, Updated 16 Dec 2020, 12:07 GMT
Granite rock formations and Coconut Palms give the Seychelles islands their idyllic aesthetic.
Photograph by NORBERT WU/ MINDEN PICTURES
Is this the Indian Ocean’s most adventurous natural playground? Few contenders can compete with Seychelles’ array of tropical flora and fauna in such a spectacular setting, over 50% of which is protected by national parks and marine reserves. With an outer halo of coral atolls, the islands at the heart of the archipelago are the world’s only mid-oceanic islands comprised of granitic rock, which blushes rose pink in the sun. Here you will find the endemic coco de mer palm, free-roaming giant tortoises, and a unique biodiversity of birdlife in mountain forests whose lush green heights offer views of powdery white sands and sparkling turquoise waters. The far-flung outer islands, meanwhile, are pioneering terrain for live-aboard dive ships and eco-minded private island resorts near snorkel and scuba sites teem