3 secluded beaches in Seychelles make ‘World Top 50 Untouched Beaches’ list
‘World’s Top 50 Untouched Beaches’ is one of Flight Network’s ten different lists recognising beaches all over the world. (Seychelles News Agency)
(Seychelles News Agency) - Three secluded beaches on different islands of Seychelles have been voted among the ‘World’s Top 50 Untouched Beaches’.
President's beach, Anse Intendance and Baie Laraie have been recognized for being free from crowds despite their fine powdery white sand, turquoise warm waters and salty-air.
‘World’s Top 50 Untouched Beaches’ is one of Flight Network’s ten different lists recognizing beaches all over the world. Flight Network, one of the largest Canadian-owned online travel agencies, consulted over 1,200 journalist editors, bloggers, and agencies from around the world who have made travel their life to put together the lists.
The beaches which made the list were ranked based on five criteria: sheer untouched beauty, remoteness, sand and water quality, annual days of sunshine, and average annual temperature.
President's beach on Silhouette Island, Seychelles’ third-biggest island in size, was ranked in 24th place on the list. Kristen Sarah from Hopscotch the Globe described the beach as “an idyllic paradise.”
The beach, known as “the perfect location for a getaway,” is hidden away from the noise and congestion of major cities and is an ideal location for snorkelling, scuba diving and reconnecting with nature. Silhouette can be reached from Mahe by ferries, speedboats, catamaran vessels as well as by helicopter.
Ranked at 28th, Anse Intendance in the southern district of Takamaka located on the main island of Mahe, scored a perfect ten for its sheer untouched beauty, sand and water quality.
Getting to Anse Intendance can be a challenge. It’s located a 45-minute drive from Victoria, the capital of Seychelles – a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean. Once off the main road, the visitor has to travel a secondary dirt road with a bumpy ride towards the end.
Once there, the sight that awaits makes it all worthwhile. Its abundant powder-fine sand, clear blue-green waters and lush mountain backdrop make it a photographer’s dream.
“Impossibly soft sand backed by jungle and facing crystal blue waters,” said Terri Colby a freelance travel writer and photographer.
In the 46th position is Baie Laraie on Curieuse Island – a protected area - just off the northern tip of Praslin, Seychelles’ second-most populated island. This beach received the highest score in three criteria - sheer untouched beauty, remoteness and sand and water quality.
Protected by Marine Park of Curieuse, this beach plays host to Aldabra tortoises, hawksbills and green sea turtles, birds and a myriad of other endangered species.
Three other beaches of Seychelles have made other listings. The iconic Anse Source D’Argent of La Digue and Anse Lazio of Praslin have been ranked first and third respectively on the ‘Africa’s Top 50 Beaches’ list. They came out eighth and thirteenth in the global ranking – ‘World’s Top 50 Beaches’.
Anse Victorin on Fregate Island, along with President's beach, Anse Intendance and Baie Laraie are also featured in the ‘Africa’s Top 50 Beaches’ category.