Seychelles La Digue island: what to see. La Digue Island, Seychelles Ladique Island, Seychelles

And Praslin La Digue seemed to me a real pearl of the Seychelles. Its originality can be traced in everything, as if remaining at a distance from modern trends, it has preserved its virgin beauty, gifted by nature.

How to get there

There are several ways to get to La Digue:

By plane

There is only one flight alternative on Lad-Gid - these are private flights of the local company Zil-Air. The cost of the flight is calculated based on the number of passengers; accordingly, the model of the helicopter depends on this, and the weight of the luggage is taken into account. Everything is individual and upon request on their website.

The official price ranges from 345 EUR to 2,500 EUR per flight.

The helicopters are comfortable, with leather interiors and air conditioning. By the way, they also offer sightseeing tours over the Seychelles, price, of course, on request.

The flight from Mahe to La Digue is 17 minutes, from Praslin - 5-7 minutes, before you have time to take off, you’ll be landing.

By ferry

The most affordable and fairly comfortable way to cross the ocean to the island of La Digue is by ferry. Both from Mahe and from Praslin, and the main routes still pass through. Using the services of the company, we returned back to Mahe.

Fare:

Economy class:

• One way: 56 EUR
• Children 2 - 12 years old: 31 EUR
• Round trip ticket: 112 EUR
• Children 2 - 12 years old: 62 EUR

Business Class:

• One way: 69 EUR
• Children 2 - 12 years old: 31 EUR
• Round trip ticket: 138 EUR
• Children 2 - 12 years old: 62 EUR

• Children under 2 years old: free

The journey from Praslin to La Digue is 15 minutes; and if from Mahe with transit through Praslin, get ready to be shocked by the waves - 1.5 hours.

The issue of seasickness exists, of course, from Praslin to La Digue no one will have time to feel anything, but when we returned from La Digue to Mahe, it was both fun and scary in one bottle. It seemed that we would capsize or that the next wave would cover our boat headlong and that’s it, we sailed... But these are all empty fears and, probably, a matter of habit. The company operates several routes a day, and no one has ever capsized or drowned.

Travel from Praslin Island is provided by Inter Island Ferry Services.

Fare:

One way:

• 12 EUR per person from 12 years and older
• 6 EUR for children from 2 to 11 years old

Round trip ticket:

• 22 EUR per person from 12 years and older
• 11 EUR for children from 2 to 11 years old

When is the season? When is the best time to go

How difficult it is to say something about the weather where Heaven on Earth is, given that it is located on the equator. Summer is all year round, even the rainy season cannot spoil all the beauty of nature that is presented in the Seychelles. My favorite seasons are spring and autumn, everything in moderation, heat, rain, and most importantly, fewer tourists. In winter, the European Christmas holidays provoke a huge invasion of visitors who are not even afraid of the rainiest season of the entire year. And there are such downpours that it’s scary to stick your nose out of the hotel window, real, tropical.

La Digue in summer

It's summer in Africa too! The weather is dry, there is practically no precipitation, but the monsoons bring a fly in the ointment in the form of strong gusty winds. Of course, for lovers of water sports, such as yachting and windsurfing, this is only a blessing, but connoisseurs of the underwater world will be upset because of the muddy water and diving will have to be postponed to the next trip to the island.

I can say the following about temperature:

• temperature indicator during the day in the range from +28°C to +32°C
• at night it drops no lower than +26°C
• average water temperature +26.5°C - +27.5°C

La Digue in autumn

Autumn can bring discomfort to your vacation in the form of high humidity. During this period, if you watch the locals, you will notice that most locals have ordinary towels, we call them waffle towels. They throw them over their necks and shoulders, which helps cope with the humid autumn climate (wiping sweat from their faces).

I tried this recipe myself and recommend it to autumn tourists. The weather is windy, relatively dry, rains appear closer to November, mainly at night.

The thermometer dictates the following indicators:

• air temperature from +29°C to +31°C
• at night it drops no lower than +26.5°C
• the water warms up to +28°C and even +28.5°C

La Digue in spring

My friends' favorite season to come with me on a tour of the Seychelles. It rains often, but mostly at night, dust comes in and makes the morning air fresher. The rains are warm, if they take you by surprise while swimming in the ocean, it’s even fun, like in that song “Water, water, water all around,” by the way, which warms up noticeably, so that there is no difference in temperature whether you’re walking outside or swimming in the ocean.

