Imagine a place where the water is more turquoise than an ecstatic Labrador's eyes, where the beaches are so clean you'd dare eat Cantonese rice off the ground, and where even the mosquitoes seem to be doing voluntary work for WWF. Welcome to the Seychelles, my friends! An archipelago of 115 islands, lying carelessly in the Indian Ocean, as if Mother Nature had wanted to take an aesthetic break.
But be warned, we're not just lounging around here like iguanas on Prozac. No. The Seychelles is also a pearl of sustainability: committed eco-tourism, preserved traditions and environmentally-friendly activities that make you want to go green without giving up your piña colada. It's the perfect guide for conscious tourists, or those who just want to be able to say at Sunday brunch that they're "only taking a positive-impact holiday".
Snorkelling and responsible diving in life-size aquariums
If you think that diving in the Seychelles is just about admiring fish that are more colourful than a nail varnish shelf... well, you're not entirely wrong. But it's much more than that! Here, every stroke of the palm is a tribute to Mother Nature. Head for the Sainte Anne Marine ParkA symbolic reserve where marine life resembles an aquatic parade sponsored by Pantone. Bonus? A stopover on l'île MoyenneA little gem where turtles live in peaceful semi-retirement, surrounded by legends worthy of an episode of tropical Scooby-Doo.
With guides who talk about corals as if they were an old love - with respect, emotion and a hint of embarrassing passion - we swim in protected marine reserves, far from the humming engines. Parrotfish chew the coral nonchalantly, and a stingray once gave me a haughty look as if I'd crashed into her underwater yoga session.

On land and at sea: tropical walks and mystical mangroves

Wipe off your flippers, put on your compostable trainers, and let's set off to explore another part of the green dream: the Seychelles' lands, vibrant with biodiversity. After a stroll through the May Valleywe're heading for an adventure that's a little more rootsy (and a little more down-to-earth in every sense of the word): the H.H Farm Tours in Mahé. There, you'll discover sustainable agriculture Seychelles-style: permaculture, food crops and the secrets of plump papayas.
I tasted a dragon fruit picked by a farmer who knew the first name of each of his hens (yes, he did), before trying my hand at local composting with an enthusiasm I still can't explain. It's proof that you can combine tourism and education, without lapsing into sun-drenched PowerPoint.
Creole culture, slow life, a dive into history and living treasures.
What about crossing the island? Visit Mahé Coast-to-Coast Tour takes you on a sensory journey through jungle, villages and azure seas. But the icing on the coconut cake is VictoriaThe pocket-sized capital with its Technicolor colonial charm. Here, the market stalls smell of vanilla, coconut curry and freshly caught fish. They talk loudly, laugh a lot, and explain the spices to you as if they were family members. I let myself get drawn into a dance of moutya on a pavement corner, drum in hand, exuding joy (and a little shame, I admit). The culture here isn't stuffed folklore: it's alive, embodied, vibrant. spontaneity of the moment.
Fancy swapping your diving mask for a bit of colonial history? Head for the State House in Victoria. This majestic building, a sort of tropical mansion on Prozac, sometimes opens its doors to the curious. It still smells of a political past of moustachioed governors and takamaka wood drawing rooms. My guide told me that a former president had a passion for mangoes, to the point of naming a tree after him. Fake news or sweet truth? A mystery. But the place is well worth a visit, if only for its postcard-perfect botanical garden.
Let's finish with the apotheosis of the green journey: the Biodiversity Heritage Touran eco-friendly pilgrimage through the archipelago's rare and preciously preserved ecosystems. Accompanied by a naturalist who knows the Latin name of each moss, you will discover endemic species and the conservation projects that are making Seychelles a model of natural resilience. It was here that I met 'Frida', a fruit bat who nearly fell asleep on my bag. And I had a real conversation with a botanist about the sex of palm trees. Trust me, nature has more humour than Netflix.
Sleep in peace (with your conscience): eco-lodges and disconnected retreats
You don't need an air-conditioned palace to feel like an island queen. In the Seychelles, an increasing number of accommodation options are playing the green card without sacrificing comfort. Ecolodges, solar-powered bungalows, tree houses... there's plenty to make your dreams sweet and sustainable.
I tried out a lodge on stilts, facing the sea, powered by solar panels and built from local materials. The outdoor shower (heated by the sun, ma'am) overlooked a hedge of colourful bougainvillea. In the mornings, I woke up to singing birds (free of charge and no updates to install).
What blew me away? The rainwater management, the on-site composting, and the homemade soaps that smelt of wild vanilla. We disconnected from the Wi-Fi and reconnected with ourselves (and sometimes with a margouillat hiding under our pillow).

The Seychelles: paradise, only better
The Seychelles is not just a backdrop for Windows 98 in HD. It's a paradise that has understood that true luxury is preserved nature. Here, every activity is designed to last longer than an Instagram filter: the sea is respected, the land cherished, and cultures celebrated with warmth and humour. So if you want to travel without weighing down your conscience (or your karma), grab your swimming costume, your curiosity and your organic sun cream. Come and discover how the Seychelles are reinventing tourism - between crystal-clear lagoons and living traditions. And who knows? Maybe one day a turtle will come and thank you in person.
Find out even more on our Seychelles destination sheet and on the Seychelles Tourism website. A wealth of information for an even more sustainable journey.