Praslin Island in the Seychelles was one of three islands we visited during our two-week vacation in the small island paradise. Whether Mahé, Praslin or La Digue… each island has its own advantages and its own atmosphere. On Praslin you can also marvel at the famous Coco de Mer in the Vallee de Mai National Park. All travel tips about Praslin as well as information about the journey and the highlights you will get in the next sections.
Seychelles Praslin Island – What you need to know
Praslin is the second largest and with about 8000 inhabitants after Mahé also the most densely populated island. Praslin is with a length of 12 km and a width of 5 km the second largest island of the inner Seychelles. The island is divided into two districts Grand Anse and Baie Sainte Anne, which is separated by the mountain range in the middle of the island. The peculiarity of Praslin is that it is the home of the famous Seychelles palm Coco de Mer.
Although Praslin is the most densely populated Seychelles island and also has the most accommodations for tourists, the island has kept its original charm and is not overcrowded. On the small dream island you experience a mix of fine sandy beaches, huge palm trees in the dense forests, breathtaking hikes and crystal clear water.
How to get to Seychelles Praslin
The first part of getting there is the international flight to Mahé, the capital (island) of the Seychelles. International flights to Mahé cost around 600-700 Euro from Germany, depending on the time of travel. We have paid in March 2020 from Dusseldorf to Mahé with British Airways about 680 Euro pP. To travel directly to Praslin there are two options for you. You can fly by plane to Praslin or you can take a ferry from Mahé to Praslin.
Option 1: By Plane to Praslin
For option 1 you book a flight ticket from Mahé to Praslin. The airplane costs with ca.150 Euro pP only 50 Euro more than the ferry for a round trip and can be booked, like the international flight. In addition, you get to see the islands on the approx. 20 minute flight again from a bird’s eye view, which can also be a real highlight.
Option 2: By Ferry from Mahé to Praslin
For variant 2 you will go from Mahé airport to the harbor. At the airport there are enough cabs waiting for you, so you don’t have to take care of it in advance. The trip takes about 30 minutes and costs 600 SCR (about 40 Euro). To secure a place on one of the ferries and to minimize the organizational effort on site, you can book the ferry tickets again in advance at e.g. Seyferry.
The booking is fast and unproblematic and the pages of Seyferry are even available in German. When booking online, you will receive a voucher that you can exchange for a ticket on site.
On site everything was well organized, so that you have to be at the port at most one hour before departure.
If you want to be a little more flexible with the booking, you can also go to the port one hour before departure and buy a ticket at the counter.
Ferry Mahé – Praslin
- Price: 50 Euro
- Duration: about 1 hour
The Most Beautiful Hotels on Seychelles Praslin
From the harbor you go to the hotel and there is certainly the right one for everyone. From small self-catering apartments to luxury hotels. On the Seychelles no wishes remain open. On Praslin you should consider where on the island you choose your hotel. To be flexible on Praslin you can either rent a car or take the local bus around the island.
Constance Lemuria – The most Famous Luxury Hotel on Seychelles Praslin
Are you looking for the absolute luxury on one of the most beautiful beaches of the island? Then the Constance Lemuria* is the perfect hotel for you. Here, every wish will be read from your lips and especially for golf lovers, the luxury hotel on Praslin is the perfect place. This place is a dream come true that you shouldn’t miss.
The adjacent golf course provides the right relaxation. From the hotel you can also quickly reach the 3 most beautiful beaches of the island, Anse Georgette, Anse Kerlan and Petite Anse Kerlan.
The famous Constance Lemuria I Check Availability*
Vacation Apartment in Dream Location
The beautiful vacation apartments of Seashelll Beach Villa* are located directly on the perfectly long dream beach. Here you can take relaxing walks at sunset without being disturbed by many other tourists.
The hotel is located in a rather quiet and untouristy part of the island. The hotel itself impresses with its beautiful, spacious apartments, friendly hosts and a beautiful garden.
Jungle feeling at Villa Pasyon*
Seychelles Praslin – The Best Things To Do
Hike Anse Lazio – Anse Georgette
I had read a lot about this hike beforehand. Especially about whether you should do the route with or without a guide. Already the first info in advance… you can hike the trail without a guide. Even if it is strenuous, the hike is worth it, because you have a fantastic view of the coast from the viewpoints of the hikes. You can find out all the details in the following Seychelles travelogue.
