Of all the places I have been around the world, La Digue is my happy place. This island benefits from some of the world’s best beaches thanks to its powdery white sand, vibrant coral reefs, crystal-clear water, and lush green palm trees.
There are multiple beaches on La Digue yet limited accommodation so there are only so many people the island can even take, there is enough beach for everyone that’s for sure.
Anse Source d’Argent is the most spectacular beach on the island and the reasoning behind many trips to the Seychelles. The stunning beach is renowned from its incredible granite rock formations that give the beach its unique look.
This beach is one of the most photographed on the planet and whilst it sees a lot of visitors, you don’t get an overcrowded feel. It spans to over 1km and benefits from many hidden coves and the perfect shady spots for those not wanting too much sun.
Aside from the ante Source d’Argent, the island boasts a number of incredible white sand beaches. I would recommend a visit to Anse Bonnet Carré which is completely undeveloped and remains isolate in the south of the island. The wild and rugged scenery offers the feeling of being in a Castaway movie with no one around, lending a unique charm to the beach.
If you are looking for a relaxing day then Anse Cocos is for you. It is a picturesque beach in the east, benefitting from the island’s crystal-clear water and pristine white sand. There is extensive natural shade here and the shallow waters which are perfect for paddling in.
Aside from the beach, La Digue offers and beautiful tropical interior filled with lush vegetation, flora and fauna. The L’Union Estate on the south west of the island is a great spot to experience an historic coconut tree plantation. The estate looks just as it did when people first settled on the island, with a French colonial house sitting in the middle.
Before the boom in tourism, La Digue’s main industry was coconut oil and you can still see today how the coconut oil process took place all those years ago. To enter the estate you pay a 115 SCR charge which equates to around £10 and also gives you easy access to Anse Source d’Argent.
In terms of eating and drinking, there are a lot of options ranging from typical Creole food to international foods such as Indian and Italian restaurants. I would recommend having lunch at the Old Pier Cafe which sits in the L’Union Estate right on the beach so you can appreciate the gentle sound of the waves as you eat – they do amazing pizzas!
The sunsets here are stunning, I would recommend sunset on Anse Source d’Argent or Anse Severe. Anse Source d’Argent will give you amazing photo opportunities of the unique rock formations with the impressive sunset behind as you look up the beach. Just be careful though, it gets very dark once the sun goes down and the beach is not lit up. You have to walk through a tunnel of boulders and vegetation to get back to the L’Union Estate where you leave your bikes.
Anse Severe is a smaller beach lined with local beach bars playing reggae music. It feels like everyone is happy here and it’s a great place to take a seat at sunset, kick back and relax. If you notice a number of dogs on this beach, don’t panic, they aren’t stray. The locals let their dogs roam around during the day and they often like to snooze on the beach and wait for food scraps from tourists.
If you want to add a bit of luxury to your stay I can highly recommend the Domaine de L’Orangeraie hotel. Built into a hillside and with amazing views, this small but beautiful property is the comfiest on the island.