Official data for degrees Celsius:

• the air temperature during the day warms up to +32°C - +33°C (don’t forget about sunscreen with an SPF factor of 50, or better yet 100, then your skin will be guaranteed a long-lasting carnival barbecue costume, which is not a pleasant feeling)
• At night, of course, you don’t need a windbreaker for walking either, the air temperature drops to at least =28°C
• the water is not boiling yet, but +29.5°C - 30°C is no longer a joke

La Digue in winter

The rainiest season of the year, the maximum amount of precipitation falls, showers can go on for several days in a row and such that nothing can be seen, about which we usually say: “it’s pouring like buckets.” As I already mentioned, the biggest influx of tourists is when they celebrate the New Year under a palm tree. The dominance of beaches, hotels, bars and restaurants, especially in the evening, with views of the ocean, tables for dinner must be booked in advance.

The temperature indicators for the New Year holidays are as follows:

• the air will warm up, apparently with the help of satisfied tourists, to +31°C
• at night the air temperature will drop to +27°C - 28°C
• the water is gorgeous, as a Christmas gift it warms up to almost +29.5°C

La Digue - weather by month

Clue:

La Digue - weather by month

Conditional areas. Descriptions and features

The smallest of the three main inhabited islands. La Digue is officially divided into two districts:

• La Passe- the east coast of the island, where the pier for incoming ferries from Praslin and Mahe is located. I would call it the main center of life on the island, where all local civilization is concentrated, namely: shops, tour offices, restaurants, exchange offices and everything that can be useful for life.
• La Réunion- west coast and one of the best beaches of the island of the same name. This is the area of ​​tourist areas, which is what you need to see on the island. In this regard, of course, there are also restaurants, bars and souvenir shops there, but everything is already geared for tourists, and not for daily use, so to speak.

The following places are of interest to tourists:

• Source Darzhan (Anse Source d "Argent), including the national heritage of L'Union Estate, it is also called the Open Air Museum.
• Grand Anse the longest beach on the southeast coast of La Digue.

What are the prices for holidays?

La Digue surprised me very pleasantly at the prices. In comparison with the sensational Praslin and Mahe, everything is several times cheaper, especially housing.

Nutrition

Dinner for two in a restaurant from 45 EUR (with dessert), in an ordinary cafe without status, but don’t worry, getting poisoned by something is extremely problematic, from 12 EUR for the same two persons. A combo set of local fast food TakeAway (I wrote about it in detail in an article about the main island of the Seychelles -) is about 5 EUR per person, but it is very tasty and the portion is much larger than with service you will get in a regular cafe. I preferred local TakeAway, for me - either really have dinner in some pretentious place and relax luxuriously, or choose something tasty and economical.

The local SeyBrew beer tastes very good, I speak as a person who doesn’t drink beer at all, but the Seychelles beer goes well, I even miss its taste, a bottle is 1.67 EUR. Bottles from it can be returned for the purchase of a new one, of course the return is minimal, about 0.15 EUR, but it’s still nice.

The island is small, there are also few markets, the main one with fish is not far from the pier, where you can buy freshly caught sea creatures and fry them at home and save a lot of money: cut up shark fillet for steaks (take only a small shark, the big ones have bad veins, the fish will pump up its muscles) 3- 4 pieces ~ 9 EUR, set of 4 pieces Rainbow fish ~ 4 EUR, on request and for a minimum fee, depending on the volume purchased, the fishermen will immediately cut and clean the purchase.

It is more profitable to buy fruits from the locals; trading points can be anywhere, but the main cluster is near the fishermen, on the side where the trading rows begin.

A branch of mini bananas from 1 EUR, mango, papaya, passion fruit - 1 kg from 2.10 EUR. Bargaining is appropriate if you really buy a lot, although you can always try to reduce the price with a smile; it worked for me often.

Housing

Housing on this island is very interesting, there are only a couple of luxury hotels, with a price of 400 EUR per day for two, and everything else is guesthouses, villas, self-catering, chalets, all in the same price range from 75 EUR per day for two to 200 EUR (for renting a summer house with a garden plot), all types of housing in which I lived or visited were in perfect condition, unlike Mahe, where for a similar price I lived in shacks. You can compare housing prices, for example, and book the room you like conveniently at.

Main attractions. What to see

The main reason why you should plan a trip to this island is a visit to the National Park and the legendary Anse Source d'Argent beach, this will take the whole day. Therefore, you can stay on the island no longer than 2-3 days for a general familiarization visit.