Read more: Hike from Anse Lazio to Anse Georgette
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Anse Volbert & Cote D’or
Anse Volbert was our home beach on Praslin. During a beach walk, you can walk down to the right to Cote D’or . There are some rocks to which you can even walk over at low tide. Here we looked around a bit and also wanted to go snorkeling. Unfortunately, the sea was very churned up, so we hardly saw anything.
A better snorkeling spot is at the far left end of Anse Volbert. Despite a few waves, the water was clear and the current wasn’t too strong. Along the rocks, there were always a few colorful schools of fish, which we observed at their hustle and bustle. Besides the snorkeling spots, Anse Volbert and Cote D’or are the perfect beaches for an extensive walk at sunrise or sunset. Especially at sunrise, you have the beach almost to yourself while waiting for the sun to finally emerge from behind the hill.
Anse Boudin & Anse Takamaka
Actually we had planned to stay only a few hours, and then it became almost the whole day. Anse Boudin was beautifully quiet with lots of space, great photo opportunities, good snorkeling and few other tourists. For us just the perfect place to spend the day here.
Unfortunately, the sea was a bit choppy, so the visibility was not so good. Nevertheless, we saw many beautiful colorful fishes especially along the rocks, so after a break we left directly for the next snorkeling trip at Anse Boudin. If you walk past the granite rocks at Anse Boudin you come to Anse Takamaka.
In front of the quiet bay is a small rock island, which is also a nice photo motif and gives you the opportunity to look at Anse Boudin and Anse Takamaka from the view of the sea. You can reach the rock island on foot through the knee-high water. It is best to take your shoes with you, as there are sharp stones on the rocky island.
Discover Praslin by Bus
Discovering Praslin by bus is not only the cheapest way to discover Praslin, but it also gives you an insight into the life of the locals. Since the island is relatively small, you can easily cover the distance around the island by bus. However, the schedules and routes are not always very clear. It is best to ask the bus driver if the bus goes to the desired destination.
Also, you should be quite flexible with the duration of the trip and the departure times. German punctuality does not exist here. In one case, we actually waited so long for the bus that we shared a cab with other tourists after about 1 hour. But especially if you have to watch the money, the wait is worth it. A bus ride, regardless of the route, costs 7 SCR (about 0.50 Euro) per person. No other means of transportation is so cheap.
Trip to Curieuse Island
Across from Praslin is Curieuse Island, a small island of about 3 km². On Curieuse you have the opportunity to see the famous giant turtles of the Seychelles in the wild. Besides this animal experience, there is also another Seychelles dream beach to discover on Curieuse. At Anse Badamier you can simply relax and unwind. The tours to Curieuse usually start at Anse Volbert, from where it takes about 20 minutes by boat to Curieuse.
The landing stage on Curieuse is in most cases Baie Laraire. This is also the starting point of the approx. 1.7 km long trail, which leads partly over boardwalks to the bay of Anse St. Jose. The hike across the island leads through untouched nature, past mangrove forests, Coco de Mer palms and the one or other giant turtle.
- Entrance fee: 200 SCR (approx. 13 Euro)
- Opening hours: 9.00-17.00
Vallée de Mai
If you’re tired of lazing on the beach on Praslin and want to see something different, the Vallée de Mai is the place for you. The small national park in the interior of Praslin is home to part of the original palm forests of the Seychelles island and is one of the most visited sights on Praslin.
In the Vallée de Mai National Park you can admire the famous Coco de Mer, which is only found in the Seychelles, and go on a discovery tour in the jungle of the national park. If you want to enjoy the national park in peace, you should be here early in the morning.
Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve – Alternative to Vallée de Mai
The untouristy alternative to the Vallée de Mai is the Fond Ferdinand National Park. The nature reserve was only opened in 2013 and is located in the south of Praslin, at Anse Marie-Louise. From here, a path leads to the small visitor center. The entrance fee of 125 SCR (about 8 Euro) is much cheaper than the Vallée de Mai, the guide is included in the price.
Snorkeling at the stone island Saint Pierre
The tiny rocky island of St. Pierre is located in the heart of Curieuse National Park and can be reached by boat from Cote D’or within a few minutes. At the small private island you can jump directly from the boat into the water and discover the underwater world. Here you can not only snorkel, but also dive in the area around Ile St. Pierre.
Seychelles Praslin Travel Tips
- take the bus to discover the island
- the hike from Anse Lazio to Anse Georgette you can do without a guide
- visit the Vallee de Mai National Park early in the morning
What are your travel tips for Seychelles Praslin? What is your insider tip or highlight on the Seychelles island? Feel free to leave us a comment with your recommendations.