Praslin & Vallee de Mai

Why Praslin & Vallee de Mai works

Praslin's interior holds one of the strangest forests left on Earth: the Vallee de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage site of ancient coco de mer palms that has changed so little that early explorers believed it was the biblical Garden of Eden. The palm produces the coco de mer, the largest seed in the plant kingdom, weighing up to 25 kilograms and famously shaped like nothing else in nature -- exporting one requires an official permit and certificate, sold only through licensed vendors on the island. Walking trails wind beneath the towering palm canopy, where the rare black parrot, found only here and on nearby Curieuse, calls from the treetops largely undisturbed by the modest visitor numbers the reserve permits each day. Praslin's coastline delivers on the interior's promise: Anse Lazio, tucked behind granite headlands on the island's northwest tip, is routinely ranked among the world's finest beaches, its powder sand and clear water largely undeveloped by resorts. Anse Georgette, accessible only through a golf course or by boat, and the quieter Anse Kerlan round out a shortlist of beaches that rarely disappoint. Boat trips from Praslin's harbour reach Curieuse Island's giant tortoise sanctuary and the smaller, exclusive islets of the inner archipelago, making Praslin a natural hub for exploring the Seychelles beyond its own shoreline.

Trip Snapshot

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