Next on my island hopping adventure in the Seychelles was the second largest island of Praslin, known as the Garden of Eden. It’s just an hour’s ferry ride on the fast Cat Cocoas or a 15 minute helicopter flight from Mahé.
Praslin is famous for the Vallée de Mai, the unique home of the sea coconut, the famous ‘Coco de Mer,’ the largest seed in the world with a ½ metre diameter.
Your visit to Praslin is not complete without taking one of their enthusiastic tour guides to show you the wonders of this UNESCO Heritage site. Here you will find some of the tallest palm trees in the world and if you’re lucky gazing skywards you may also see the rare Seychelles Black Parrott which is unique to the area.
The hotel of choice on this island is Raffles, it’s quite something. Their team of high flying enthusiastic staff bring a new dimension to service levels with every attention to detail! If you love food, this is the hotel to head to!
Chris Meredith is the Executive Chef and together with the General Manager Joerg Roterberg, their focus is ensuring the Seychellois culture and cuisine lies at the heart of the hotel.
KT with the GM, Joerg and executive head chef Chris
As the Indian Ocean has no seasonality, Chris makes the most of Praslin’s fresh fish year-round choosing fish straight off the back of the local fishing boats. Raffles has an excellent Sushi Restaurant, ‘The Sushi Room’ run by Sunil, the acclaimed chef de cuisine.
As well as the Sushi journey of eight courses, I tried the Curieuese Sampler menu which included chicken and beef satay and Vietnamese spring rolls and selection of sushi, Yellow Tuna, Captain Jack fish, job fish. The food at this hotel is exceptional and unlike many of the other restaurants we visited, you didn’t have to wait around for service.
My villa is spacious indoors and outdoors and it’s perfectly located with a lovely view overlooking Curieuese Island. It has a lovely outdoor pool and lounge area, inside the room is a comfortable king size bed with a view overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Raffles also has a pristine beach with full time beach attendants to look after you and the two of the longest infinity pools at 45 metres long in the Seychelles! Here you really want for nothing!
It has an award winning spa with one of the best masseurs, Elizabeth, I have ever met. There is an endless list of massages of which each can be tailored specifically to your individual needs using Aromatherapy Associates oils. The luxurious open-air treatment pavilions showcase the spectacular views of the blue ocean, tropical gardens and dramatic granite boulders.
And if you try anything else, it has to be the breakfast in Losean Restaurant! It is outstanding in every way.
You will find a chef making homemade noodles and stir-fry’s, there is a waffle making station, home-made bread and cakes and an incredible selection of fruits and juices. All the meats are soured from local suppliers and the team have worked very hard to maintain award winning food, all served with a cheery smile!
The hotel is great for families and children. The Sugar Palm Club is a dedicated kids club designed for toddlers, children and teenagers. The staff creates lively social and educational activities so the young ones can enjoy the idyllic paradise of Praslin as much as their parents.
With a new helicopter pad about to be launched, Raffles on the island of Praslin is surely a stop not to miss! Raffles is a paradise heaven!
Seven nights at Raffles on a B&B basis in a Garden View Pool Villa including international flights, private transfers and an internal flight is from £1999 per person. Book via Seyexclusive. For further information about the Seychelles visit Visit Seychelles. For more details about Raffles, Praslin visit Raffles Praslin.
Kate was a guest of Raffles, Praslin and Visit Seychelles – Thank you.
