Beau Vallon Beach

Coming from Victoria, take Revolution Avenue and St Louis Road past the Beau Vallon petrol station and turn right at the junction by the police station. You can then take the first turning on the left and park in the car park next to the ‘La Perle Noir’ restaurant. Or you can stay on the main road and turn left into the large car park just after the roundabout at the Savoy Resort. Note: on Wednesdays half of this car park is taken up by the market. At weekends and around sunset it gets tight anyway, so it is better to arrive early.

The state bus company SPTC runs several routes through Beau Vallon from the bus station in Victoria; the timetable lists routes 21B, 22 and 24, among others. A printed timetable you can rely on is often missing. Ask at the bus station about the route and find out when the last return bus leaves before you set off. According to visitor reports, the Victoria to Beau Vallon service runs later in the evening than many other routes, which mostly end earlier. From the airport you will usually get here by changing in Victoria. Before your first journey, ask whether you can pay in cash. The prepaid ‘KartBis’ card is sold in smaller supermarkets that display the relevant sign. For up-to-date information, see the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation.

Beau Vallon Beach is also very safe for children: in the swimming area there are no strong currents, rocks or corals, and lifeguards watch over the beach. The water deepens gradually and the bottom is sand. Rocks are found mainly at the two ends of the beach. During the south-east trade winds the sea is extremely calm and the beach is ideal.

During the north-west monsoon (roughly December to March) the bay is more exposed to the wind. The water can then be rougher, visibility is poorer after rain, and seaweed occasionally collects along the strandline. The sources differ on this, so what matters is the flags and a look at the water on the day itself.

Snorkelling is rather a side issue here, because the swimming area is sandy. The rocky ends of the bay offer more variety, but conditions depend on the waves and visibility. To reach the reefs, use the dive schools and boat operators on the beach.

On and around Beau Vallon Beach you will find many restaurants, supermarkets, dive schools and water sports operators (for jet skis, canoes and banana boats, for example). The tall takamaka trees give plenty of shade. Along the promenade there are many souvenir and fruit stalls. There is also a small open-air gym that you can use for free. Sun loungers and parasols usually stand in front of the hotels and are reserved for their guests, so bring a beach towel. We could not confirm reliable information on public toilets and showers; if in doubt, ask in the cafés and restaurants on the beach.

Food is well covered too, with several takeaway stalls offering grilled fish, prawn skewers, noodles, chicken curry and much more.

On Wednesdays the ‘Bazar Labrin’ takes place there, a small market with various stalls selling pareos, soap and assorted souvenirs, for example. According to visitors it runs from about 4 pm to 9 pm. It was suspended during the pandemic, and travellers report that it is smaller than it used to be. So do not plan your whole evening around the market alone.

The beach works well as a first or last stop around your flights, because Victoria is only 10 to 15 minutes away. There, the Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market, the Victoria Clocktower and the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens are worth a visit. The nearest neighbouring beaches are Anse Glacis and North East Point. If you fancy a walk, choose the coastal path to Anse Major, which starts in Danzil behind Bel Ombre. More trails lie in the Morne Seychellois National Park. For an overview of the island, see the page on Mahé.