For those who came for peace and comfort - book accommodation for 5 days, but not longer, then you will howl from boredom. You can walk around the entire island in two days; a day on a bike is enough, at a fast pace.

Top 5

Beaches. Which ones are better

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

On the island I came across only one Catholic church, in a residential area. It is located near the school on Anse La Reunion and is called Notre Dame de l'Assomptio.

Mass in English on Sun at 20:30

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

L"Union Estate or also called the Open Air Museum

At first I thought to classify this place as a park, but based on the rich information about history and culture that it carries, the museum section won.

And now, in order:

• entrance costs 6.20 EUR / 100 SCR payment only in cash
• opening hours from 7:00 to 17:00
• Along the main path from the entrance to the park, pay attention to the right hand - the cemetery of the first settlers, don’t worry, it doesn’t cause horror at all, but on the contrary attracts with its authenticity

Next, surrounded by incredible collections of all kinds of vegetation, you will come to a stunning place - a mill and furnace. You can clearly see and participate in the creation of real organic coconut oil. This is the coolest thing I've seen on the island, in terms of practical experience. Hundreds of coconuts are dried for several days in an oven that resembles our bathhouse. Then they are cleaned of copra, and the pulp is placed in a special mill and the ox (boy cow) walks around on a leash and turns this mill, where everything is kneaded and real oil is squeezed out

Secret life hack: take empty plastic bottles with you and then the woman supervising the process will sell you the oil straight from the cow, naturally, cheaper than in the store at the reserve. A liter costs about 9 EUR, but here you can certainly see that the oil is without any impurities or dilution, and is produced ecologically. I can compare with most of the oils that I bought on all the islands, this was the best quality

Further, walking deeper, you will find yourself in another stunning place - vanilla plantations. Picking the pods is strictly prohibited; all products can be purchased in shops in the park. But how magical it is to see how it grows and what aromas will waft over you, unforgettable.

The nursery with turtles is large, but somehow they look quite sad there. I’m sure there are already a lot of opportunities on the islands to feed the turtles in person, right on the grass, where they roam freely, and not behind a stone wall.

The park itself has fantastic palm alleys, a paradise for Instagrammers.

In the center of the reserve is the Planter's House, one of the oldest examples of French colonial architecture in La Digue, you can go inside and look at the arrangement

next door to the vanilla plantation - a 40-meter monolith stretching into the sky - Giant Union Rock covers an area of ​​4000 m², experts say it is about 700 million years old.

On the territory there are art galleries of local artists, souvenir shops, cafes and also a path to the most beautiful beach Anse Source d'Argent, read about it above.

Parks

Veuve Special Reserve (Natural Reserve)

The Veuve Nature Reserve was created to protect wildlife and many plant species, providing a protected breeding and feeding environment. The reserve is managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSNC), Seychelles National Parks and the Seychelles Conservation Corporation. A large number of visitors come specifically to see the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher, which has long been endangered.

Location: La Digue Veuve Reserve c/o National Park Authoirity, Anse Reunion, La Digue Tel: +248 2 78 31 14

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-16:00, Sat-Sun upon prior request

Food. What to try

The cuisine on all the Seychelles islands is, by and large, Creaole; ​​I have already revealed its main features in my articles about and. In La Digue, due to the vanilla plantations, the fanaticism for the participation of vanilla essence in cooking is a bit predominant, and coconut oil and curry are also popular.

Features of mentality

On La Digue, like nowhere else, in comparison with the previous two large islands, everything is soulful and native. The island is small, everyone knows each other and sincerely welcomes guests and tourists. Locals are always ready to help and are very happy to communicate. Please be friendly and don’t be rude to them, they are very offended and sincerely don’t understand why visitors don’t greet them or smile when they meet them on the way. It’s always interesting for little ones to come up and look at white-skinned people up close; the kids often simply touched my arms or even my legs, those who couldn’t reach them, and smiled sweetly. There is no need to be afraid to make contact with them; they sincerely desire communication.

In terms of safety, everything is so good that you don’t even need to worry. You can walk either at night or during the day, the locals, again, can only ask to make sure that everything is okay with you and that you don’t need help, in case you get lost or something else.

They live enjoying life, are not in a hurry and do not know what vanity is. Punctuality is not about them, and if you agreed to meet, then this is plus at least an hour to what was originally agreed upon.

