Praslin

The ferry leaves from the Inter Island Quay in Victoria on Mahé and arrives in Baie Sainte Anne. Children aged 2 to 11 pay considerably less, and babies up to 1 year old travel free according to the operator. The ferry prices come from a booking portal, and other portals quote slightly different amounts. The price at the time of booking is what counts. For current departure times and booking advice, see our page on the Cat Cocos ferry.

The flight takes only minutes, but you will need to keep your luggage within the allowance for domestic flights. Air Seychelles flies the route several times a day. The airport is on the north-west side in Amitié, from where Grand Anse, the Vallée de Mai and the beaches in the north are quickly reached. For general information on connections between the islands, see Getting around the Seychelles.

On Praslin, too, you can reach almost every point on the island cheaply by bus, and get to know some of the island's roughly 8,000 inhabitants along the way. The buses are run by the state-owned SPTC. Three lines operate on Praslin (61, 62 and 63), on weekdays from about 6 am to 7 pm, every 30 to 45 minutes. At weekends and on public holidays the service is very limited. For general information on cards and routes, see Travelling by bus in the Seychelles.

The buses do not stop right at the beaches in the north. For Anse Lazio, get off at Anse Boudin and walk another 20 minutes or so. The same applies to Anse Georgette from Anse Kerlan.

You can book a hire car through a car rental company or directly via your accommodation, as many guesthouses can arrange one. A car gives you more flexibility, above all for the beaches in the north and for the Vallée de Mai, because buses run only rarely at weekends. For taxis, agree the fare before you set off.

The most famous beaches on Praslin (or in the world?) are Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette, Anse Kerlan and Anse Volbert. The beach in the bay of Anse La Blague is often deserted, which is exactly why it is well worth a visit.

Other bays and beaches on the island include Anse Boudin, Anse Gouvernment, Anse Matelot, Anse Possession and Grand Anse. A selection of the most beautiful beaches on all the islands can be found under dream beaches in the Seychelles. The fact box at the top of each beach page shows which months are quietest at that beach.

In the Vallée de Mai, flora and fauna still thrive as untouched as they did centuries ago. Fragrant vanilla blooms, and the famous Seychelles palm, the "Coco de Mer", grows only here and on the neighbouring island of Curieuse. Some of the rarest birds in the world, such as the Seychelles black parrot or the Seychelles bulbul (Hypsipetes crassirostris), also live here. A visit belongs on every stay on Praslin. The area has been on the World Heritage list since 1983 and is managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation. You will find more on the Vallée de Mai page.

At the entrance you will be given a leaflet with a map of the paths. The trails are laid out as circuits and lead back to the entrance. Allow one to two hours. There are toilets only at the entrance. If you want to see the birds, book a guide, either through your accommodation or at the ticket desk.

The Praslin Museum is a short detour in the south of the island. Walkers will find trails in Praslin National Park. The Glacis Noire Trail is not in the Vallée de Mai but a walk in its own right. For ideas and difficulty levels, see hiking the most beautiful trails in the Seychelles. Snorkellers and divers will find their spots under diving and snorkelling.

If all that is still not enough for you, the 18-hole golf course at the 5-star Lemuria hotel may be just the thing. You simply would not expect a course on this scale on an island as small as Praslin. You play partly on the hillside, partly right by the sea, and partly beside an artificial lake that also irrigates the whole course. Admittedly, it does not come cheap, but any real golf pro, or anyone who wants to become one, has to see it. More under playing golf in the Seychelles.

Praslin makes an excellent base for visiting the smaller neighbouring islands of Curieuse, Aride, Cousin, Cousine, Île Ronde, La Digue and Île St. Pierre. La Digue can be reached from Praslin several times a day by ferry from Baie Sainte Anne. For a visit to La Digue, though, allow at least one day, and preferably two. For boat trips to the other islands, ask at your accommodation for operators departing from Anse Volbert or Baie Sainte Anne.

Besides the Lemuria, there are other first-class resorts, including the Raffles, which opened in 2011. You will find an overview of all accommodation on the island under Holidays on Praslin.

You certainly won't go hungry either. Alongside the self-catering places on the Côte d'Or (north-east coast), which I can warmly recommend and where you can cook freshly caught fish yourself, there are plenty of first-class restaurants. The selection is under Restaurants on Praslin. For tips on self-catering, see Self-catering in the Seychelles.

If you fancy combining nightlife and a disco with the Seychelles, head to Oxigen after midnight. Hot rhythms (RnB, house, African and reggae), close (very close) dancing with Seychellois, plenty of drink, mostly Seybrew and/or Takamaka rum, and much more will surely win you over. Don't be surprised if time flies and it is suddenly broad daylight when you step out of the club. The best thing is to follow it straight away with your first visit to the beach. That is a great way to start any day in the Seychelles (not only on Praslin). Opening days and programme change, so ask locally.

On Praslin you need cash mainly for small shops, taxis and some admission fees. The Vallée de Mai also accepts cards and several foreign currencies. For information on banks, cards and tipping, see Money & Banks and Tipping. Small supermarkets are on the main road in the villages. If you are self-catering, it is best to buy basic groceries straight after you arrive. Emergency numbers, clinics and pharmacies are listed under Hospital, Clinics & Emergency Numbers.

As a day trip from Mahé, you can realistically manage the Vallée de Mai and one beach if you travel by hire car or taxi. There will not be time for Anse Lazio, La Digue and a boat trip as well. Two to three nights are better. The best time to visit the island is explained in When is the best time to travel to the Seychelles?.