My Trip to Seychelles Was Unforgettable

By Giovanna Abrahão Kohl (10)

Going to Seychelles truly made me a better person. I had heard my mom say that kind of thing many times, but I never fully understood what she meant—until I experienced it for myself.

From the moment we arrived, I felt a shift. Even though we landed in Victoria, the capital and most populated city in Seychelles, it felt like I was the only one there. Sure, the airport was busy and there was some traffic, but the atmosphere was calm, peaceful, and deeply tropical—like the island was encouraging us to slow down and just breathe.

What struck me most was how respectful the people are toward nature. Everything felt untouched, sacred even. You realize quickly that the land, the sea, and the animals were here long before us, and instead of building over it or disrupting the balance, Seychelles works around nature, not against it. It made me think—more countries should take a break from endless construction and truly appreciate the natural world before it disappears.

North Island Is Out of This World

After we landed, we took a car to the marina where the ferry would pick us up—huge thanks to Brian for getting us there! The ferry took us to Silhouette Island, and from there we boarded a smaller boat, then an even smaller one, until we finally arrived at North Island. The reason we took that tiniest boat was honestly inspiring—North Island doesn’t have a dock, because building one would harm the coral and disturb the animals. That level of care and intentionality changed the way I see the world, and I’ll carry that forever

North Island is on a whole other level of tropical and exclusive like something out of a dream. The island only has 11 private Villas, and somehow, it also has more than 100 giant land tortoises roaming around freely.

Once we arrived and got settled into our incredible Villas , I was completely blown away. I mean, the place was stunning. The design blended perfectly with nature, and the bathroom? It was outside like, actually outdoors, surrounded by trees and open sky. It felt magical. And yes, believe it or not, we had personal butlers I’m not joking! Huge thank you to Kiki and Douglas for making our stay unforgettable.

That evening, we went to the Sunset Bar, where we had a delicious dinner under the stars. The sky was completely clear, and you could see every single star twinkling it felt like a scene from a movie.

Even though we were exhausted after a long day of travel and adventure, we still ended the night with a family swim in our private jacuzzi pool, laughing and splashing under the night sky. But then plot twist we had some surprise visitors. BATS,FRUIT BATS! And not just one or two I’m talking at least 50 bats flying right above our heads! It sounds wild, but I swear I’m not exaggerating. They were everywhere, flapping and darting through the night air. It was both cool and a little scary.

The next morning, it was sadly raining, so we had to change our plans a bit, but that didn’t stop us. Mom and Dad went to outdoor yoga, practicing under the cloudy sky, while Thomas, Kiki, and I went to feed the tortoises. And let me just say: THE TURTLES WERE SOOOOO CUTE they came right up to us, slowly stretching their necks for food like little dinosaurs.

After that, we had an incredible breakfast prepared by Kiki and Douglas, full of fresh fruit, homemade pastries, and eggs made just how we liked them. Later that day, we visited the Environmental Conservation Center, where they gave a super interesting presentation about all the work being done to protect North Island. We learned that the island originally started as a coconut oil farm, which unfortunately brought in rats. Then they brought in cats to get rid of the rats… but the cats became a problem, hunting native species. Then came the owls to hunt the cats, but the owls ended up killing all the birds! It was a total chain reaction of chaos. At one point, only three giant tortoises were left alive and all three of them are still living on the island today. The team there is now working hard to restore the island to how it was before all the farming and invasive species bringing back native plants and animals, while still running a luxury eco-resort.

Later that day we had a blast adopting baby giant turtles with kiki and douglas i named my “love” after my grandpa. That evening, we had a lovely dinner with Mark, the general manager, and Nick, the manager. After dinner, we watched a fascinating documentary about sea turtles and their journey from hatching to the ocean, how dangerous and difficult it is, and how very few survive. It reminded me of something magical we got to witness earlier: a real-life turtle hatching, with hundreds of baby turtles crawling across the sand toward the ocean, completely guided by instinct. It was one of the most touching and powerful things I’ve ever seen.

The next day, sadly, our last day on North Island was sunny and perfect. We had breakfast at the stunning Honeymoon Beach, a little hidden paradise, where we sat with our feet in the sand and the waves crashing nearby. After breakfast, Mom and Dad went to the spa, and Thomas and I went snorkeling. The water was crystal clear, full of colorful fish, and we even spotted a few coral formations. After a quick lunch, we packed up and said goodbye to North Island but what a place, what an experience. Next stop: to Praslin!

Praslin with the Best Sea View

First, we took a tiny boat, then a slightly larger boat, followed by a ferry, a car ride, and finally a bigger ferry and after all that, we arrived. TOTALLY worth it. When we got to Praslin, there was still one more step: reaching our hotel, which was a beautiful room built on the side of a hill or maybe even a small mountain with an incredible view of the ocean. We were staying at Raffles, and again, TOTALLY worth it. That night, we had a delicious dinner and went straight to bed, knowing we had a big day ahead.

The next morning started with a fantastic breakfast of fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, and juice with a view then we headed off to visit the giant tortoises. As we walked down the path to the sanctuary, we suddenly heard a loud, strange sound. None of us had ever heard tortoises make that kind of noise, and we were really curious. When we got there, we realized the noise was coming from a giant tortoise mating with another, his mouth wide open as he made the most shocking sound. It was pretty disturbing. Just as I turned away, clearly uncomfortable, another huge tortoise even bigger than the first approached a smaller one and started doing the same thing, like seriously? My parents couldn’t stop laughing. And then, right as we were about to leave, the first tortoise started mating with yet another tortoise talking about drama and cheating! It was like a real-life tortoise soap opera.

