La Digue Island, discovered as recently as 1744, lies just 40 kilometres from Mahe Island and barely 7 km from Praslin Island. It is one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Seychelles archipelago, yet also one of the most photographed, thanks to its absolutely pristine beaches, which include the world-famous Anse Source d'Argent.
The first thing visitors to La Digue appreciate is its general air of tranquillity. La Digue seems to epitomise everything one associates with the Seychelles, from the leisurely pace of life to the fabulous coastal scenery. There are only a handful of cars on the island, with most of the locals (and visitors) opting to get around by “ox-taxi” instead. The paths and trails around the island are quiet, largely flat, and perfect for exploring on foot or by mountain bike.
There’s no industry on La Digue. Whereas the island’s 2,000 or so inhabitants were once occupied in agriculture, tending to vanilla and coconut plantations, today they are mostly employed in tourism, the plantations having been replaced by, or converted into, guesthouses and small hotels. There’s a few good restaurants, one or two art studios, and a handful of water sports centres, but beyond this La Digue is wholly undeveloped—that, of course, is part of the attraction.
In and around La Digue Island, Seychelles
A half hour boat ride from Praslin, La Digue is even quieter than its neighbour, and quite a bit smaller too, meaning it’s possible to visit on a day trip. There’s a regular ferry crossing from Praslin Island to La Digue’s main jetty, La Passe. Of course, there are several great hotels and lodges on the island, should you want to stay.
Whether you choose to stay on the island or just drop in for a day trip, try to make at least one visit to Anse Source d'Argent, ideally in the evening just before sunset—the soft glow of the evening light, set against the pristine white sands and the pink granite rock, is just beautiful. Other notable beaches include Anse Cocos, Petite Anse and Anse Songe. As La Digue is so small and the flat roads so easy to navigate, it’s quite possible to just get on a bike and spend a day independently exploring the beaches, in search of great photo opportunities or, better yet, picnic spots! You can cover the length of the island in a short period.
The beaches towards the north of La Digue – Anse Gaulettes, Anse Fourmis, Anse Patates – are surrounded by reefs and offer great snorkelling and diving. Just south of La Passe, the eight acre Veuve Nature Reserve is home to some of the world's last remaining black paradise flycatchers.
As well as its beaches and other natural attractions, La Digue offers traditional Creole architecture alongside relics of the French-colonial era. Be sure to pay a visit to the Yellow House, built at the turn of the nineteenth-century and widely considered one of the most picturesque French buildings in the archipelago. And on La Digue’s west coast, L’Union estate offers an opportunity to learn more about the island’s old industries of copra and vanilla production.
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