious 70 beaches.

The endemic Coco de Mer palm which harvests the largest seed in the world, dominates the prehistoric World Heritage forest known as the "Vallée de Mai" on Praslin, home to over 4000 variants of palm genus and the reticent Seychelles Black Parrot. It is on this island that one of the most famous and celebrated beaches in the world can be found, Anse Lazio, a mirage of glorious white sand, a modest crop of majestic boulders and the most stunning azure waters of imaginable lengths. The delightful Bonbon Plume Restaurant at one end of the beach and will delight all with sumptuous authentic island cuisine entwined with lashings of genuine Creole hospitality.

It is said that the best Indian Ocean cuisine can be found in Seychelles. Derived from ancient English, French, Indian, Chinese and African influences, Creole cookery offers some surprising flavours that will satisfy even the most difficult of tastes. Simple dishes of local fresh fish, rice and vegetables are accompanied by the more elaborate Creole recipes, seasoned and aromatised with such exotic spices as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg. Local tropical fruit is plentiful, with bananas, passion fruit, coconuts, mangoes and papaya being the most commonly available.