The 8 Best Places to visit in Praslin
Hello!!!
After a wonderful and relaxing time spent around Mahé, it is now time to move on to the next Island, Praslin.
Praslin is the second largest island of the Seycheles. It is located north-east of Mahé and it is reachable from there by airplane or boat (to get more info on this, please check my post https://sandy-toes.com/index.php/2018/05/29/the-ultimate-tra…ychelles-islands/
Praslin is much flatter than Mahé, smaller and easier to visit by bus, if you don’t want to spend money to hire a car (price depending on the location but at least 40 – 50 euros per day). Bus is suggested for those who are not in a rush or in love with timetables as you could wait for quite a long before catching one.
I love Praslin and I spent a couple of months there last time as it is more relaxing than Mahé and it is a quite good compromise between the main island and the wonderful but smaller La Digue.
Well….after arriving in Praslin let’s start visiting the place..
1. Anse Kerlan
On the west side of the island (the same as the airport and not so far from it), head north and you will reach Anse Kerlan. I honestly prefer the other side of the island but if you can say something about this side is that you will be able to see the most beautiful sunsets.
First of all, let’s say that this part of Praslin is not as busy as the other side and this beach is no exception. It is a beautiful place composed of small little beaches. Here water is deep, with waves and seaweed sometimes but when it is clear it is very nice for snorkeling. The beach is not big due to the high water and the erosion which is clearly visible in this part of the island. From Anse Kerlan you can see the two little islands of Cousin and Cousine. Of the two I will suggest Cousine that is a breading ground for seabirds and has a big population of Aldabra giant tortoises.
2. Grand Anse
Heading south on the west side of the island you will reach Grand Anse. Grand Anse is a very long white beach; water is shallow and there are no big waves so it good for snorkeling and windsurfing. With the north-west monsoon there is seaweed on this beach. There are many nice hotels and bed & breakfast on this side of the island as well as many houses inhabited by the locals.
Keep in mind that here you can find the best food shop of all the island, called Wholefood, even though there is no connection with the famous Whole food chain in London . Here you can buy a whole range of good products, gluten free pasta etc..or you can sit at the bar for a nice illy coffee and a peace of cake. Raccommended, especially in a rainy day.
3. Anse Marie Louise and the Fond Ferdinand
Heading south and not crossing the island you can find Anse Marie Louise and the Fond Ferdinand. Please keep in mind that, if you want to take the bus, there are two routes to go to the other side of the island (east side). One is a longer route, along the sea and that goes to the south of the island. The other, a bit shorter, cross the island in the jungle; one of the bus stops is the Vallé de Mai.
Anse Marie-Louise is a nice beach, inserted in a wonderful scenario of trees and greenary. When I went there the beach was pretty much empty with only some local kids playing and swimming around. Cross the street and you will see the sign for Fond Ferdinand. One of the local guy, whom I met at the beach, told me that Fond Ferdinand is very beautiful and it is a valid alternative to Vallé de Mai but much cheaper. So, as we were in the area, we decided to visit it. The guy was totally right, the place is very beautiful and the guide was very helpful explaining a lot of things about the fond. Plus it’s much cheaper than the Vallé de Mai entrance. There you can admire the coco de mer trees, walk in the jungle and climb the the hill; from the top you can have one of the best views of the island and surrounding. You can also drink water coming directly from the rocks…..clear and fresh….a nice experience.
Just keep in mind to bring comfortable shoes, some water and a hat as the sun is strong and you have to walk.
4. Pier Cat Cocos and Anse Lamour
On the south of the island you can reach the Pier Cat Cocos. From here you can travel to Mahé and La Digue by boat. The pier is a quite busy place as there also other boats anchored at the pier. Last time I went there was a party on one of this boat. In high season it is advisable to book the tickets in advance calling the company or online; otherwise you can buy them at the ticket shop at the pier. At the pier you can also find a money exchange and a couple of small shops where you can buy food and drinks.
There are many houses in the area and it is quite a busy area. There is a school, a church, some shops and a petrol pump. If you continue on that street you can find a little market that is taking place every morning and a Barclays Bank.
