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Praslin, Seychelles

Hotel L Archipel

This is a cute hotel offering great value in a pricey destination. We like the small size (30 rooms) and the private resort feel with central access to all of the activities on Praslin. Availability is one of our biggest challenges.  — Mango's view

Reached by a 15 minute flight from the main island of Mahe, Praslin is a favorite island for Mango, and it is for good reason. Praslin is the second largest island in the Seychelles, and completely drivable in an hour. It is here where you will find the Vallee de Mai, the botanical forest said to be the Eden of Adam and Eve. There are various nature trails in the park, and you will see the distinctive and unusually shaped nuts found in this prehistoric vegetation. You can explore the many white sand beaches and private coves, including the Anse Lazio which has been said to be one of the prettiest in the Seychelles.

Fabulous scuba and snorkeling trips are available around the island. Nearby is the quiet island of La Digue which offers the perfect day trip. A beautiful sail (1 hour) has you at La Digue, where you can explore the island on bicycles. It will be hard to pull yourself from Conde Nasts voted best beach in the world. The nature reserves of Cousin and Curieuse are easily visited on day boat excursions. The only 18-hole golf course in the Seychelles is on Praslin, and it is every bit as sensational as you could imagine. Holes literally hang off of the mountains, surrounded by the ocean.

Best of all, Praslin has two villages with incredibly friendly people and you can explore any area by foot. You are not limited to your hotels dining room, as there are several fun, local Creole and international style restaurants to discover.

Hotel L Archipel is set in a large private estate surrounded by coconut trees and flowers. There are two restaurants, a beach cocktail lounge and a casino bar for you to choose from. Each of the 30 rooms has a veranda and faces the ocean. There is a beautiful swimming pool and a private beach for cooling off. Should you decide, you can have room service make breakfast on your veranda. The chef adds his personal touch of French background and Creole locality.

There are several activities available to you at L Archipel. For snorkeling, you can take a short boat trip to Saint-Pierre islet, where you will see the colorful sea bed with hundreds of bright fish. You can engage in windsurfing, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, catamaran trips and helicopter flights.

The Seychelles are what dreams are made of ... 115 astonishingly beautiful islands anchored 1,000 miles off the coast of East Africa and just 7 degrees south of the equator. A tapestry of tropical forests, exotic plants and flowers, huge granite boulders and the most beautiful palm fringed beaches.

Includes: Bed & breakfast, activities