Jardin du Roi Spice Garden — Restaurant in Mahé

There was one big reason we came back to the Seychelles: the banana crepes at the Jardin du Roi restaurant. They are exquisite. Never has a crepe been made to such perfection, with a sauce that delicious. It’s a secret recipe from the owner of the restaurant, and one that no one could replicate. Outside of the restaurant, the Jardin du Roi has always been our favourite place in Seychelles; far outweighing even the beaches and the sea. It’s a magical garden of herbs and spices; flowers and fauna; trees, old and young, majestic and magnificent; a garden of secrets and pleasures. An old garden, with trees that tell stories of their seasons. Some ripe with fruits of every island variety; others with age-old roots intertwined like the fingers of old lovers. The Jardin Du Roi is the kind of garden we carry with us, long after we leave the Seychelles. Not unlike the mouthwatering banana crepes of Madame Georges. A gift to come back for. To add: despite the restaurant being closed for the National Day holiday, Madame Georges , upon hearing that the reason we were in the Seychelles, was my son’s birthday request for her banana crepe, managed to whip up two of her magical crepes for my kids. On the house. This is a lady who continues to imbibe the magical soul of her Jardin du Roi; it’s secrets and gifts flowing to all who seek its stories...

Today, people flock to Seychelles for the soft white sands, but back in the 18th century, the islands were a hub for the spice trade. For a taste of the islands' history, spend some time touring Le Jardin du Roi. Sitting on the hilly terrain above Anse Royale beach on Mahé's southeast coast, this old spice garden is still steeped in the aromas of vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and a variety of other spices. You can enjoy the scents and scenery as you wander the gardens, learn about Seychelles' spice trade at the small onsite museum, get up close to giant tortoises, participate in a guided hike (as long as you notify the garden 24 hours in advance) or enjoy a flavorful lunch at the restaurant. And before you leave, you can pick up some spices to take with you from the spice shop.

Le Jardin du Roi welcomes visitors every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Though some visitors note that the admission price has increased in recent years (to 110 SCR, which is around $9 USD per person), others say it's worth the money. "If you want to see some history, tropical plants, and giant tortoises, this is well worth the time and money," said one TripAdvisor user.

Many travelers say that you'll need a car to reach Le Jardin du Roi, which can be found 13 miles south of Victoria along a steep road that stems from...

Lovely little botanical garden on Les Canelles. The drive up is quite steep, keep it on the low gears and you’ll be fine. Ample parking up top.

Entry fee is 150 something rupees, I had to use cash because the machine was having internet problems.

I have to admit, as someone who comes from a tropical country with plenty of exposure to our own homegrown flora, it’s a little underwhelming. I’m pretty familiar with the stuff on display. That said, I haven’t been a resident there for a while so it’s always nice to have a taste of home these days.

They give you a numbers table, for extra info on the plants you match the number on the pole in front of the plants to the one on the table. Simple, though I feel that having a full description on a board would make things a lot easier. There’s a lot of variety in a small space. I did spend plenty of time looking up each plant as I walked by. The animals are also nice, plenty of giant tortoises there walking around in their enclosure.

One last note, the green loop in the map pictured is actually a proper 20-minute trail through the forest. I just did the Copolia trail earlier in the day so this certainly took my depleted body by...