Mahé, Seychelles Hotels and City Guide

Mahé - Outdoor Attractions

Mahé's Beaches

Mahé boasts more than 70 beaches, all of them breathtaking and some deadly dangerous where you should not swim. The beaches facing the open sea without protection from the reefs are not safe for swimming. A rule of thumb is the finer the sand, the more dangerous the beach as it is the forces of nature that grind down the coral to a powder-fine consistency.

Beau Vallon

This perfect mile-long crescent beach on the northwest coast, hugged by mountains and shaded by takamaka trees, is visitors’ most favoured and best swimming beach. The sunsets from this beach are out of this world. Abandoning the world below, soar like a bird above Beau Vallon Bay as you paraglide from the beach. It seems a shame to destroy the peace by jetskiing on this bay.

Visit the imposing Church of Bel Ombre at the far end of the beach.

Grand’Anse

If it were possible to choose a most beautiful beach, Grand’Anse on the central west coast would be it. It has a mile of powdery white sand and crashing breakers, so it is ideal for surfing, but it is one of the most dangerous beaches, particularly between May-October when the breakers thunder in on the southeast monsoons and strong currents roil below. Be warned that several excellent swimmers have drowned here.

Anse Intendance

This is another of the archipelago’s glorious beaches on the southwest coast, but also dangerous with a pounding surf. It is where the elite Banyan Tree resort nestles in lush vegetation overlooking the superb bay, each villa with its private rim-flow pool.

Anse Petit Boileau

On the southwest coast, this is a near-deserted beach if you want some quiet time.

Police Bay

In the very south of the island, this lonely beach must certainly be dangerous for the sand is so fine you will sink up to your ankles in it. Huge breakers crash on to the rocks and sand.

Anse Royale

On the southeast coast, Anse Royale, the longest beach, has two attractive churches, one Anglican, one Catholic, at the end of the glorious beach and a picture-perfect granitic islet set in an aquamarine sea.

Whilst in the area, visit the 79-acre Le Jardin du Roi, a spice plantation high in the hills overlooking the beach with orchards and flower gardens redolent with the fragrance of cinnamon, nutmeg, citronella, cardamon, patchouli, vanilla and more. Lose yourself in the garden’s beauty before partaking of a delicious lunch, the pièce de resistance being the homemade spices icecream. Ancient giant tortoises also live in the secret garden.

National Parks Nearby Mahé

Morne Seychellois National Park

Covering 30sq.km of the western interior, this is Seychelles at its most wild, consisting of thick jungle, soaring indigenous forests supporting lichens, creepers, ferns and old man’s beard. Flowering plants, including orchids, the cunning pitcher plant that traps insects in its sugary solution, and magnificent trees like the rare jellyfish tree thrive. This wilderness is home to strange creatures like the noisy pygmy piping frog and seven species of the islands’ unique birds such as the bare-legged scops owl and the Seychelles kestrel.

High peaks dominate this majestic park with only one road running through it offering panoramic views. There are several walking trails. Best to go with a guide.

Hotels in Mahé, Seychelles