Praslin & La Digue

The Seychelles' second- and third-largest islands: Praslin has the coco de mer forest of Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio, while La Digue is made for cycling to the granite boulders of Anse Source d'Argent; the islands are 15 minutes apart by boat.

Praslin and La Digue are the second- and third-largest islands of the Seychelles, about 40 km northeast of the main island, Mahé. From Victoria harbour on Mahé, the Cat Cocos fast ferry reaches Praslin in about an hour, or take an Air Seychelles small plane in about 15 minutes; ferries between Praslin and La Digue take about 15 minutes and run frequently. Praslin covers about 38 sq km. In its centre is the Vallée de Mai World Heritage Site, home to the coco de mer and the black parrot. In the northwest, Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette regularly feature among the world's best beaches; in the northeast, Côte d'Or has the most hotels and restaurants, and from here boats run to St Pierre islet for snorkeling, Curieuse Island for giant tortoises, or Cousin and Aride islands for birdwatching. La Digue is tiny and laid-back, with bicycles and electric buggies as the main transport. In the southwest, Anse Source d'Argent is famed for its pink granite boulders; on the east coast, Grand Anse and Anse Cocos have big waves and wild scenery; in the north, Anse Patates and Anse Sévère are good for an evening swim; and Eagle's Nest Mountain in the centre offers views over the archipelago. The Seychelles are hot year-round. During the monsoon transitions of Apr–May and Oct–Nov, the sea is calm and clearest; May–Sep brings the strong southeast monsoon and big waves on southeastern shores, while the Dec–Mar northwest monsoon is more humid. Plan on 4–6 days across both islands. Note that most beaches have no lifeguards and rip currents occur in monsoon season; the estate where Anse Source d'Argent is located and Vallée de Mai charge entry fees, prices are high, and booking accommodation and ferries in advance is recommended.

Top sights

Anse Source d'Argent – Often ranked as the most beautiful beach in the world. Pink granite boulders, sculpted by the sea, rise above white sand and clear turquois…
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve – A World Heritage primeval palm forest that grows the coco de mer, the palm with the largest seed in the world. It is also home to the Seych…
Anse Lazio – A crescent-shaped white-sand bay on the northwest tip of Praslin, framed by granite boulders at each end, with calm, clear water. It is one…
Curieuse Island – A marine national park island just across from Praslin, where hundreds of Aldabra giant tortoises roam freely. There are wild coco de mer g…
Anse Georgette – A hidden beach on the northwest tip of Praslin, ringed by a golf resort, with white sand, boulders and emerald water that make a postcard s…
Anse Volbert (Côte d'Or) – A long beach on Praslin's northeast coast, the hub of the island's hotels, restaurants and dive centers, and the departure point for boat t…
Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve – A coco de mer palm forest reserve in southeast Praslin, quieter than Vallée de Mai. A hike to the summit offers views of La Digue and the i…
St. Pierre Islet – A tiny granite islet just off Anse Volbert, with a few coconut palms standing on boulders. It's one of the Seychelles' most classic postcar…
Cousin Island Special Reserve – A seabird sanctuary off Praslin, where wardens lead visitors around to see hundreds of thousands of terns, sooty terns and Seychelles warbl…
Aride Island Special Reserve – The northernmost granite island in the Seychelles, a breeding ground for hundreds of thousands of seabirds and a protected area for tropicb…
Grand Anse, La Digue – A wide beach on La Digue's southeast coast, with big waves, white sand and an open setting. It links with small beaches and Anse Cocos on a…
Anse Cocos – A hidden beach on La Digue reachable only on foot. A natural pool ringed by rocks at its northern end is the island's safest swimming spot.
L'Union Estate – An old plantation at the entrance to Source d'Argent beach, with a copra workshop, colonial mansion, giant tortoise enclosure and old cemet…
La Veuve Special Reserve – A small forest reserve in central La Digue protecting the endangered Seychelles black paradise flycatcher, found nowhere else on earth.
Coco Island – A marine park of small granite islands north of La Digue, considered one of the best snorkeling spots in the Seychelles, with dense coral a…
Anse Marron Hike – A guided adventure hike at the southern end of La Digue, crossing boulders and coastline to a natural pool ringed by reefs.
Anse Patates – A small bay at the northern tip of La Digue, ringed by granite boulders, with snorkelling over the reef and lovely sunsets.
Anse Sévère – A long beach on La Digue's northwest coast, with calm water inside the reef, good for spotting sea turtles and watching the sunset.
Nid d'Aigle (Eagle's Nest) – La Digue's highest point (about 333 m), reached by a hike through forest to the summit, with views over the whole island and out to Praslin…
Grande Sœur – A private islet northeast of La Digue, a stop on island-hopping tours for picnics and snorkelling, with two white-sand beaches separated by…

Where to eat

Cafe des Arts – An upscale beachfront restaurant on Praslin's Côte d'Or, which Fodor's says may be the best on the island, known especi…
Chez Jules – A Creole eatery at Anse Banane on La Digue's east coast that cooks with the day's catch; its coconut octopus curry is t…
Les Lauriers Restaurant – A family-run restaurant on Praslin's Côte d'Or, known for its Creole buffet and fish grilled over charcoal, with live m…
Fish Trap Restaurant & Bar – A seaside restaurant and bar beside La Passe jetty on La Digue, open from breakfast until late; one of the island's lat…

Itineraries

Seychelles Three Islands Classic Island Hopping – Stay on Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue in sequence, covering Vallée de Mai, Anse Source d'Argent, and Giant Tortoise Islan…
Slow Travel in Praslin and La Digue – Skip Mahé and spend three nights each on Praslin and La Digue to slowly explore beaches, seabirds, and snorkeling spots.