After that, we visited what the locals call the Garden of Eden and it was absolutely beautiful. Huge thanks to Derek, who taught me so much like how every citizen of Seychelles would be able to have up to two giant tortoises, and that scientists haven’t even finished counting how many live on the islands. I also learned about the coco de mer palm trees: the female has a larger bottom and carries more weight, while the male is straight and holds something super light and honestly, it’s kind of just like real life. Nature doesn’t lie!

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped by Anse Lazio, a beach that’s been named one of the world’s most beautiful four times and I completely agree. Once we got back, my parents went to the spa while Thomas and I went to the kids’ room. Later that afternoon, we went snorkeling and it was BEAUTIFUL colorful fish everywhere and I even saw some squids. The next morning came way too soon, but we got to enjoy an incredible floating breakfast in the pool. It was SOOOOO GOOD. Sadly, that was our last day, but it was the perfect ending to an unforgettable adventure.

Alphonse Island and Learning About the Animals

We took a ferry from Praslin to Mahé, and from there, we caught a small plane all the way to Alphonse Island. The flight was awesome we could actually see what the pilot was doing the whole time, which made it feel like we were part of the crew! We arrived at Alphonse around 1 PM and had a delicious lunch waiting for us.

After that, we checked out our bungalows Tomas and I shared one, and Mom and Dad had another. They were beautiful and cozy, surrounded by nature. Later, we got our bikes and started exploring the island, which was ridiculously beautiful with white sand, palm trees, and crystal-clear water. We ended the afternoon with a swim in the resort’s pool, took showers, and got ready for the manta ray talk.

If you’ve seen Finding Nemo, you might remember Professor Ray he’s a manta ray, and the movie is right: manta rays can be absolutely enormous! But what the movie doesn’t tell you is that manta rays are being killed for so-called “traditional medicine” in places like China, even though that medicine isn’t actually traditional which means they’re being killed for nothing.

The next day, we signed up for a manta ray search, and although the trip was supposed to be three hours, it started raining after just one. Still, we saw dolphins, which was really cool. In the afternoon, we went snorkeling and spent at least two hours admiring the colorful coral reef. Fun fact: Alphonse Island is actually made from coral!

Later, we attended an amazing presentation about how the Blue Safari team is protecting the island. They’re tagging animals and doing research, which will make conservation ten times easier, and we were honestly blown away by everything we learned. After that, we had a delicious dinner and went to bed excited for the next day.

We woke up feeling fresh and had a fantastic kayaking trip through the shallow, turquoise waters. A little later, we went to something called a “flats lunch,” which was held on the sand flats during low tide. It was unbelievable and definitely one of my favorite moments. That night, I got hurt while racing Tomas before dinner. Oh well! We still had a great evening and went to bed happy.

The following day was our chill day: we swam, played, relaxed, and just enjoyed the island. We had a blast we went swimming in front of the bar and it was so shallow. At night we whent to the airport runway and watched the stars. It was not like anything you would imagine. We saw and named shutting stars. We also lied on the runway for 45 min it was sooooo cool.

On our last day, which came way too fast, Thomas and Dad went fishing while Mom and I went on the Blue Safari Experience, and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I was truly speechless. We saw so many dolphins during the boat ride, it was like they were putting on a show just for us. The plane ride back was just as fun as the one there, maybe even better and I’ll never forget this amazing trip.

My trip to Seychelles was unforgettable. One of those experiences that changes how you see the world. The islands are incredibly unique, home to unique objects like the Coco de Mer, a coconut unlike any other, but what stood out even more was the deep connection the people have to their land. They protect it because it’s all they have, and if it’s lost, so is their way of life. Despite trash from other countries washing up and harming their reefs, you witness something incredible: locals picking up trash smiling at you, showing, powerful kind of kindness. It’s very inspiring.

The landscape is everything you’d imagine when you think of a tropical paradise: turquoise waters, green forests, beutiful marine life, and sunsets that look like paintings. But Seychelles is more than just beautiful—it’s kind, and unforgettable.

Can islands even be kind? These ones can.

✈️ Travel Note: Arriving in Seychelles with Turkish Airlines and Creole Travel Services

A special thank you to Turkish Airlines for making our trip to Seychelles comfortable and smooth. With efficient connections from North and South America, Turkish offers one of the most practical and enjoyable ways to reach this remote paradise.

The layover at Istanbul Airport was a highlight in itself—modern, spacious, and full of amenities perfect for both short and long connections. Flying with Turkish was more than just transportation—it was the start of our journey, with hospitality, ease, and care from the boarding gate onward.

We are also extremely grateful to Creole Travel Services, the local team that ensured all transfers and ground arrangements in Seychelles were seamless, safe, and enjoyable. From ferry connections and ground transportation to warm welcomes at every stop, Creole Travel brought efficiency, local knowledge, and Seychellois hospitality in every detail.

Together, Turkish Airlines and Creole Travel Services made sure our experience was effortless from start to finish—and every moment in between.