Location and character
You reach the beach at Anse Lascars, on the east side of Silhouette, the third largest granite island in the Seychelles, on foot from La Passe. It is a sandy beach strewn with shells and pieces of coral, and it is best known for the handful of old graves behind it. They are thought to hold thirty Arab sailors who were shipwrecked here in their dhow, long before the island was settled.
The origin of the graves is disputed, though. When bones from the graves were examined, they were dated to around 1800, the time of the first settlement. The name "Lascars" comes from the assumption that the dead were Arab. Today the graves are heavily overgrown with vegetation.
This beach gives you a real Robinson Crusoe feeling, as you will usually have it to yourself. It is narrow and about 500 to 700 metres long, with rocks and granite boulders behind it. Facing southeast, it gets the sun mostly in the morning. Do not expect a sunset over the sea from here.
Getting there and the walk
Crossing to Silhouette
Silhouette lies about 20 kilometres northwest of Mahé. There is no airport, and the crossing takes around 45 minutes. The regular boat service from Bel Ombre jetty in the northwest of Mahé is run by the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa for its guests. Whether you can come along as a day visitor is best checked in advance with the resort or through a tour operator. You will find options under boat tours.
| Direction | Departure (subject to change) |
|---|---|
| Mahé (Bel Ombre) to Silhouette | 10:00 and 16:00 |
| Silhouette to Mahé | 08:30 and 15:00 |
On foot from La Passe
Directions
From the harbour, head southeast past the La Belle Tortue Hotel and follow the road around the Marsh (lake). A smaller path branches off to the right and leads to the Dauban Mausoleum. Here you can find a few endemic plants. (The path rejoins the road further south.) The direct route to the dream beach follows a tarmac road.
Time: about 20 to 30 minutes
The way climbs in places and then drops down to the beach. There is hardly any car traffic on Silhouette, so you do not need a bus connection or parking here. If you arrive on the first boat at 10:00 and take the last boat back at 15:00, you have plenty of time for the walk there and back and a stay on the beach.
Swimming and snorkelling
At high tide the sea is deep with big waves. At low tide you can swim with care. The seabed is stony and sharp, so water shoes are a good idea.
The beach is not well suited to snorkelling, because waves and stones make it difficult to get in. For relaxed swimming and snorkelling, the beach at La Passe is the better choice. A reef protects the water there, and part of the beach has a lifeguard. Anse Lascars has no supervision.
Being on the southeast coast, the beach takes the full force of the southeast trade wind, which usually blows from May to September. Expect more waves during these months. It is generally calmer in the transitional months around April and October. Always check the waves and currents before swimming, and never go far out alone.
Facilities and tips
Nearby
| Destination | Distance / Duration |
|---|---|
| Anse Patates (small bay with mangroves) | approx. 620 m, 9 min walk |
| Anse Cimetière (old cemetery) | approx. 740 m, 10 min walk |
| La Passe beach | approx. 1.6 km, approx. 22 min walk |
| Anse Mondon on the north coast | approx. 1.5 to 2 hr hike from La Passe |
On the way back, it is worth visiting the Dauban Mausoleum and the Plantation House in La Passe, both of which are national monuments of the island. Other beaches include Anse La Passe and Baie Cipailles. For information on hiking trails and protected areas, see Silhouette National Park and Silhouette Marine National Park.
