Praslin’s Paradise Found: A Local’s Guide to Underrated Beaches & Baie Sainte Anne

Anse Lazio is often named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world — and it’s completely free to visit.

Praslin is the second-largest island in the Seychelles at 38.5 square kilometres, with a population of roughly 7,500 people. It sits about 44 kilometres northeast of Mahé and stretches about 12 kilometres long. The island splits into two administrative districts: Grand’ Anse, where the airport sits, and Baie Sainte Anne, which handles the ferry terminal and most services. For anyone basing themselves on Praslin, Baie Sainte Anne is the natural starting point — it’s where the ferries from Mahé and La Digue arrive, and it puts you within easy reach of the island’s best beaches.

Most travellers spend three to four nights on Praslin, which gives you enough time to hit the major beaches, take a day trip or two, and still enjoy a relaxed afternoon with nothing planned. This guide focuses on the beaches and experiences you can reach from Baie Sainte Anne — the famous ones, the quiet coves beside them, and the nature reserves that most visitors rush past.

Anse Lazio & Petite Anse Lazio: The Famous Beach and Its Quiet Neighbour

Anse Lazio is the beach you’ve seen in photographs — framed by giant granite boulders, with water that shifts between turquoise and deep blue depending on the light and tide. It’s regularly named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, yet it remains completely public and free to visit. The strip itself sees a steady flow of visitors, but the lack of commercial development keeps it feeling open. Apart from a few coconut sellers and Le Chevalier Bay Guesthouse, there’s nothing on the sand but sand.

The real trick is to walk. A short hike from the big boulders at the northern end of Anse Lazio takes you to Petite Anse Lazio, a much smaller cove that most visitors never reach. If you continue south along the coast from the main beach, you’ll find a few additional pockets of sand, each with its own character. These quieter spots are where the beach lives up to its reputation without the crowd.

Plan to arrive by 9 a.m. to claim a good spot under the trees. The beach faces west, so it’s also a fine afternoon option — the light stays good until late. For a longer walk, you can start at Anse Lazio, head to the Zimbabwe viewpoint, and continue toward Anse Georgette for a full northern Praslin circuit.

Anse Georgette: The Private-Feeling Public Beach

Anse Georgette sits on the other side of the northern peninsula, accessible only through the grounds of the Constance Lemuria resort or on foot from Anse Lazio. The beach itself is public — the Seychelles doesn’t allow private beaches — but the access point is controlled, which gives it an unusually quiet atmosphere. You need to reserve your spot in advance through the resort to drive in, or you can skip the reservation entirely and hike there.

The hike from Anse Lazio to Anse Georgette takes you past the Zimbabwe viewpoint, which gives a sweeping view of the northern coastline. It’s a solid 45-minute walk each way on a rough trail, so wear proper shoes and carry water. If you’re short on time or travelling with small children, the drive-in reservation is the easier option — just call or email Constance Lemuria a few days ahead.

Nearby, Petite Anse Kerlan offers calmer water and is linked to another resort, while Anse Kerlan itself works well as a sunset viewpoint with fewer crowds than Georgette. Between these three northern beaches, you can easily spend a full day moving from one to the next without retracing your steps.

Anse Volbert (Cote D’Or): The Family Beach That Deserves More Attention

Anse Volbert, also shown on maps as Cote D’Or, is the beach that runs along Praslin’s main tourist strip. It’s long — really long — and the water is remarkably clear. What sets it apart from Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette is the calm: the water here is much gentler, making it the best swimming beach on the island and the safest option for families with young children.

Despite being the main tourist strip, Anse Volbert doesn’t get the same attention as the northern beaches. That works in your favour — you’ll find plenty of space even during peak season. The beach is lined with small hotels, guesthouses, and a handful of restaurants including Cote D’Or Lodge and St Pierre Beach Restaurant, so you’re never far from a cold drink or a meal.

If you’re staying on this stretch, you’ve got easy access to restaurants and transport without needing a rental car every day. The bus runs along the main road behind the beach, and taxis are available for trips to the ferry terminal or the airport.

Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve: The Coco de Mer Forest Nobody Talks About

Vallée de Mai gets the UNESCO attention — and it deserves it — but Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve is bigger, cheaper, and far less crowded. Located on the southern end of Praslin near Anse Marie Louise, the reserve protects a swath of palm forest on the slopes above Baie Sainte Anne. It’s home to the same endemic coco de mer that makes Vallée de Mai famous, plus a network of clearly marked trails that climb to a viewpoint overlooking the coast.

For comparison, Vallée de Mai charges 450 SCR per person (roughly 27 EUR or 30 USD in 2026). Fond Ferdinand costs less and takes less time to reach from Baie Sainte Anne. If you’re fit, the hike up to the viewpoint inside Fond Ferdinand gives you a perspective of the island that the flat trails of Vallée de Mai don’t offer.

