Praslin, Seychelles Hotels and City Guide

Praslin - Attractions

What to See and Do on Praslin Island, Seychelles

Legend has it that Praslin is the original Garden of Eden where the mythical roc made its nests in the coco de mer palms. With its idyllic secluded beaches, sculpted granite boulders, coral reefs and the mystical coco de mer forest, it is easy to believe.

The archipelago’s second largest island, 7 miles long by 2.5 miles wide, sparkles in the sea 40km east of Mahé, an easy 15-minute flight or 3-hour trip on the Cat Cocos ferry from the main island. Still unspoilt, 7,000 or so residents live in Baie St Anne, and in quaint villages like Grand’Anse and Anse Volbert on this mountainous island. Grand’Anse on the central west coast has long attracted painters, writers, poets and bohemians who live in brightly coloured tin houses. But tourism dictates and much development has taken place along the coast that now sports nearly 34 hotels including the Lémuria Resort with an 18-hole golf course, an airport and inter-island schooner and catamaran jetty to be enlarged to handle cruise liners. Nothing stays the same forever.

But it is for its 4,000 unique coco de mer palm trees in the 45-acre Vallée de Mai, a World Heritage Site in Praslin National Park, for which this island is famous. These amazing 30m-high palms produce clusters of nuts of up to 22kg each.

Silence reigns under the dark canopy until a breeze rustles the vast fronds or a wind causes the branches to scratch noisily against each other, disrupting the peace. The female nuts and the male catkin, 1m-long and covered in small yellow flowers, resemble uncannily the private parts of humans. Follow a walking trail through this wondrous environment where you may be fortunate to see the black parrot, an endangered species.

Valuable black pearls and giant clams are cultivated at the aquaculture farm near Amitié Airport.

Attractions and Sightseeing: The Islands near Praslin, Seychelles

Curieuse Island

Just off the north coast of Praslin within the Marine Park, Curieuse offers a spectacular underwater opportunity to view an amazing variety of corals, giant sea urchins and cowries, purple-lipped clams, and myriad dazzling fish where the dappled brown hawksbill turtle swims.

Cousin & Cousine Islands

Two kilometres off the west coast of Praslin, Cousin Island is a Special Marine Reserve to protect endangered and rare birds. Hawksbill turtles lay their eggs on the beaches from August to April. Permission is needed to visit this protected breeding ground for many varieties of birds.

Nearby Cousine Island is also a nature reserve for giant tortoises, hawksbill turtles, snakes, skinks, geckos, butterflies and a host of sea birds. Conservationists will enjoy this island.

Exploring Aigue Island

Leave the world behind as you step on to the fourth largest granitic island, southeast of Praslin, which has managed to retain its rural character. Its extraordinary natural beauty in the form of carved granite rocks, pristine deserted beaches and incredible sunsets take one’s breath away. It is no surprise that this most picturesque of islands is a favourite haunt for international photographers as a stunning backdrop to all types of photo shoots.

La Passe is the main village on the northwest coast. Amazingly this small island supports eight hotels, mainly on the northwest coast and slightly inland where the impressive 200-year old French-style Chateau St Cloud is located, offering only four luxurious rooms overlooking glorious gardens. Many guesthouses, bungalows and villas are scattered around the island, so the visitor is spoilt for accommodation options. There are also plenty of inviting restaurants to choose from, concentrating on local Kreol cuisine.

South of La Passe is La Reunion, close to the tiny Verve Reserve for Paradise Flycatchers.

The small population gets around in oxcarts, and although there is a helipad, the main transport to the other islands is by ferry or schooner. As it measures only 3 miles long by 2 miles wide, it can easily be walked. Otherwise a bike, horse or an oxcart will get you around to the lonely beaches featuring dramatic black granite rocks where palms and takamakas stand guard. Some old plantation houses add to the romance of this island.

Activities Across All the Seychelles's Main Islands

Swimming, Tennis, Squash: Most hotels have swimming pools, tennis and squash courts
Golf: Reef Golf Hotel on Mahé has a 9-hole golf course while Lémuria Resort on Praslin has a champion 18-hole golf course
Watersports: Windsurfing, Waterskiing and Paragliding are offered at Beauvallon Bay and various hotels
Snorkelling: The Marine National Parks
Sailing: Temporary members are welcome at the Victoria Yacht Club
Diving: Offered at the Underwater Centre at the Coral Strand Hotel on Beau Vallon Bay and at other resorts
Surfing: Best at Grand’Anse but beware of dangerous currents
Deep-sea fishing: Contact Marine Charter (tel: 322126). Note that Spear fishing is prohibited
Horse-riding: On the beach at Le Meridien Barbarons on Mahe’s west coast and also on La Digue

Hotels in Praslin, Seychelles