Lost In Paradise

With some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, an unhurried pace of life and complete absence of tarmac, La Digue is a cyclist’s heaven. It truly is the jewel in the crown of the Seychelles Islands.

- Sugato Tripathy

As the ship approaches, it rises out of the water abruptly like a gnarled, medieval creature guarding one of the best kept secrets of the Seychelles Islands. With granite formations dotting much of its gorgeous coastline, La Digue harbours the most photographed beach in the world—the Anse Source D’Argent, and probably the most exciting cycling route amidst splashing waves of the Indian Ocean. The lack of traffic, easy pace of life, perfect scenery and the complete absence of tarmac make La Digue the perfect destination for some pedalling bliss.

Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands. There are 45 granite based islands known as Granitic Seychelles, with the country’s capital, Mahe, being the largest. It has 90 percent of the country’s inhabitants and the rest are scattered in the other prominent granite islands of Praslin, Silhouette and La Digue. The fourth largest island of the granite group, La Digue is less than half the size of Praslin but more steeply inclined, rising to 333 metres at Nid d’Aigles (the highest point here). Approximately 3,000 inhabitants live on the western coast between La Passé and La Réunion.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS