SEYCHELLES, VALLÉE DE MAI AND ANSE LAZIO

THE EAST AFRICAN SERIES, DAY 33, 34 & 35

Zanzibar – Dubai – Seychelles

Seychelles, Vallée De Mai and Anse Lazio. So our time in Zanzibar and my time with the family has come to an end. Although chilly as f**k from around 4pm, the slow days will be missed.

WELCOME TO COUNTRY NUMBER 159

However, now it’s back on the road for one last country before heading back home.

WHERE IS VALLÉE DE MAI?

Vallée De Mai

Government entry advice

THE FLIGHTS

Generally flights do not annoy me, I can keep myself entertained for days. As long as I have work, access to podcasts and food I’ll be fine. However this one was a little different.

I do not like red eye flights unless I happen to somehow get a business class flight but then again why waste flying business class when you’ll sleep through most of it. Anyway I was flying late late from Zanzibar to Dubai and was given the privilege of a middle seat but I knew deep inside this was only going to go one way, ain’t no chance I have a middle seat in a free row. And I was right.

FRIENDS

As I was about to sit down these two ladies approached and I knew I was in for a rough time. Actually maybe not as tough as them but it wasn’t going to be an easy flight!

But one thing did help, as they were friends they did offer me the window seat which would make the flight so much easier but my neighbour must have been over 150kg. I couldn’t help but think how she was literally going to survive the flight in one of these seats when it’s hard enough for someone half her size.

SHE TOOK A GOOD 20% OF MY SEAT. 5 HOURS OF THIS WAS GOING TO BE BRUTAL

THE SQUEEZE

The lady was more than nice, we spoke for a good while before it was time for some shut eye. From then things changed and it wasn’t too long before the armrest went up and her entire body took up my valuable real estate. But no matter the squeeze I couldn’t complain, I knew she was likely having a mare herself and tried as much as possible to stick to the window. But the more space I made for her the more space she took.

I rarely fly business and would only ever consider it on 2 occasions. Is the flight during the day and is it over 7 hours. Anything less if just not worth the money and flying at night is not good no matter the class. Those days are done 😆

REVERSED

After 4 hours in the busiest Dubai airport it was then back into a plane and back towards the direction we came. Flying direct from Zanzibar would have taken us maybe 2 hours but instead I had a 24hr travel day – the joys of visiting every country!

After getting on the next plane and kicking a women off my seat who then asked me if I could sit somewhere else I then found myself on a free row. Fortunately she and her boyfriend had taken her own advice and found another row. What an absolute result! The next 4 hours were thoroughly enjoyed with my eyes peacefully closed!

Seychelles, Vallée De Mai and Anse Lazio

HOTEL L’ARCHIPEL (Day 34)

Arriving into Mahe, the main island of the Seychelles I then boarded an 18 seater flight that would take 15mins to get to Praslin island.

This was another hotel booked as part of our africa trip and it did not disappoint. With 32 rooms, it was smaller than Breezes but has some incredibly views, I just knew I was going to like this place!

VALLÉE DE MAI

After getting the first proper meal and sleep it was back into action. I had planned to visit one of the worlds best beaches today but a mistranslation meant I had to make different plans and instead visited a nature reserve and the worlds top 10 beach instead! Devastated!

Vallée de Mai is incredible. Apparently it is the worlds smallest UNESCO site and when I arrived, I asked the taxi driver to come back in 1hr. The tour took 2 hours and I would have happily staying another hour to check out the viewpoint, highly recommended to visit!

STUNNING ANSE LAZIO

After a walk along the incredible but hot local beach of Cote D’or I then headed to one of Praslin’s best beaches.

Anse Lazio is the most northerly beach on the island and it didn’t take long to find out that everyone else had the same idea. I’d have to be honest and say I was disappointed, probably should have visited early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Crowds aside this beach is insane but I just haven’t seen so many people on a beach since the start of my trip.

HOT

This country is seriously hot, like Colombia height of summer season hot and even with the sunglasses on its hard to keep the old eyes from squinting! I am not sure I have ever complained about the brightness of the sun in my life!

It’s only fitting that tomorrow I visit an even busier beach which is well known as the best beach in the world.

Seychelles, Vallée De Mai and Anse Lazio

SUNDAY FUNDAY

Back to the hotel to enjoy some decent food while enjoying the sunset across the bay, this place is seriously bliss! But there was something called Sunday Funday happening just down the beach where locals come, enjoy a drink and drive their insanely quick speedboats around the bay. Think boy racers Seychelles water style!

TODAY’S YOUTUBE VIDEOS

If you want to see today from a different perspective, and catch a few different stories from the front row, then check out today’s YouTube videos below.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Hellish travel day but ended up in paradise. I do wonder if some of this travelling is worth it but when I visit hotels and beaches like I did today I could easily travel the rest of my life!

NEXT UP

Is this the best beach in the world?! Click to read.

SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
159/229

This post is part of The East African Series, for the entire series click here or for episode 1, click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.