Dans Gallas Trail: Private Guided Hike in the Quiet Heart of the National Park
Photos: Radosław Botev, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons, the tour operator, Island Tour Seychelles, Anass Sedrati, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons, Andrew Deacon, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons
- Duration
- About 3.5 hours
- Group
- Private
- Level
- Moderate, from age 8
- Cancellation
- Free to 36h
Most hikers on Mahé head for Copolia or Morne Blanc. Dans Gallas stays quiet: a forest path in the mountains above the north coast, with birdsong, granite and long breaks wherever you like.
The short answerThe Dans Gallas hike is a private guided walk on one of the quietest trails in the Morne Seychellois National Park, through mountain forest and over granite to a viewpoint. It is a moderate hike with some climbs, roots and rocks. Plan 2 to 3 hours on the trail and about 3.5 hours in all with free pick-up. Children from 8 with some walking experience can join.
Is this for you?
A good fit if you
- Want a quiet trail away from other hikers
- Like birds and forest more than summit crowds
- Have normal fitness and good shoes
Think twice if you
- Have children under 8
- Want a famous single viewpoint, try Morne Blanc
- Dislike uneven, slippery ground
The route
- 1Your timePick-upFrom your hotel or any address on Mahé.
- 2Into the parkDans Gallas trailheadA drive into the mountains of the national park to the start of the trail.
- 32 to 3 hoursThrough the forestMountain forest with some climbs. Your guide explains the plants and birds.
- 4A proper restDans Gallas viewpointA break with a view over the green interior of Mahé.
- 5ReturnBack to the car and drop-offBack to the trailhead and a drive to your hotel.
OpenStreetMap traces about 2.1 km of mapped trail for this route.
Price and what is included
| 1 guest | €129 |
| 2 guests, each | €69 |
| 3 to 4 guests, each | €55 |
| 5 to 25 guests, each | €49 |
| First child up to 12, with two paying adults | Free |
Your tour covers Private guided hike, only your group, Licensed local guide speaking English or French, Free pick-up and drop-off anywhere on Mahé, Transport to the trailhead and back.
Costs on top
| Food and drinks | Not included |
|---|---|
| Entrance fees | Paid on site where a place charges one. All fees |
These are the local operator's own prices, checked 10 November 2026. The tour is private, only your group takes part. You book and pay online with the operator, and the price for your date shows before you pay.
Key facts
| Operator | Island Tour Seychelles, a licensed family business on Mahé |
|---|---|
| Trail | Dans Gallas trail, Morne Seychellois National Park |
| Trail time | 2 to 3 hours |
| Level | Moderate, some climbs, roots and rocks |
| Trail fee | None on the government fee list for Dans Gallas |
| Why a guide | Signposting is poor and mountain weather changes fast |
| Languages | English or French. Sheena also speaks some German |
| Pick-up | Free anywhere on Mahé |
| Cancellation | Free up to 36 hours before, full refund minus the payment fee |
The quiet side of the national park
Dans Gallas is a trail in the northern part of the Morne Seychellois National Park, which covers about 3,045 hectares of Mahé's mountains. OpenStreetMap rates sections of it as demanding mountain hiking, which is why it is walked with a guide.
The Mahé highlands are an Important Bird Area. Endemic birds such as the Seychelles blue pigeon, bulbul and sunbird live in this forest, alongside rare plants like the jellyfish tree.
Wildlife and nature on the way
A woodland pigeon about 25 cm long with a silver-grey head, dark blue body and a bright crimson patch on the forehead.
Photo: A.Savin, FALA common endemic bird of Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette, noisy and easy to spot in the forest.
Photo: Florival fr, CC BY-SA 4.0A small nectar-feeding bird, kolibri in Creole, common across the islands.
Photo: Yulia Kolosova, CC BY 4.0A tree found only on Mahé, thought extinct until a few were found in the 1970s, named after its jellyfish-shaped open fruit.
Photo: Dao Nguyen and James Hardcastle, CC BY 4.0The smallest kestrel in the world and the only breeding bird of prey in Seychelles, katiti in Creole after its shrill call.
The Seychelles blue pigeon with its red forehead is often heard before it is seen.
Insider tips
Closed shoes with a good sole. Roots and rocks are slippery after rain.
The mountains are cooler and wetter than the coast.
The operator walks at your pace and stops wherever you like.
Worth bringing if you like birds.
Weather and the best season
Seychelles is warm all year, about 24 to 30 °C on Mahé. October to March is the wetter half, January usually the wettest month, and July and August the coolest.
Trails are slippery after rain, which falls most from December to February. Morning starts are cooler and clearer, because clouds build over the mountains later in the day.
Pair it with
Seychelles entrance fees, every trail and parkSeychelles hiking trailsMorne Seychellois National ParkSeychelles with kids
Questions people ask
Where is the Dans Gallas trail?
In the Morne Seychellois National Park in the mountains of Mahé. The operator drives you to the start and back.
How hard is the Dans Gallas trail?
Moderate, with some climbs and uneven ground. Normal fitness and good shoes are enough.
How long does the Dans Gallas hike take?
About 2 to 3 hours on the trail, about 3.5 hours in all with pick-up.
Is there a fee for Dans Gallas?
The government fee list shows no fee for Dans Gallas.
Can children do Dans Gallas?
From age 8 if they are used to walking. Younger children are better on Copolia or Ros Lepa.
Why do I need a guide?
Many trails in the park are poorly signposted and mountain weather changes quickly.
How do I book?
Online with the local operator from the button on this page. The price for your date shows before you pay.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Free up to 36 hours before the start, full refund minus the payment fee.
Sources10 sources, checked by the SeyBooking.com team on 10 November 2026
Every fact on this page comes from the sources below. If two sources disagree, we show both.
- Island Tour Seychelles, tour page (read 10 November 2026)
- Wikipedia: Mahé highlands Important Bird Area (Morne Seychellois National Park)
- OpenStreetMap contributors (trail and place data)
- SeyBooking.com: Seychelles entrance fees, checked 10 November 2026
- Wikipedia: Seychelles climate
- Wikipedia: Seychelles blue pigeon
- Wikipedia: Seychelles bulbul
- Wikipedia: Seychelles sunbird
- Wikipedia: Medusagyne (jellyfish tree)
- Wikipedia: Seychelles kestrel
- Photo: Radosław Botev, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Photo: Anass Sedrati, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- Photo: Andrew Deacon, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
