Praslin, the second-largest island of Seychelles, located only 45km northeast of Mahé, is home to 8,000 residents. Although Praslin resembles Mahé a lot, it has a more chilled and laid back atmosphere. Not to mention fewer tourists. Praslin was the first stop on our holiday and the place we spent most of the time. If you want to learn more about this gorgeous place, here is a complete guide to Praslin Island!
Accommodation
Accommodations in Seychelles will be the most expensive thing, after the flight tickets. Avoid the resorts and go for the most affordable options: the self-catering villas, a great way of cutting costs by preparing your meal if you wish to serve some takeaways, and a rum on your terrace.
Prices both on AirBnb.com and Booking.com tend to be around 80€-90€-100€ (89$-100$-111$)/night/accommodation.
Takeaways
The best and most inexpensive way to experience the food is through the takeaway stands, where you get a foam carton filled with creole food. The selection is different every day with freshly made fish, chicken, pork, veal, and vegetables, which come with rice&salad, chips, or even fried noodles.
EVE’S RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY: inside the restaurant, on the left-hand side, is a small takeaway stand with delicious food at reasonable prices. We had some lamb curry for 80SCR (€5.5, $6) and pork chops for 65SCR (€4.4, $4.8). A curry meal at the restaurant costs 240SCR (€16, $17.8), while a pizza or a burger costs 150SCR (€10, $11).
COCO ROUGE is a great little restaurant with a great takeaway selection. Prices from 80 SCR (€5.35, $5.85) to 150 SCR (€10, $11). If you want to try the grilled fish (capture of the day) at the restaurant, it would cost around 400 SCR!!!
VILLAGE TAKEAWAY offers typical local food that sells out very quickly. The food is excellent, with various dishes like fish, pork, chicken, beef, served with rice or noodles. Prices starting from 65-70 SCR. (€5, $6).
Getting Around Praslin Island
BUS. If you are not too demanding, the bus is an excellent choice at an affordable price: 7 SCR(€0,5, $0,6) for a single ticket. The bus route covers the whole island, and we managed to work our way around the island with no problems. The ride along the cliff edge on the narrow roads makes the experience more authentic.
Look on the SPTC web page and find the route that suits your itinerary.
BIKE. To be honest, I have never seen tourists on bikes, and I would not recommend it since the hills are quite steep in places.
CAR. Renting a car through accommodation is a common thing in Seychelles. It costs 35€, $38 per day, insurance included. You get the car at your accommodation’s door, and you can leave it at the ferry terminal or the airport when you leave the island. Or you can rent one from the rental companies. It is up to you!
Fuel: 18,6 SCR (€1.3, $1.4) for one-litre diesel. We spent 200SCR(€13.5, $14.5) on 10.8 litre diesel, for two days.
Beaches in Praslin
Seaweed
Depending on the season and wind direction, seaweed can disturb the beaches. As a tip, on the northwest beaches, you won’t get seaweed between Mai and October, while on the southeast beaches, you won’t get it between October and March. As weather patterns become less predictable, anything can change, so always find a beach that suits you.
Anse Lazio
The most famous beach of Praslin, located on the northern tip of the island, is a must-see for everyone. It’s easy to reach by car, but you’ll have to walk uphill and then downhill from the bus stop if you come by bus. However, the walk is easy and manageable; wear a hat and long sleeves to protect yourself from the burning sun. Takamaka palms and coconut trees border Anse Lazio, and the water is crystal clear. It is an excellent place for snorkeling and swimming, but in december&january the waves are crashing the beach, so be careful when swimming. There are two restaurants at each beach end where you can enjoy a delicious lunch with ocean views.
Tip: on the right-hand side, facing the ocean, there is a small enclosure with giant tortoises. Walk there and take some lovely pictures!
Anse Boudin
Coming from Anze Lazio, on the northwest of the island, you will reach Anse Boudin. Facing Curieuse Island, this beautiful long beach is bordered by coconut trees. When the waves are too big at Anse Lazio, that’s the place you should try. The water here is shallow, although it does deepen quickly. You will find a bus station and a small market where you can stock up on food or beverages.
Anse Possession
On the north part of the island, Anse Possession is a beautiful bay, and the water is always calm here, so it makes an excellent place for snorkeling.
Anse Volbert
Anse Cote D’or or Anse Volbert, situated on the north part of the island, is the most popular beach on the island. Since the beach is wide and long, there are many accommodations, plenty of restaurants and shops. The water is very calm, so it is suitable for families with children and snorkeling. The bus stops nearby, so the beach is easy to reach.
Anse Gouvernement, at the very end of the Anse Volbert, is less crowdy and more intimate, with crystal clear water.
Anse La Blague
The road to Anse La Blague is lovely, through lush vegetation, narrow streets, and blind spots. Located in the southeast of Praslin, in the most secluded part of the island, Anse La Blague is ideal for snorkeling and swimming.