Holidays

Every year, on August 15, one of the most significant holidays of the entire Seychelles archipelago takes place - La Fete La Digue.

Not only guests and tourists, but also local residents from all neighboring islands come to celebrate. Officially, the holiday coincides with the religious Feast of the Assumption. The ceremony begins in the open air at La Grotto, with the bishop himself present. Believers in a solemn procession reach the Temple itself. After the celebration of the solemn mass, the faithful parishioners join the rest of the residents and guests and the celebration turns into a street format with a lively and colorful atmosphere.

Traditionally lasting all day and night, everyone can take part in live music shows, as well as feast on local food and various drinks.

Safety. What to watch out for

The Seychelles is absolutely safe, you wouldn’t be on any island.

Most importantly, do not forget about sun protection, it is advisable to use SPF 50+ or ​​higher, renew the cream every 3 hours and have a good rest!

Things to do

The island is small, you can walk around it in a day and a half. An option is to rent a bike and go around all the sights. If you have already seen everything, but have planned more than three days on the island, then I can recommend the following entertainment:

Shopping and shops

The main shops and souvenir shops are concentrated in the pier area, from which the main street originates, along which you can walk straight to L'Union Estate.

I can’t say that the assortment is any different or more unique on the island; most likely, I would recommend postponing shopping until you return to Mahe, probably when you will be flying back from there.

Clubs and nightlife

Here's something, but on this sleepy and peaceful island there is definitely no time for nightlife. Some hotels invite musicians to the restaurant during dinner, but even then the musical break is until 10 pm and no later.

• Tarosa (Taros)- directly opposite the marina in La Passa. This open air bar and restaurant has some action on a Friday night. Local musicians perform original cover versions of hits of modern and traditional Creole music. At this time, everyone who wants a holiday on the island relaxes there, from locals to tourists.
• La Digue Community Center(Community Center on La Digue) - sometimes on weekends local artists organize concerts and discos on the territory of the center, everyone can come and participate.

Extreme Sports

Locals call La Digue the pearl of surfing. But there are no schools on this island; you can come with your own board and negotiate with the locals to show them the spots. Also, surf schools located on Mahe are willing to travel upon request to conduct classes. Read about schools in my article.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

As I already said, it is advisable to postpone purchases until Mahe.

But (!) don't forget about the purchase coconut oil in L "Union Estate and in the same place in souvenir shops various vanilla products(vanilla beans, essence, vanilla tea).

Although, the best vanilla tea I bought it from Mahe and it costs a penny EUR 0.43 - 0.60 EUR / 7-10 SCR. All my friends love it and order me to bring it in packages. After brewing, I recommend diluting it with milk, preferably melted, to create a milky vanilla oolong.

How to get around the region

Of course, there are cars on the island, even about 10 of them Taxi, but they are not particularly necessary. The main housing is in the pier area, everything is within walking distance. We have never used taxi services in La Digue.

Great idea - ox cart taxi, if the suitcases are too heavy, where else will you roll your luggage? They are also located at the pier. We didn’t use it either, because the walk to our villa was 7 minutes at a slow pace. But this type of transport is probably in second place in popularity, after the bicycle.

Bike-the most convenient and suitable type of transport on the island. There are quite a lot of rentals. The main ones, of course, are in the pier area and between retail outlets along the main street.

The rental price for one day will be the same everywhere - 6 EUR / 100 SCR, with a child seat 9 EUR / 150 SCR. For a long period - by agreement. No documents or collateral required. The island is small, population 2000 people, everyone knows each other, there is no theft of bicycles, because... It will still not be possible to remove them from the island; they are prohibited for transportation on ferries. It happens when there are a lot of bikes in the parking lot near public attractions and tourists often get confused and take someone else’s (yes, tying and fastening is not particularly customary here either), it’s not a problem, you should always have the mobile number of the rental with you, and they will help you With a solution, they will usually fit a new bike to the place where you lost yours.

La Digue - holidays with children

Excellent for families with children due to the silence and tranquility of the island. It's nice to take a walk with little tourists in the National Nature Reserve, there is mostly shade everywhere, and there are places to sit down to rest and have a snack.

About the beaches, I tried to write as much as possible about where you can grab little ones and where you shouldn’t.

In the main green area of ​​the island you can see turtles walking and not being afraid to feed them. I think the kids will be delighted with this.

