Location and character
Anse Marie-Laure is a small beach not far from Beau Vallon in the northwest of Mahé, in the coastal village of Bel Ombre. It is much quieter than its busy neighbour and has a calm, island feel that makes it special.
It is a lovely, fairly small beach on the northwest coast of Mahé. Because you hardly notice it when driving past, it is usually almost empty. The view from here is superb, taking in the neighbouring islands of Silhouette and North. Two ice-cold rivers flow into the sea here.
The northern end of the beach in particular, with its river, granite boulders, sea and green vegetation, makes a unique photo subject. At sunset you get a wonderful play of colours. Since the beach lies on the northwest coast, the sun sets right over the sea.
Getting there and parking
By car
From Victoria, follow Revolution Avenue / St. Louis Road northwest towards Beau Vallon. After the Beau Vallon petrol station by the police station, keep left at the junction. Go past St Roch Church and the “Marie Laure Suites” guesthouse will be on your left. Shortly afterwards you will see an old, slightly overgrown wall on the right-hand side of the road, with 4 or 5 bins at the end of it. The entrance to the car park is directly after the bins. The car park is small, and at weekends and on public holidays you should not count on finding a free space.
By bus
If you come by bus, take one with the final destination “Bel Ombre” and get off between St Roch Church and the Hilton Labriz Jetty. This means route 21 of the state bus company SPTC from Victoria bus station. The Hilton resort itself is on Silhouette island. Depending on the time of day, buses go partly via Beau Vallon and partly direct. Current times are on the SPTC website, and a separate timetable applies at weekends.
On foot from Beau Vallon
You can walk to the beach from Beau Vallon. The road to Bel Ombre has no pavement and no lighting in places. Walk it in daylight, and after dark it is better to take a taxi.
| Getting there | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Car from Victoria | approx. 15 to 20 minutes | Small car park right on the beach |
| Bus from Victoria | approx. 25 minutes | SPTC route 21, final stop Bel Ombre |
| On foot from Beau Vallon | approx. 15 to 20 minutes | Only in daylight, no continuous footpath |
| Car from the airport | approx. 20 to 30 minutes | Via Victoria and St. Louis Road |
Swimming and snorkelling
The sea here changes from day to day. Sometimes it is completely calm, sometimes there are waves, but at low tide especially it is relatively shallow. The seabed is mostly stony, so I recommend water shoes.
When the sea is calm, swimming is pleasant, and the rocks at the edge of the bay are worth a quick look with a mask. It is not a big snorkelling spot, and you will see little more than a few fish among the stones. When there are waves, it is better not to go out far, as the stony bottom makes getting in and out difficult. The fact box above shows which months are usually calm.
At the two river mouths the water is noticeably colder than in the rest of the sea. If you want to cool off, you will find a natural refresher here.
Facilities
The beach is undeveloped. Do not expect sun loungers, a beach bar or toilets, and bring water, food and a parasol or a cloth for shade. There is a small shop in Bel Ombre within walking distance of Marie Laure Suites, and larger supermarkets and restaurants are a few minutes away by car in Beau Vallon. You can find restaurants on Mahé under Restaurants on Mahé, and places to stay under Holidays on Mahé.
Tips and surroundings
For a longer beach day, Beau Vallon Beach is a good choice, with restaurants, bars and water sports. The path to the bay of Anse Major also starts from Bel Ombre. The hike begins at the bus terminus at Danzil, which route 21 serves. Further north lies Anse Glacis. For an overview of the island, see the page on Mahé.
