Grand Anse

Safaris & wildlife activities

Start with pickup from your accommodation in Praslin and relax on a comfortable transfer to the Grand Anse Main Beach. Check-in and enjoy a short safety briefing provided by your program organizer. Hop aboard a comfortable boat and feel the salty air on your face as you glide across the west coast of the island. Stop for a refreshing dip at the secluded, white-sand beach of Anse Georgette. Head to the uninhabited island of St. Pierre for two snorkeling stops. Swim over colorful coral formations as tropical fish flitter around you. Have the chance to spot parrotfish, surgeonfish, and clownfish (Nemo). Next, continue to Curieuse island where hundreds of giant tortoises roam free in unspoiled wilderness. Sit down to BBQ lunch that features fresh products that have been procured from the islands. Sip soft drinks along with your meal before setting off on a hike through a mangrove forest to an idyllic beach where you can cool off with a swim. Start your return journey, where your guide points out some points of interest and provides you with some facinating local history. Transfer back to your accommodation by car once you arrive back at the Grand Anse Main Beach.

The Curieuse Marine National Park is a sanctuary to a big variety of flora and fauna. On the southern part of the island, you will discover a mangrove swamp that is traversed by a walkway for park visitors. The island is also known for its coco de merpalms, giant takamaka trees, and a large hawksbill turtle rookery. The area is also rich with several bird species, such as the rare Seychelles black parrot Coracopis nigra barklyi, a parrot found only there and on Praslin. St. Pierre Island is a raised reef island west of Providence Atoll and a part of the Farquhar Group, which belongs to the Outer Islands of the Seychelles. It has a distance of 736 kilmometers southwest of the capital, Victoria, on Mahé Island. St. Pierre is a tiny granite islet with a handful of coconut palm trees. It’s a picture-perfect miniature island in the middle of the ocean. St. Pierre is considered as one of Seychelles best snorkeling locations, providing the opportunity to see a wide variety of colorful fish and sea turtles. The full day tour includes a delicious BBQ Lunch as well as soft drinks. You will have opportunities to snorkel and visit these two beautiful islands, and at the conclusion of your experience you will be returned to Praslin.

Discover two of the Seychelles' most breathtaking islands on this island-hopping catamaran cruise from Mahé. Visit Vallée de Mai on Praslin and L'Union Estate on La Digue with tickets and guided tours included. Enjoy a Creole lunch onboard and stroll along some of the Seychelles' most picturesque beaches. After getting picked up from your hotel anywhere on Mahé, hop on the catamaran that will take you to Praslin, the Seychelles' second-largest island. Your first stop is Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only place in the world where the sea coconut grows naturally. Enjoy a walk along the paths of this primeval forest, listening to the rare black parrot. See for yourself why the forest is said to be the original Garden of Eden. Pay a visit to the famous Anse Lazio Beach and enjoy a stroll through its postcard-perfect sands before the crossing to La Digue. Spot dolphins and other native sea life along the way. Tuck into a delicious Creole barbeque lunch served onboard. Upon landing on La Digue, hop in a traditional ox-cart for a transfer to L'Union Estate. Enjoy a guided tour of the estate with tickets included and spot giant tortoises as well as the refurbished colonial plantation house, the filming location of "Goodby Emmanuelle." Continue your tour of La Digue in an open-sided truck, stopping at Anse Source d'Argent Beach to see for yourself why this is one of the most photographed beaches on the planet. At the end of the day, hop back on board the catamaran and get transferred back to you hotel in Mahé.

After pickup from your hotel, head to the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve. This extraordinary ancient forest commonly known as the "Garden of Eden", is a unique habitat where the coco de mer palm grows in its natural state. The reserve is also home to one of the world’s rarest birds, the Black Parrot. In the afternoon, explore Anse Lazio, considered one of the top 10 beaches in the world. There are a few restaurants at Anse Lazio where you can buy lunch. You will be dropped back to your hotel at 4:00 PM.

Depart Mahe Island, destination Praslin Island. Visit the Vallee De Mai, the heart of Praslin, home to the Coco De Mer Palm and the Black Parrot, also described as the Garden of Eden due to its mystical nature. You will be given a brief explanation of its history and have the chance to take a few souvenir photos before heading out to Anse Lazio. The most famous beach on Praslin and one of the “best in the archipelago” with its fine white sands and gorgeous turquoise water that is so clear you can watch the fish swim around you. Next, We Head To La Digue Island. Experience the laid-back atmosphere of island living. Travelling by bicycle or oxcart is the way to go, but if you prefer to walk, it is a good opportunity to truly get the most out of your visit. First, stop to enjoy a delicious lunch at one of our local restaurants, and after you have the rest of the afternoon free to explore the Island.

