Seychelles Gardens of Eden with Variety Cruises – Part 3

The astronaut and Victor

Reflection Chris Hadfield, the author of ‘Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth’, said “the windows of a spaceship casually frame miracles and continents are surrounded by islands sprinkled across the sea like delicate shards of shattered eggshells”. In some ways the windows of Pegasus framed a close up view of some of these same islands, providing the boarders to canvases of blues and greens with slashes of white. Of course we weren’t charging round the earth at 17,500 mph either, here the world moves in slow motion. There’s time to reflect and those same windows capture a reflection of our time here and will be a worthy addition to our Reflections Thread on the Forum.

Praslin is next on our itinerary and is the second largest of the islands but still only 11×4 kms. It has a population of less that 8,000, which strangely enough is similar to the number of palm trees on the island. This leads me nicely to our excursion which took us to Vallée de Mai, one of The Seychelles two UNESCO world heritage sights. Here our guide told us all we wanted to know about Palm trees but were afraid to ask, plus covered other elements of nature we encountered on our walk through the reserve. A male Coco de Mer Whilst there are 6 endemic palms of The Seychelles on display, it is the coco de mer that gets star billing. Having already encountered the ‘buxom’ nuts of the female Palm on Curieuse Island, the male Palm enhanced the ‘sexy coconut’ reputation of the species by sporting a long brown protrusion covered in little flowers for pollination. Understandably Praslin used to be called Palm Island before being renamed in 1768 by the French Duke de Praslin. Many years on and a visiting General Gordon (of Khartoum fame) became convinced that this lush location was the original Garden of Eden. It’s was a busy morning, so time for the Silver Travel bag to hang on a bush and chill.

Arrival at La Digue and stepping onto the concrete jetty of La Passe all seemed a bit tame after a couple of James Bond style beach landings. This laid back slice of paradise is where we pick up our ‘truck with benches in the back’ style transport (padded benches of course) which have replaced the ox and cart as the primary form of transport for groups. Individuals can rent one of the many bicycles for hire to get around an island that is mercifully flat and has little motorised transport. We were heading for L’Union Estate and Copra Factory, once a thriving coconut plantation but now is largely a tourist attraction. Victor Here we were shown the method by which coconut oil is extracted and with the help of the very game Victor (an Ox) turning the mill that presses the powdered cooked coconut to release the oil. To be fair Victor was more interested in sniffing the tourists than turning the wheel. Back in the day coconut oil was used for many things, including being rubbed into the skull as a cure for headaches. This was very useful as there was no aspirin in the jungle because, wait for it, the ‘parrots-eat-em-all’ – boom boom! Vanilla production was also demonstrated (I never knew it grew on an orchid like plant)Most days on this cruise we were given the opportunity to spend some time on the powdery white sand and snorkel in the clear waters and that day was no exception.Bag chilling! After cooling drinks we were able to pick our spot between the massive granite boulders that not only provide interesting features, like the kissing rocks where one seems to be pecking the other on the cheek, but welcome shade from an intense sun this close to the equator.

To enjoy this cruise to the full, stairs and steps need to be negotiated (both aboard Pegasus and during excursions) so customers with mobility issues should check with Variety to gauge the suitability of this cruise for your circumstances.

Captain Venetantis and bag! When you thank someone for a service they have given you, it’s a real pleasure when they say “you’re welcome” and they look like they mean it. This was the case on Pegasus be it Captain Venetantis or any member of crew, they gave the impression that they enjoyed giving great service and hadn’t just swallowed the company manual. We had a passenger with severe food allergies on this cruise and the chef discussed the menu with her and cooked special meals to meet her needs. A vegetarian passenger was similarly catered for and both were delighted about the quality and treatment they had received.

Variety Cruises give exactly what it says on the tin. A cruise that samples the variety the Seychelles islands have to offer and goes beyond the glorious beaches to explore unique species and more.

Hey! Is that my bag with the Captain again? I think it has a thing for uniforms.

Silver Travel Advisor recommends Variety Cruises

292 people found this helpful
18510

Share Article:

Steve Aldridge

Award-winning travel writer

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.