You can visit both reserves in a single day if you’re efficient — start at Fond Ferdinand in the morning when it’s cooler, then head to Vallée de Mai after lunch. Alternatively, pick one based on your priorities: Fond Ferdinand for the hike and the budget, Vallée de Mai for the UNESCO cachet and the easier walking.

Day Trips from Baie Sainte Anne: Curieuse Island and La Digue

The Baie Sainte Anne ferry terminal is the launch point for Praslin’s best day trips. Two destinations sit close enough that you can visit either as a half-day outing or combine them if you’re efficient.

Curieuse Island is a short boat ride from Praslin and is home to hundreds of giant tortoises that roam freely across the island. Adult males can weigh around 250 kilograms, and they can live past 150 years. Most tours include snorkelling in the clear waters around the island, a visit to the main tortoise gathering area, and a barbecue lunch on the beach. Curieuse also has its own grove of coco de mer palms, one of the very few places outside Vallée de Mai where they grow naturally.

La Digue is even closer — the Cat Rose Ferry takes about 15 minutes from Baie Sainte Anne, with multiple departures daily. Most visitors head straight for Anse Source d’Argent, the beach famous for its giant granite boulders and shallow turquoise water, located inside L’Union Estate. If you want a more remote experience, hike from Grand Anse to the natural pool at Anse Coco via the Anse Caiman Nature Trail — it’s a proper walk through the interior, and you’ll likely have the beach to yourself.

If you’re staying on Praslin for only three or four nights, pick one day trip — Curieuse for the tortoises and snorkelling, or La Digue for the beaches and cycling. Doing both in the same trip is possible but will eat into your beach time on Praslin itself.

Practical Tips for Exploring Praslin’s Beaches

The dry season from May to October is the most reliable window for beach days and boat trips. Seas tend to be calmer in the morning, so schedule ferry crossings and snorkelling tours before noon when possible. Rain can still appear even in the dry season — it usually passes quickly, but it’s worth having a flexible itinerary.

Renting a car gives you the most freedom, especially if you want to reach Anse Lazio early or drive to the trailhead for Fond Ferdinand. Buses run along the main road but don’t cover every beach access point. Taxis are plentiful at the ferry terminal and airport but add up quickly if you’re moving between beaches daily.

What to pack: reef-safe sunscreen (standard sunscreen is banned in Seychelles), a hat, sunglasses, a reusable water bottle, swimwear, light hiking shoes, insect repellent, and a Type G power adapter. Offline maps are useful for the hiking trails around Anse Lazio and inside Fond Ferdinand — cell reception is patchy in the northern part of the island.

Most visitors stay on the Anse Volbert strip or in Baie Sainte Anne itself for easy access to beaches and transport. If you’re still deciding where to base yourself, this interactive map of the island’s hotels and rentals can help you compare locations.

Before You Visit Praslin

Do I need to book beach access in advance?

Only for Anse Georgette if you plan to drive in through Constance Lemuria. Every other beach on Praslin is open and free — just show up.

Can I visit Vallée de Mai and Fond Ferdinand in one day?

Yes, if you start early at Fond Ferdinand and head to Vallée de Mai after lunch. They’re about 15 minutes apart by car. Fond Ferdinand involves more uphill walking.

Is Praslin suitable for young children?

Anse Volbert has the calmest water and the gentlest entry — it’s the safest choice for toddlers and weak swimmers. Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette have stronger currents and steeper drop-offs.

What’s the worst time of year for beach days?

December to February sees more rain and rougher seas. Boat tours to Curieuse and Cocos Island are more likely to be cancelled during these months.

How much should I budget for a day trip to Curieuse?

Tours typically run 60–80 EUR per person including snorkelling gear, lunch, and transfers. Book through your accommodation or a tour desk in Baie Sainte Anne.

Praslin’s Real Rhythm

The island works best when you stop trying to optimise every hour. A morning at Anse Lazio, a slow lunch at a beachside restaurant, an afternoon walk to a cove you noticed from the trail — that’s the pace that makes Praslin different from busier destinations. The beaches are public, the water is clear, and the best moments are often the ones you didn’t plan. For a deeper look at where to stay and eat on a reasonable budget, check out our guide to discovering Seychellois guesthouses and local charm.

References

North Abroad. “Praslin Island Seychelles Travel Guide — Best Beaches & Things to Do.” North Abroad, 2025. ↗

Trip.com. “Baie Sainte Anne Travel Guide.” Trip.com, 2025. ↗

Story Seychelles. “Praslin Island Seychelles.” Story Seychelles, 2025. ↗

If you’re planning a longer stay, our guide to Seychelles luxury retreats covers the high-end resorts on Praslin and nearby Felicite Island. For active travellers, the Seychelles adventure hiking trails article details the best walks on the island, including the Glacis Noir Trail inside Praslin National Park. And if you’re watching your spending, our affordable Seychelles travel tips post has practical advice on guesthouses, self-catering, and transport.