5. Anse Volbert – Cote D’Or beach
Cote D’or Beach is one of the most popular beach of the island and located on the east side. Cote D’Or is a long, white sandy beach with shallow water and plenty of activities to enjoy your time . You can do snorkeling, windsurfing, surfing, or you can have a bite at the restaurants in the area or visit some arts and crafts shops along the street. You can also by fresh fish or fruit sold in some stalls by the locals. If you really need something cool to refresh after some hours at the beach, you can have an Italian ice-cream!! The place is called “Luca”, the owner is Italian, I ate many ice creams there and I have to say that they are really good…..worth a try!!! Otherwise you can also try the restaurant ” La Goulue”, you can eat outside and they have quite a good choice of fish and meat, including the fruit bat….if you wish to try it…..I passed….:)
The beach also offers a big choice of accommodation: from the beautiful “Duc De Praslin” and “Paradise Sun” on the upper side of the beach to many Bed & Breakfast and hotels, positioned directly on the beach itself. Anse Volbert is a pretty busy place, plenty of people going around and local families and tourists spending their days at the beach.
6. Curieuse Island
Curieuse Island is the fifth biggest island of the Seychelles. It is located north-west of Praslin and it is reachable in about 20 minutes by boat from Anse Volbert. It is usually common to visit this island on a day trip as there are no hotels on the island. The island offerd some special things for tourists such as mangrove swamp, takamaka trees, coco de mer, black parrots and the beautiful giant turtles. Curieuse in fact hosts a large colony of giant tortoises and you can touch and feed these animals.
Out of curiosity, this island was used as a leper colony from 1829 to 1956 , today only some ruins of the leprosarium and the doctor’s house remain.
7. Vallé de Mai
Vallé de Mai is a nature park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is considered to be the Garden of Eden as described in the Book of Genisis. True or not, it is very easy to understand why this valley has been associated with the Garden of Eden…the beauty is astonishing and there is a feeling of mysticism and grandeur that cannot be experienced anywhere else.
The Valleé de Mai is located in the middle of Praslin and it is easily reachable by car (you can leave the car in the parking lot in front of the entrance) or by bus (the bus stop is exactly in front of it). The entrance fee is quite high (SRC350) compared to the Fund Fernand, however it could worth to visit it. Trails are not difficult and suitable to everyone. There is also a cafeteria and a souvenir shop at the entrance.
This forest has still primitive plants and animal species, the endemic coco de mer and some endemic palms. Walking around the park you will be able to see the rare black parrot, chameleons, geckos and other species.
8. Anse Lazio
And last but not the least….Anse Lazio! Anse Lazio is the most famous and most photographed beach of the Seychelles, second only to the Anse Source D’Argent in La Digue. It is one of most beautiful beaches I have ever seen in my life. You get there through an unpaved small road, walking or by car. Some trees cover the full view of the beach so, go through them and the most amazing scenery will be observed ….a long and convex white beautiful beach, amazing blue water, all surrounded by green trees and hills……spechless!
You can reach the beach by car or by bus. If you are coming by car is quite easy to park. As the street is small the bus stop is a bit far from Anse Lazio and there is a little walk to reach the beach.
The beach is perfect for swimming and snorkeling but keep in mind that the water becomes deep quite quickly. I have seen a couple of turtles swimming there and other species of fish.
The trees on the beach naturally shade the sun so it is easy to lay down under one of them.
If you want something to eat or drink there are two restaurants, one on each side of the beach. There is also a bar called “trust bar” where you leave money and get some water. You have to look for it as it is not on the beach. It is located at the left end of the beach (facing the sea) and you have to walk up some stairs before reaching it. There are also some souvenirs to buy if you like but it is a nice place to sit and enjoy a beautiful view of the beach. I spent a bit of time there talking to a German guy who travelled to Seychelles many years ago and decided to stop and live there.
Anyway Praslin is full of beautiful beaches and each one of them is a discovery. I know the place very well as I stopped everywhere during my stay there, from the smallest and undiscovered beaches to the most popular ones like Anse Lazio and Cote d’Or. I also met a lot of people, locals and foreigners, and I had a wonderful time.
