Praslin Travel Guide

If Mahe is the gateway to Seychelles, Praslin is the prize that lies just beyond it. Slower, greener and far quieter than the main island, it folds an extraordinary amount into a small space, with beaches that top global rankings, a primeval forest at its centre and a scatter of nature islands a short boat ride offshore. For a great many travellers Praslin turns out to be the highlight of the entire trip, and it makes the ideal base for exploring the inner islands.

Getting to Praslin

The usual way across is the fast catamaran from Mahe, a comfortable crossing of about an hour that runs several times a day. If you would rather stay dry, short domestic flights of around fifteen minutes link the international airport to Praslin and throw in a fine view of the reefs on the way. Whichever you choose, book ahead in the peak months, when both the sailings and the seats fill early.

The beaches

Anse Lazio, at the northern tip, is the famous one, a long curve of pale sand framed by sculpted granite boulders and shaded by takamaka trees, with a relaxed restaurant at either end. It appears on almost every list of the world’s finest beaches, and unlike many such places it genuinely earns the billing.

Anse Georgette is its quieter rival, a smaller and arguably even more perfect cove on the northwestern headland. The beach itself is public, but the land access runs through the grounds of the Constance Lemuria resort, so the trick is to phone ahead and arrange entry, particularly if you are not staying there. Time it for a calm weekday morning, carry your own water and shade since there are no facilities, and you may find one of the loveliest beaches in the country nearly empty.

Cote d’Or, also known as Anse Volbert, is the island’s main resort beach, a long and gentle bay made for easy swimming and the launch point for boat trips out to the little St Pierre islet, one of the best snorkelling spots within easy reach.

The Vallee de Mai

At the green heart of Praslin lies the Vallee de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage palm forest and the natural home of the coco de mer, the largest seed on earth. Shaded loop trails take you through it in an hour or two, the canopy alive with the rare black parrot and the ground littered with giant fronds. It is an atmospheric, easy morning and a complete change of gear from the beach.

Day trips from Praslin

• La Digue lies just fifteen minutes away by ferry, a car-free island you explore by bicycle and the home of Anse Source d’Argent.
• Curieuse Island offers free-roaming giant tortoises, a boardwalk through the mangroves and a barbecue lunch on the sand.
• Cousin and Aride are strictly protected seabird reserves and a joy for anyone who loves wildlife.
• St Pierre, the tiny boulder islet off Cote d’Or, gives you some of the most rewarding easy snorkelling on the island.

Getting around and where to stay

A hire car gives you the freedom of Praslin, from the forest in the middle to the far northern beaches, and it is by some distance the easiest way to reach Anse Lazio and the Lemuria gate for Anse Georgette. Taxis and a limited bus service do exist, but they pin you to someone else’s timetable. As for where to base yourself, Cote d’Or has the broadest choice of hotels and guesthouses and the calmest swimming, while the quieter lanes near Anse Lazio reward anyone chasing seclusion.

How long to stay

Three to four nights is the sweet spot. That leaves a day for the beaches, a morning in the Vallee de Mai and a full day trip to La Digue or the nature islands, all without ever feeling that you are racing the clock.