And on the island itself there are enough secluded places where you can eat ice cream and order fruit smoothies.

Ski holiday

5 must-do things in this region

Arriving at dear La Digue, I felt that time had stopped and there were much more in a day than 24 hours. How nice it is sometimes to grab yourself by the scruff of the neck, breathe out and not run anywhere. After the chaos of life and the metropolis, La Digue is a real detox, oh yes, if you are lucky with the lack of Wi-Fi, like I am, then this will be a real gift from heaven.

You can have a great time on the island without leaving the villa, but still, I highly recommend not to miss, but to enjoy:

1. Fabulous National Reserve L'Union Estate- the real face of Seychelles “without filters”.
2. There is Paradise on earth and its name is Anse Source d'Argent.
3. Pos look at sourcing organic coconut oil using a mill and an ox (and be sure to buy it without leaving production!!!).
4. Feed grass to big turtles, they are cute, although sometimes they don’t look friendly.
5. Listen to the silence of the earth, see the waves crashing on granite boulders and watch the sunrise.

Anything to add?

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 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 paradise.
But this 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.

A very picturesque beach, shaped like 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 are on a 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 of the Seychelles lives in it. 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 the historical heritage is occupied by the graves of the first colonialists, which can be seen when visiting Cap 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 in the early stages of 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.

This national park is home to 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 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 around the world to take fantastic pictures of this earthly Eden. Almost complete isolation from the outside world allows you to relax 100% during your vacation.

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.

On 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. There is also a 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.

There is a good road along the coast, 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 La Digue's largest beach, but the 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 the 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 Theophilos. 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 (on 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 ocean water, 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 on an 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.

The Combava restaurant is responsible for haute cuisine on 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.

Let me go back three hours... My wife, looking at all this disgrace, refused to swim. I wasn’t really drawn to swimming either, but it was a matter of principle - to visit one of the most famous beaches and not swim... no, that’s not for me :-)

The situation was also made easier by the fact that I had put on my swimming trunks in advance, before the excursion, and was, as they say, fully armed. Carefully entering the water so as not to get hurt on the coral, I found a deeper place and swam. Having sailed about forty to fifty meters, I looked back... and realized why this beach is the most photographed beach on earth. The view from the water is truly impressive!

However, this does not outweigh the disadvantages that I talked about earlier. Honestly speaking, on about. Silhouette, in a similar situation, I have seen even more impressive landscapes. I talked about this in the first part of this story, but just in case I’ll repeat it...

One day, on a beach with granite boulders, I decided to move away from the shore. And when I turned around, an absolutely stunning landscape opened up to me! High mountain slopes covered with dense primeval jungle appeared before my eyes. Flying foxes hovered above them, like pterodactyls, disturbed by a thundercloud clinging to the top of the mountain and sparkling with bright lightning. The rays of the sun penetrating through gaps in the clouds created mesmerizing chiaroscuro. The granite boulders became completely black, the foliage of the trees acquired a deep emerald hue, and the motionless surface of the water shimmered in all shades of blue and green. I stood there for probably thirty minutes, and could not take my eyes off this miracle. The next day, at the risk of drowning my camera, I returned to the same place, but the landscape, to my great regret, already looked completely ordinary. It was all about the moment, the play of light and shadow, and I was not lucky enough to see something like that a second time.

Okay, I got distracted. I return to Source d'Argent. After admiring the landscape, I crawled ashore and suddenly realized that I actually had nowhere to change clothes. Indeed, there are no special places on the beach for this. What to do... After wandering through the bushes, I realized that I couldn’t find a secluded place here and would have to change clothes the old-fashioned way - using a towel and choreographic abilities :-) Nature did not endow me with these abilities, and I had to suffer quite a bit to accomplish my plans. Those around me apparently mistook my movements for some kind of exotic dance, and somehow they very closely and openly watched me, exchanging phrases among themselves in languages ​​unfamiliar to me. This, to be honest, was not particularly pleasant. Well, oh well, by and large, what do I care about this? But all this is nonsense compared to another problem... There are no toilets on the beach or near it. So, what should an ordinary person do in such an awkward situation? Apparently, just be patient. Of course you can be patient, but not for a few hours. In general, this place is not very suitable for a beach holiday, and I would prefer that, as part of the excursion, we were taken to some other, more secluded beach, at some hotel. There the beach would probably be more suitable for swimming and there would be no problems with infrastructure.