Overview

Praslin (pronounced prah-luhn) is Seychelles’ second biggest island in the archipelago and home to some of the most beautiful beaches and the incredible, Valley de Mai, a Unesco World Heritage. This tropical paradise offers an abundance of wildlife with a long ridge of mountains covered in jungle, which drops sharply down pristine, clear-water bays covered by perfect white sand. It is also known as Île de Palme, or Island of Palms due to its abundant endemic palm species found nowhere else on earth.

Praslin is a much quieter and more relaxed island to visit compared to Mahé Island, there is still a very good tourism infrastructure including restaurants, resorts, hotels, and transport services. It’s considered one of the top three islands to visit in the Seychelles, along with Mahe and La Digue. If you’re traveling to the Seychelles for vacation, you’ll quickly discover that there are many things to do on Praslin from beach-hopping to nature trail hiking, making it one of the best inner-islands to visit in the archipelago.

Things to See and Do

Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve: What makes Praslin island such an amazing place is the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve. This protected forest is one of the country’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has been nicknamed the Garden of Eden. It is full of rare fauna, the most famous of which is the endemic Coco de Mer palm. This tree produces the world’s largest seed and palm flower. With all of the incredible natural beauty in the Seychelles, this place stands out as a must-see.

The Praslin Beaches: Explore the fine white sands and turquoise waters at the beaches on Praslin Island. These beaches are world-famous for their impressive granite boulders, fine white sands, and clear waters.

Anse Lazio Beach is an absolute must-see and the most famous beach on the island, and for good reasons! It’s often voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles and sometimes even in the whole world! You’ll easily see why with 2,000 ft of soft white sand, shallow turquoise water, and boulder formations popping out of the water. Lined with palm trees that provide much-needed shade, Anse Lazio is the perfect beach to enjoy an afternoon. The beach feels unspoiled and serene. There’s even a private beach right next to it called Petite Anse Lazio. Some other top beaches on Praslin Island include Anse Georgette, Cote d'Or, Anse Cimitiere, Anse La Blague, Bois de Rose, Anse Madge, Anse Matelot, and Anse St Sauveur - to name a few.

Island Hop To Curieuse & St Pierre Islet: A trip to Curieuse & St Pierre Islet is an excellent way to spend an afternoon! St Pierre Islet is a small and charming island with granite boulders and coconut trees surrounded by pristine, clear water. It’s a great stop for snorkeling and the perfect place to explore the underwater world and meet sea turtles.

Curieuse Island is a former leper colony but now serves as the best place to see the giant tortoises. The reason being is because the island has been turned into a Aldebra Giant Tortoise refuge, with an excellent breeding program that allows the tortoises to roam free. Go Snorkeling: There are plenty of snorkeling opportunities around Praslin, especially in the Marine Park, however, you’ll find a large population and best snorkeling opportunities around the Cocos and Felicity Islands.

Discover the Ferdinand Nature Reserve: Enjoy the great outdoors with a visit to the 122 hectares of dense jungle and captivating tropical forests. This nature preserve was once a palm plantation but its biodiversity is quickly recovering. You’ll enjoy several nature trails as this is one of the best places on the island for hiking and witnessing wildlife.

Enjoy a day of Golfing: The Constance Lemuria resort is home to the only 18-hole golf course in Seychelles. The course offers breathtaking views over the island and the turquoise waters at Anse Georgette, Praslin’s most beautiful beach. The course overall is stunning, surrounded by a lush tropical forest!

Local Cuisine

Seychelles national cuisine is a unique mix of French, Chinese, Indian, and English traditions where you will find Asian and European dishes along with Creole delicacies at local restaurants. The waters of the Indian Ocean is the main source of food here providing fish and seafood. Fish selections include bonito, mackerel, parrotfish, and snapper, just to name a few. Another widespread staple is rice which is cooked with fish, meat, and Indian spices.

Almost every meal contains fruits as there are plenty on the islands, that's why the archipelago is called a tropical paradise. They eat mangoes, avocadoes, pineapples, melons, bananas, oranges, grapefruits, and jackfruit either raw, braised, fried, and added to different dishes. Vegetables are also very popular. Eggplants, cucumbers, pumpkin, and Chinese cabbage are often found in the dishes here, either eaten separately or added to dishes.

As for the Seychelles drinks, the locals prefer coffee and tea with spices, especially cold ones. Alcohol drinks include the Takamaka Rum, Seybrew craft beer, and national tinctures.

There are plenty of restaurants on Praslin Island. And while it may not have as many dining options as larger cities or more populous areas, there is still a reasonable selection offering a variety of cuisines to cater to locals and tourists. Many of the restaurants are situated in or near popular tourist areas like Anse Volbert (Côte d'Or) and Anse Lazio. You can find a range of dining experiences from casual beachfront eateries to more upscale restaurants within resorts.

Shopping

Shopping in Praslin is somewhat limited, however, you will find plenty of stores to purchase souvenirs to bring home. Many of the stores are directly on the main beaches and in the hotels. Popular buys include local handicrafts - basket ware, jewelry, pottery, sea shells, and coco-de-mer nuts. Vanilla is also a very popular product of the islands, however, we strongly encourage you to not buy protected items like the coco-de-mer on the black market as these need a certificate to export. Bartering is encouraged at the markets. Coco de mer is quite expensive, costing about 300 USD, but the price includes a permit to export this priceless fruit. Prices are fixed, and there is no haggling involved. However, it's essential to note that you should not buy products made of turtle shells, as you won't be able to take them out of the country. Praslin doesn't have large shopping centers; instead, you'll find small tourist stores. Keep in mind that those located on the beaches tend to be more expensive.

Praslin is not known for outlet malls or big supermarkets; people typically visit for its natural beauty and not for shopping.