The Seychelles are truly paradise, with extraordinary beaches on almost every island, and they are virtually deserted. The forests are beautifully lush and green, and the underwater sights are amazing with more fish than you could ever dream of, whilst the colors of the sea will leave you spellbound. Another wonderful and man made sight is the lack of high rise hotels, as buildings have to be lower than the palm trees.

In addition if you want to see Green and Hawksbill turtles, then at certain times of the year you can do just that. So if it is nature trails and hiking that fascinates you, then Silhouette Island with no roads, and lots of trails would be perfect for you, especially because the thick vegetation means lots of wildlife.

If fishing, especially fly fishing is your thing, then get yourself to the bonefish flats near Alphonse, where you will catch literally dozens of fish. Add to this the historic and famous coco de mer on Praslin at the Vallee de Mai, and the millions of sooty terns on Bird, and you can see this is a paradise for nature lovers.

On the other hand, if you love beaches, then some of the best beaches in the world are to be found in the Seychelles, and for me it's a toss up between Anse Lazio on Praslin, Bird Island beach which goes all the way round and is almost deserted, and Anse Victorin on Fregate, which probably wins the vote due to the exclusivity of Fregate, and the white sand, turquoise sea, and the fact it is cut off by rocky headlands on either side. These are just three, and you will realize it is difficult to set them apart when you have been there.

Whilst I personally don't dive, but I do snorkel, I am reliably informed that the diving at Alphonse is just the best, but Desroches has the coral, and La Digue has the colourful fish, but to be truthful from the moment I walked into the water at Anse Lazio on Praslin and was immediately surrounded in knee deep water by hundreds of brightly coloured fish, I've never failed to be astounded by the snorkeling everywhere in the Seychelles.

Where you stay in the Seychelles is very dependent on your budget, and probably the greatest luxury is to be found at the resort on Fregate, home of the best beach too!! Here you stay in a villa with views to die for with your own Jacuzzi overlooking the ocean, it is pure pampered luxury, but it is not the only island with only one resort. Alphonse, Bird, Desroches, and Silhouette are all like this, if you want crowds go to Mahe!!

Praslin, and La Digue are a half way house with affordable hotels, and not many people.

People often ask about the food in the Seychelles, and what it's like. It is a real fusion of flavours, best described as Creole. It features lots of coriander, chillies, ginger, lemongrass, pepper, and fresh herbs, blended into curries. Fish is in profusion, and seafood, particularly look out for Tuna, red snapper, kingfish, parrotfish, or octopus served raw and thinly sliced. It's great just book and go!!

About the Author

Lucy Tucker loves the Seychelles, read more about the Seychelles at Indian Ocean Hideaways - The Seychelles

The Seychelles is a group of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, located near Madagascar, the Maldives and Mauritius. The nation, a republic, boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, consisting of the island of Aldabra, the world's largest coral atoll and Vallee de Mai on Praslin Island, which has been compared to the Garden of Eden.

A haven for divers -- both snorkel and SCUBA -- Seychelles has six national marine parks, where coral islands are rich with more than 1,000 different species of fish. The turquoise water, clean white sand beaches and exotic plant and animal life make Seychelles a popular holiday destination for weddings and honeymoons as well as attractions for sailors and divers.

One of Seychelles' best-known beaches is Anse Lazio on Praslin Island. Framed by huge rocks on both sides, Anse Lazio beach is shaded by picturesque coconut palms leaning out toward the gently rolling waters of Chevalier Bay.

Mahe Island is the largest of the Seychelles, and location of the capital, Victoria. The international airport as well as 90% of the population can be found on Mahe Island.

Perhaps the most renowned holiday resort in Seychelles is the Banyan Tree, a family of romantic luxury resorts with locations also in the Maldives, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and China, although each location is uniquely fitted to its culture and geography. Other highly recommended resorts are operated by Constance (Lemuria Resort on Praslin Island), Le Méridien, and Taj. In addition, you will soon see them joined by Four Seasons, Southern Sun, the Crown and Champa Group, Universal Enterprises and Per Aquum.

The Banyan Tree, on Mahe Island, covers about 117 hectares of dramatic coastline and its 800 meters of beach frontage overlooks what has been called one of the world's ten most beautiful beaches.

Popular land-based activities include hiking along well-marked nature trails followed by pampering tired muscles in luxurious spas at five-star resorts. The Lémuria Resort on Praslin sports a championship 18-hole golf course recognized by the PGA, providing challenges for amateur and professional golfers.

Remarkable animals formerly found but now nearly extinct on these holiday islands include the giant tortoise and saltwater crocodile (caiman). Birders will be happy to see a Seychelles Flycatcher, Kestrel, Blue pigeon, Sunbird, Swiftlet, White Eye or Scops Owl. Seychelles are popular with fisherman, eager to catch such magnificent trophies as sailfish and marlin. Seychelles waters are also rich with shark, giant barracuda, rainbow runners and wahoos.

All residents of the Seychelles are immigrants, with the largest ethnic groups composed of French, Africans, Indians and Chinese. The two official languages are French and English.

The islands were probably first discovered by Portuguese sailors in the 16th century. They were colonized by France in 1756, who named the archipelago after a government official, Jean Moreau de Sechelles. The Seychelles were ceded by Britain in 1814 and became an independent republic and member of the British Commonwealth in 1976.

Flying time to the Seychelles from the USA is about 30 hours, making it more popular with Europeans than North Americans. But its world-class scenery, diving sites, as well as its luxurious holiday resorts and cuisine, not to mention the friendly locals, make the Seychelles Islands well worth considering as a holiday destination for anyone who does not have to worry about budgets.

Robert Scheer is a travel writer and consultant for Holidays Seychelles Info. Read Robert Scheer's blog.