A tropical paradise of superlative beaches and natural wonders, the Seychelles inspires a sense of castaway seclusion and exoticism. The islands still feel relatively undiscovered and a French Creole influence is evident in culture, custom and cuisine. Surf breaks are plentiful though good swells are fickle and rarely big. Mellow surfers looking to escape the crowded realities of home can enjoy small, tropical waves off the world’s most picturesque beaches – a setting your non-surfing partners will consider divine. With no proper surf shops or reliable online forecasts, surfing here is not mainstream. Herein lies its beauty. But when solid swells do occasionally arrive, a range of high-quality reef and point set-ups can produce uncrowded waves of exceptional quality. Come with both a mindset and a quiver for small, crowd-free surfing in an idyllic backdrop and be captivated by the country’s natural beauty.