Mahe

Port Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, lies on Mahé, the largest island in the chain. One of the world’s smallest capitals, Port Victoria is a pretty town with fine colonial Law Courts and a silver clock tower, erected in 1903 and modelled on the tower at London’s Vauxhall Bridge. Visit the sensational botanical gardens – home to fruit bats, giant tortoises and a host of rare and exotic plants including the native Coco de Mer palms. With a backdrop of towering 1000m granite peaks, Mahé is an extraordinary treasure trove of flora that has evolved over centuries of splendid isolation. Famous for its beaches, Anse Royal is best for snorkelling, while Beau Vallon Bay is the most popular with sunbathers.