Ros Lepa: Private Hike Through Cinnamon Forest to Mahé's Natural Granite Staircase
Photos: the tour operator, Island Tour Seychelles, Marion Schneider & Christoph Aistleitner, Public domain on Wikimedia Commons, NorbertNagel, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
- Duration
- 3 to 4 hours
- Group
- Private
- Level
- Easy, from age 5
- Cancellation
- Free to 36h
Very few visitors find Ros Lepa. The path is not signposted, it runs through an old cinnamon wood, and it ends where wind, rain and waves have carved the granite into a staircase that steps down to the open sea.
The short answerThe Ros Lepa hike is a private guided walk in the southwest of Mahé, through scented cinnamon forest to a granite shore where the sea has cut the rock into natural steps. Ros Lepa is Creole for rocks in steps. The trail is about 2.7 to 3.2 km each way and mostly shaded. You walk about an hour, stay around half an hour and return. Plan 3 to 4 hours with free pick-up. Children from 5 can join.
Is this for you?
A good fit if you
- Want somewhere few tourists go
- Travel with children aged 5 or more
- Like quiet forest and wild coast
Think twice if you
- Want to swim, the sea at the rocks is rough
- Want light sandals, closed shoes are needed
- Want a big summit view, try Copolia or Morne Blanc
The route
- 1Your timePick-upFrom your hotel or any address on Mahé.
- 2DriveSouthwest MahéA drive to the start of the trail in the humid forest of the southwest.
- 3About an hourThrough the cinnamon forestEasy shaded walking. Crush a leaf and you smell the cinnamon at once.
- 4About 30 minutesRos Lepa, the granite stepsThe rock falls to the sea in natural steps. Time to explore and take photos.
- 5Same pathWalk back and drop-offBack through the forest, then a drive to your hotel.
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 |
|---|---|
| Where | Southwest Mahé, near Port Glaud |
| Trail length | About 2.7 to 3.2 km each way |
| Walking time | About an hour each way, half an hour at the rocks |
| Level | Easy and mostly shaded, from age 5 |
| Signposting | None. A guide is the practical way to find it |
| Also called | Ros Leskalye |
| 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 |
Cinnamon and granite
Cinnamon was planted on Mahé as a crop in colonial times and later spread wild through the hill forests. In the southwest it forms whole woods, and the leaves and bark still scent the trail.
The granite of the inner islands is among the oldest rock on any ocean island, and at Ros Lepa the sea and the weather have worn it into layered steps. Most visitors drive past on the coast road without knowing it is there.
Wildlife and nature on the way
A small nectar-feeding bird, kolibri in Creole, common across the islands.
Photo: Yulia Kolosova, CC BY 4.0A 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 large flying fox of the granitic islands that spreads the seeds of many trees. Common and easy to spot at dusk.
Photo: A.Savin, FALThe smallest kestrel in the world and the only breeding bird of prey in Seychelles, katiti in Creole after its shrill call.
Sunbirds feed in the forest edge. Fruit bats rest in the tall trees by day.
Insider tips
The operator says no light sandals. The rocks at the end are uneven.
Waves wash over the lower steps. Keep to the dry, high rock.
The forest is humid and shaded.
Port Launay and Sauzier Waterfall are close by for the afternoon.
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
What does Ros Lepa mean?
Creole for rocks in steps, after the natural granite staircase at the end of the trail. It is also called Ros Leskalye.
Where is Ros Lepa?
In the forest of southwest Mahé, near Port Glaud, at the end of a trail through cinnamon wood.
How long is the Ros Lepa hike?
About 2.7 to 3.2 km each way. About an hour of walking, half an hour at the rocks, 3 to 4 hours in all with transfers.
Is Ros Lepa good for children?
Yes, from age 5, with proper closed shoes.
Why do I need a guide for Ros Lepa?
The trail is not signposted and the way is known mainly to locals.
Can you swim at Ros Lepa?
The rocks face the open sea and the water is rough. Swim at a sheltered beach such as Port Launay instead.
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.
Sources11 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)
- Wikipedia: Geology of Seychelles
- Wikipedia: Cinnamomum verum
- OpenStreetMap contributors (trail and place data)
- SeyBooking.com: Seychelles entrance fees, checked 10 November 2026
- Wikipedia: Seychelles climate
- Wikipedia: Seychelles sunbird
- Wikipedia: Seychelles bulbul
- Wikipedia: Seychelles fruit bat
- Wikipedia: Seychelles kestrel
- Photo: Marion Schneider & Christoph Aistleitner, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
- Photo: NorbertNagel, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
