First and foremost, Seychelles is not only a playground for lovers, but also a treasure trove for adults and kids alike. The spectacular Beau Vallon beach is home to several watersports which makes for a perfect activity-packed day by the sea; a wonderful way to enjoy the ocean and explore the hidden nooks and crannies of the coastline. Also, with surrounds of tropical indigenous forests, the many nature sanctuaries offer experiences and activities that are once-in-a-lifetime dreams.
Being a melting pot of traditions from all over the world it is a fascinating destination full of colours, sounds, flavours and fragrances. From its national heritage monuments, museums and natural wonders, to the diversity of its arts and other cultural activities, Seychelles offers an Aladdin’s cave of rich experiences for kids and families to enjoy.
Apart from being a famous wedding and honeymoon destination and having the world’s best beaches, that couples as well as families can enjoy, Seychelles is very famous for its unique treasures that place it head and shoulders above other island destinations. It has for many centuries been a living museum of natural history and a sanctuary for some of the rarest harmless species of flora and fauna on earth. Seychelles is home to the Coco de Mer, the biggest nut in the world and also the home base to the biggest colony of giant tortoises in the world. Seychelles has proudly been reported to have the best ‘air’ on the planet, topping the list of 180 countries with a score of 98.24 percent, again ahead of other island destinations by the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2016. All in all it is an exciting destination for not only for eco-tourists, naturalists and ornithologists but for children and families as well.
Settling into your stay on the islands, especially if you have kids, should not be a hassle as hotel properties are kid-friendly with kid clubs and biodiversity centres. Even better, Seychelles now has its very own Club Méditerranée, commonly known as Club Med, considered the original all-inclusive resort and ideal family hotel.
Things to do in the Seychelles with kids – Go scuba diving
Activities that family and kids can also enjoy is scuba diving. Kids as young as 8 years old can experience scuba diving with the PADI course called Bubblemaker for kids 8 years and above.
Bubble Makers program gives your child the opportunity to scuba dive in shallow and calm waters with plenty of fish around them, such as in the Marine Park of Bay Ternay. With comfort and security under direct supervision, this experience presents diving in a thrilling way. Otherwise, if your kids are 10 and over, they can complete the PADI Open Water course. In all there are 12 PADI-approved dive centres in the Seychelles, so you can be sure to find one close to where you are residing.
Definitely on the list should be a visit to L’Union Estate on La Digue Island which is a great operating museum where you can see a traditional working copra mill and kiln where coconuts were dried and pressed for oil. La Digue is also the place to go bike riding as we all know; La Digue Island is synonymous with bike riding. Once you arrive at the jetty at the small village of La Passe, there are many different spots where you can hire bikes. Several of these spots will offer baby seats and tandem bikes, great for when the little ones get tired legs!
Visit the beach
You cannot leave of course, without hitting the beach. Early mornings and evenings are the best times to avoid the heat of the day as many beaches here get natural shade from foliage at this time of the day. The sea is calm most of the year making it great to swim or splash around in shallow tides. More exciting watersports are also on offer as most hotels offer the option to renting out paddle boards, kayaks or canoes. This is a great way to explore and exercise out on the water so if you have one, take a waterproof camera and your mask and see what marine life you can spot along the way.
Botanical Gardens
The beautifully kept Botanical Gardens is a spot you could spend a couple of hours exploring endemic plants and trees of the Seychelles, including the Coco de Mer. For a more in-depth discovery of the Coco de Mer and other indigenous palms and plants, you could visit the Vallee de Mia, a great place for cool family walks under almost complete canopy coverage from the sun and rain. The paths are well maintained, making it a rainforest experience even the youngest of family members can enjoy.
Visit the tortoises
A great experience to be involved in would be feeding giant tortoises on the beautiful Curieuse Island, easily reached from Praslin Island by boat, where you can arrange a day trip with a BBQ for a fantastic family day. The Seychelles is well known for having the largest population of friendly giant tortoises which kids and grown-ups will love to feed. There is an enclosure for the baby tortoises there too – seeing them so small, it is hard to imagine that they will become as giant as they do!
Go shopping
Last but not least do what every tourist does, shop! Take an afternoon trip to the craft village, which is a lovely spot to pick up authentic souvenirs as well as getting some Seychelles culture and history. The original plantation house, The Grann Kaz, is open to explore and there is also a replica servants’ quarters called Lakaz Rosa. Both of these houses give a fantastic insight into life in Seychelles in times gone by.
Other activities for kids in Seychelles:
Exploring the marine park
When you explore the marine park consider visiting Semi-Submarine Seychelles | Mahe Island Excursions – Mahe Island Excursions | SemiSub Seychelles. First things first: What is a Semi-Submarine? Good question! Semi-Submarines are marine vessels that stay above sea level at all times, while their hulls remain below water providing epic views of the reef and sea life below!
Horse riding
Enjoy a once in a lifetime experience with a horse riding excursion on the beach. You can visit Horse Trails in the Seychelles to find out more about how to book your horseback experience. There is no better way to explore and experience the exotic beaches in Barbarons District, Mahe Island in the Seychelles. Here you can find the world’s oldest mid oceanic granitic islands, so get exploring with the kids. You won’t regret it!
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Helen
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Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!