Praslin, the second-largest island in Seychelles, is a must-visit tropical destination with its incredible beaches, lush nature reserves and vibrant marine life.
Whether you’re here for just a couple of days or as part of a longer Seychelles trip, this itinerary will help you discover the island’s best beaches, things to see and adventure activities in just 48 hours. We'll also include tips to help you plan your visit, including how to get around, where to stay and where to eat.
Day 1: Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, Anse Lazio Beach & Scuba Diving
Morning: Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Start your first day on Praslin with a visit to Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, one of the island’s most famous attractions. It's one of the smallest UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world and is often called the 'true Garden of Eden' because of its ancient palm forest that has been untouched for millions of years, leading to the evolution of unique species that are only found in this forest.
The reserve is best known for the Coco de Mer palm, which produces the world’s largest and heaviest seed, which you can hold and see up close!
Walking through the dense jungle, you’ll be surrounded by towering trees, tropical ferns and the sounds of nature. Keep an eye out for the Seychelles Black Parrot, one of the rarest birds in the world! You might also be able to spot tree frogs and geckos.
The Nature Reserve opens at 8:30am, so we'd recommend getting here early to enjoy the reserve while it's quiet and peaceful. The tickets cost SCR 450 ( around £25), which helps fund the nature reserve.
Midday: Grab Lunch & Relax at Anse Lazio Beach
After exploring Vallée de Mai, head to Anse Lazio, which is often considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It's a must-see beach on Praslin, you'll see why when you visit. It's a picture perfect tropical beach with soft white sand, crystal-clear turquoise water, and dramatic granite boulders.
We spent the afternoon photographing and exploring the beach, climbing over granite boulders and finding secluded coves. There are plenty of great snorkeling spots here where you might see tropical fish and even sea turtles, but you'll need to bring your own snorkel gear.
Where to Eat Near Anse Lazio
There are a couple of restaurants near Anse Lazio where you can stop for lunch, either Le Chevalier Bar Restaurant Anse Lazio or Mabuya Restaurant, which both offer a mix of creole and international food.
We had an early lunch at Pirogue Restaurant in Cote d’Or before heading to the beach, and the food was great, so definitely a spot we’d recommend. There's also a couple of beach bars that serve fresh juice, coconuts and cocktails.
Afternoon: Optional Scuba Diving
Praslin has some of the clearest waters around the Seychelles so if Scuba Diving interests you, it's the perfect place to discover the incredible underwater world.
There are plenty of dive sites with vibrant coral reefs and hundreds of fish, and if you’re lucky you might see turtles, rays and sharks! One of the popular dive sites is St. Pierre Island, with crystal clear waters and a chance of spotting some larger marine life.
You can choose to do a single dive in the afternoon, or buy a package of dives to spread over your trip. If you’ve never tried scuba diving before, you can do a "Discover Scuba" experience.
Although we didn’t dive during our visit (since I hadn’t learned yet), it’s definitely something we’d do if we return!
Evening: Relaxing, Sunset and Dinner
In the evening, we’d recommend heading to a beach to watch the sunset before going to a restaurant for dinner. We stayed at the Paradise Sun Resort in Anse Volbert Village, so we watched the sunset on the Anse Volbert beach before heading to St Pierre Beach Restaurant (our hotel's restaurant), which we believe you can visit even if you're not staying at the hotel.
There’s plenty of restaurants along all of the main beachfronts in Praslin, so whether you're staying in the village of Anse Volbert on the north coast or Grand Anse on the south coast, there are plenty of options.
Day 2: Curieuse & St. Pierre Full-Day Boat Trip
For your second day on Praslin, consider doing a full day boat trip to the Curieuse and St. Pierre island. Curieuse Island is a protected nature reserve home to giant tortoises, mangrove forests and stunning beaches.
The boat tours usually start in the morning and last until late afternoon, with plenty of stops and a BBQ Lunch. On the way, the cruise stops at the the secluded Anse Georgette Beach and St. Pierre, which is a tiny uninhabited islet not far from Praslin that is great for snorkelling with its colourful coral and tropical fish.
The next stop is Curieuse Island, where you’ll see the Aldabra giant tortoises roaming freely across the island. Curieuse is one of the only places in Seychelles where you can see them in their natural habitat, so take the opportunity to interact with them, some are over 100 years old!
By mid-to-late afternoon, you’ll return to Praslin after a full day of adventure. Depending on your energy levels, you can choose to head back to your hotel and relax or take a sunset walk along Anse Volbert or Grand Anse Beach before going for a final dinner.
How to Get to Praslin Island
You can reach Praslin by getting a flight or ferry from Mahé, the main island of Seychelles. The fastest option is a 20 minute flight with Air Seychelles, which costs around £100 / €120.
Alternatively, you can take the Cat Cocos ferry, a 1-hour ride from Mahé, which is more budget-friendly (£50 / €62) but can be rough on choppy seas.
How to Get Around Praslin
The best way to explore Praslin is by renting a car, as it gives you flexibility and access to more remote areas. Driving is easy, with a single main road looping around the island. Taxis are available but can be expensive, so it makes more sense to hire a car.
There is also a public bus system that runs on the main roads between 6am and 6:30pm, costing around SCR 7 per journey. It does reach most places apart from remote beaches like Anse Lazio. If you’re following this itinerary, you should be able to reach everywhere via bus, but note that you’ll have a 20 minute hilly walk from the bus stop to Anse Lazio.
Where to Stay in Praslin
Praslin has plenty of accommodation options that range from luxury resorts to budget-friendly guesthouses.
We stayed at Paradise Sun Hotel which is a resort in Cote d’Or (Anse Volbert) with luxurious bungalows that were steps away from the beach. This was a great location with a lively atmosphere, easy access to the beach and close to restaurants and activities. We also had free kayaks and paddleboards to use, and table tennis right outside our room.
For a more secluded stay, consider the areas of Anse Lazio or Grand Anse, where you'll find boutique resorts and beachfront villas with stunning ocean views such as:
- Raffles Seychelles for a luxury experience with private villas.
- Colibri Hotel for a mid-range option offering beautiful sea views.
- Palm Beach Hotel for a budget-friendly option located right on the shores of Grand Anse.
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