Destination Discovery/Seychelles

For Cruisers Who Have Done It All

By Lynne Helm

Next Stop: The Seychelles . . .

It’s no wonder that William and Kate, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, chose to honeymoon in the Seychelle Islands. There’s no better place to get away from it all than these tropical stepping stones in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa.

Get Your Bearings

The Seychelles are composed of some 115 islets covering 108 square miles northeast of Madagascar. With an average annual temperate of 75 degrees Fahrenheit, the verdant, sun-washed Seychelles are welcoming any time of the year.

In this Indian Ocean archipelago, scenery somehow seems greener, glossier, simply more spectacular with its granite cliffs and white-sand beaches lapped by turquoise waves. The islands are also home to some of the earth’s rarest and most interesting species, including the Seychelles Magpie Robin, the Coco de Mer palm, and giant tortoises that live for more than a century.

The Seychelles are made up of southern low-lying outer coral isles, and northern inner granite bastions covered in vegetation. Primary inner isles are Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette, and Mahe (the nation’s largest, where Victoria ranks among the world’s smallest capitals). Private isles include the ultra-exclusive Fregate, William and Kate’s honeymoon retreat.

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