What to expect
Morne Seychellois National Park is the largest national park in the Seychelles and was created in 1979. It covers 3,045 ha, more than 20% of Mahé. It stretches for 10 km and is 2 to 4 km wide, with an extensive network of hiking trails totalling 15 km. In all, 12 different trails can be explored on half-day or full-day outings.
The park is made up of mangroves, dense rainforest and high mountains. It is managed by the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA). Cinnamon was grown here on a large scale in the 20th century and processed in distilleries, and the ruins of some of these still stand at Mare aux Cochons. The marsh there is regarded as the best of the few wetlands in the Seychelles highlands.
The trails
These are the trails in Morne Seychellois National Park
Coast and Beau Vallon
- Anse Major Trail: about 1 hour each way. Often with fine views along the coast. At the end of the trail you reach Anse Major beach, with crystal-clear water and lush green vegetation. The path starts at Danzil near Bel Ombre and offers hardly any shade. On request, a water taxi will take you back to Beau Vallon (recently quoted at SCR 150 to 200, as of November 2026). More about the beach: Anse Major, and about the starting point: Beau Vallon.
- Dans Gallas Trail: The trail starts on Le Niole Road and about halfway up gives a great view over Beau Vallon. From the viewpoint at the top you can see as far as Victoria. The path becomes steep and rocky, with wooden steps and ladders to help you up.
Along Sans Soucis Road
- Copolia Trail: The most famous trail on Mahé ends on a rock plateau with a tremendous view over Victoria and the offshore marine park. The trail has charged an entrance fee since August 2020. The carnivorous Seychelles pitcher plant grows on the rocks at the top. Allow about an hour for the climb, including photo stops, and around 30 minutes for the descent.
- Trois Frères Trail: on Sans Soucis Road. About 45 minutes of climbing to the kiosk. The path on to the cross is unofficial, very steep and slippery (another 30 to 40 minutes). Views over Victoria, the Sainte Anne Marine Park and the neighbouring islands of Praslin and La Digue. More recent reports describe the route to the cross as too dangerous and closed. Ask at the entrance for the current situation.
- Morne Blanc: short and sharp, about 30 minutes steeply uphill to the viewing platform with a view over the west coast. The tea factory is on the same road.
- Morne Seychellois: The park's namesake rises 905 m above the island. The trail is not marked all the way, so please only hike it with a guide who knows the area. Time: about 5 hours. The SPGA requires a licensed guide. The path is 2.3 km long and the ascent officially takes about 3 hours, though reports give 6 to 8 hours for the round trip. The summit is often shrouded in mist.
- Mission Lodge / Venn's Town: a school for the children of former slaves. Some ruins are still visible. Great views over the west coast. Details at Mission Lodge.
Mare aux Cochons and the interior
- Mare aux Cochons: a network of trails across Morne Seychellois National Park. The average duration is about 4 hours. The starting point is the end of Le Niole Road. Mare aux Cochons means "pigs' pond". High up in the mountains there is a small freshwater lake (not suitable for swimming!). You can follow the trail to Port Glaud, or take the Casse Dent Trail to Sans Soucis Road (this one is currently unmarked and not cleared). The path is often muddy, with several stream crossings.
- Salazie Trail: about 1 hour on a relatively flat trail. With a lot of luck you may spot a Seychelles tiger chameleon here. The trail leads to Fairview Estate on La Misère Road.
- Casse Dent: currently not officially open. The trail is an entry point into the Mare aux Cochons network.
Getting there
Directions: From Victoria, taking Sans Soucis Road towards Port Glaud is the easiest way to explore the national park by car.
By car
The start of the Copolia Trail, with its ticket booth, is about 6 km from Victoria on Sans Soucis Road. You park at the roadside, and spaces are limited. The trailheads for Trois Frères and Morne Blanc are on the same road. For Mare aux Cochons, drive to the end of Le Niole Road, and for Anse Major to Danzil, where the road ends beyond Bel Ombre. In the south and west, the road to Port Launay and Port Glaud links the park with the beaches of the west coast.
By bus
Route 14 towards Port Launay runs along Sans Soucis Road and stops for Copolia and Morne Blanc. Route 21 from Victoria or Beau Vallon towards Bel Ombre goes to Danzil, the start of the Anse Major Trail. From Beau Vallon the ride takes about 10 minutes. Timetables change, so ask locally for the current schedule.
Opening hours and entrance fees
The park itself is freely accessible. Fees apply to individual trails, and only to non-residents aged 12 and over. Residents of the Seychelles and children under 12 pay nothing. Karl's earlier statement that all hikes are free therefore no longer applies.
| Trail | Admission from age 12 (as of November 2026) | Opening hours per SPGA |
|---|---|---|
| Copolia | SCR 100 | 8am–4pm |
| Trois Frères | SCR 150 | 8am–4pm |
| Morne Seychellois (licensed guide only) | SCR 250 | 8am–12pm |
| Anse Major | SCR 150 per SPGA price list | no information |
The SPGA list names no fee for the remaining trails. Tickets are valid per person and day from 8 am to 5 pm. You can buy them through the SPGA online ticket system. On guided tours the fees are usually included in the price.
Payment methods: According to consistent reports, the ticket booth at the Copolia Trail takes card payments only. Even so, bring cash, for example for the water taxi and for drinks along the way. We could not confirm the earlier information about brochures for SCR 15.
Duration, best time and tips
Copolia makes a good half-day outing, combined with the tea factory or Mission Lodge. For Mare aux Cochons and the summit of Morne Seychellois, plan on a full day. If you are after a coastal destination, combine the Anse Major Trail with a beach day. The cooler, drier months from May to September are considered the most pleasant for hiking. The park lies in the highlands, but rain showers are possible all year round.