Anse La Blague is divided into two halves, both with beautiful sand and crystal clear water: Grande Soeur and Petite Soeur. Petite Soeur is more secluded than the first one, so you might have the beach all to yourself. If you come by bus, make sure you know when the last one leaves so you won’t get stuck in this part of the island.
Anse Marie-Louise
After you visit Fond Ferdinand, you can spend some time at this beautiful beach. The area is so quiet, with beautiful, calm water. Head straight into the water, and at some point, you will reach some boulders not seen from the shore. This place is fantastic for snorkeling. From this beach, you can see Mahé in the distance.
Anse Consolation
Next to Anse Marie-Louise, you will find Anse Consolation, on the southernmost tip of the island. It is a small, beautiful beach, also great for snorkeling.
Anse Georgette
Last but not least: Anse Georgette, the most beautiful beach in Praslin, in my opinion. Situated on the northwest coast of the island, bordered by huge granite boulders, Anse Georgette has crystal clear turquoise water, fine white sand, and many palm trees. You need to make a reservation through your accommodation, one day before or even earlier in high season, to reach the beach through Constance Lemuria Resort. From the bus station, walk 5 minutes to the resort’s main gate and another 20-25 minutes to Anse Georgette. We only reached it after one hour since we made it to the viewpoint first, taking lots of photos and enjoying the incredible surroundings.
There is another way to reach the beach, through a trail that goes over the hills between Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio. It’s a 1h30′ hike, and it’s only for experimented ones or for those who like hiking. I wouldn’t recommend it during the rainy season as it can get very slippery and muddy.
Grand Anse
Located near the airport, the sea here is calm and shallow. You can relax under the trees and enjoy some leisure time on the white fine sand.
Half-Day Trips
Although tourists tend to spend their time at the beach, there are other places to be discovered in Praslin!
Fond Ferdinand and Vallée de Mai are a great way to spend a few hours in what feels like a tropical rainforest.
Taking a boat trip on one of the neighboring islands is another great way to spend half a day.
Vallée de Mai
Vallée De Mai Nature Reserve is one of the two Unesco World Heritage sites in Seychelles, home to the famous Coco de Mer, strictly protected by the Seychelles Government. The seeds produced by the Coco de Mer palms are the largest in the world.
The nature reserve’s circular route takes around two hours and feels like walking straight into the jungle, with occasional stairs. Along the way, you might spot black parrots, blue pigeons, black snails, lots of geckos, or vanilla orchids. All paths are well marked with signs and explanations. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to spot the black parrot as it is rare.
ENTRANCE FEE: 350 SCR (€ 23.5, $25.6) without a guide. There is a free guided tour early, around 9.00 am, and one at 2.00 pm.
Fond Ferdinand
Fond Ferdinand, the second nature reserve of Praslin Island, was opened in 2013, and it is a great alternative to Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve. Not to mention cheaper. The reserve is entirely worth visiting, six times larger than Vallée de Mai, and easy to reach by bus or car. It is located near Anse Marie-Louise beach, where you can spend the rest of the day after visiting Fond Ferdinand. There are only four tours daily (the last leaves at 1 pm), and a personal guide is always included. You will learn more about the famous Coco de Mer, the black parrot or the dutch bird. The tour takes about two to three hours, and you’ll have to climb more than 600 steps. Getting to the top is quite challenging, but you will be rewarded with incredible views over Baie St. Anne and all the neighboring islands.
ENTRANCE FEE: 150SCR (€10, $11) Bring plenty of water, insect repellent, and trail shoes!
Curieuse Island
Curieuse Island is a small island close to Praslin’s north coast, home to the giant Aldabra tortoises, which roam around freely.
A half-day trip to Curieuse Island should cost around €65, $71/pp– €30, $33 for the boat, €15, $16.5 for the entrance fee, €20, $21.5 for the BBQ.
Ask your host to book the boat trip for you or find a water taxi service. But do some research first! I’ve heard some tourists booked the same trip for €150, which is outrageous.
First, the boat takes you to a small and beautiful beach. Spend some time here and then walk to the Doctor’s house, a small and informative museum. From here, hike uphill until you reach a lovely viewpoint and then walk through the mangrove forest where you’ll see many crabs, turtles, coconut trees.
One hour later, you will reach the other side of the island. I would advise you not to wear flip flops for this hike as it might get slippery.
Next, you’ll have the opportunity to feed the tortoises, admire them, and take pictures. Visit the nursery where baby turtles are fed and kept away from predators.
Most of the tours to Curieuse Island offer lunch with BBQ arrangement, and I encourage you to try it: fresh-grilled barracuda fish, grilled chicken, rice, mango and crab salads, fruits, juices, and water.
You’ll have then some free time to spend at the beach before moving on to St Pierre Island for snorkeling.
A Guide To Praslin Island in Seychelles – Interactive Map
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