Our chauffeur will pick up from your accommodation on Mahe at around 0600am – 0630am depending on your location. Please be advised our free shuttle operates only in the North West of Mahe Island. This includes: Belombre, Beau Vallon, Glacis areas. Hotels on Eden Island and L'Escale Resort only. If you are located in other areas you will be required to pay an additional private two way transportation fee. Depart the marine charter in Victoria and sail to Praslin at 0730am. Arrive at the Praslin Jetty at 0845am. A shared shuttle bus will welcome everyone and transfer you to the Valle de Mai. Have a short outside visit of the Vallee De Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its museum. The Valee de Mai is home to the endemic Coco De Mer. A private guide will give a brief description of the nature park outside the property. Drive towards Anse Lazio Beach, known for its soft white sand and crystal-clear water. Spend a little time at leisure and enjoy the beauty! Drive back to Praslin jetty. Catch your same boat at 12.15pm and sail to La Digue. At 12.30pm disembark at La Passe La Digue where you will be offered 2 choices of getting around. A bicycle or pick up truck with rear seats. On La Digue you will enjoy our local creole cuisine (at Chez Marston) comprising of fresh grilled fish, salads, small BBQ and much more. Your time will be at leisure on one of the most beautiful beaches (Anse Source D’Argent – L’Union Estate) in the world or take a tour around La Digue. At 1600pm set off back to Mahe where you will be met by your chauffeur to transfer you back to your accommodation.

Begin your tour at 10 am and finish at 4 pm. The tour will start at Valle De Mai from Valle de Maie to Cote D'or Musee de Praslin and finish at Anse Lazio Beach. The tour capacity is up to 8 pax. The tour guide will pick up the guest from their hotel at 10:00 am and head out to the "garden of Eden" which is the Valle de Mai. Valle de Mai is well known for its natural reserve, from there the guest will have the chance to see the world's rarest bird, the Black Parrot. Valle de Mai is a Unesco World Heritage site, this nature reserve is a unique habitat where the guest will see the largest nuts in the world that is the Coco De Mer palm. The guest will enjoy and explore the nature reserve for 2 hours and 30 minutes at 12:30 pm the guest will head out to Anse Lazio beach. On the way to Anse Lazio beach, the tour guide will stop by Côté D'or beach one of the famous areas for visitors and from there the guest can have the chance to visit the one and only Museum on Praslin Island known as Musee De Praslin. From the Museum the tour guide will bring the guest to Anse Lazio which is one of the top 10 beaches well known in the world. At Anse Lazio, there are 2 restaurants where guests can buy lunch. Guests can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the white beach with clear water for a period of 4 hours and drop back to the hotel at 4 pm.

Experience 2 of the most beautiful islands of Seychelles in one day! First to conquer is the island of Praslin, where upon arrival, you will be transported to the enigmatic Vallée de Mai. This prehistoric forest is home to the extraordinary Coco de Mer, the double lobed coconut, with a rather mysterious shape. Vallée de Mai has once been declared the site of the biblical Garden of Eden where the Coco de Mer was said to be the forbidden fruit. Our tour guide will lead you to discover this magical island of rare, endemic flora and fauna. After Vallée de Mai, we head to Cote D’or Beach where you will have access to souvenir shops, followed by relaxation on the beach, swimming and sun bathing. Leaving Cote D’or Beach, embark on a scenic drive towards Praslin Jetty for boarding of the boat to La Digue. With its small number of inhabitants, La Digue remains the most untouched amongst the three frequently visited islands. Upon arri-val on La Digue, you will receive a Camionette transfer to a restaurant for lunch. After lunch, your visit of L’Union Estate starts, slowly unveiling the surprises of deep-rooted farm life by the discoveries of the copra mill, the giant tortoises’ pen and the time-honoured, plantation house. As you go further, you will be welcomed by giant boulders of granite nestled on the pristine and world famous beach of Anse Source D’ Argent which is said to be the most photographed beach. Opportunity awaits for a revitalizing dip in its rippling azure waters.

Giant Tortoise Farm As soon as you set foot on Curieuse, you will be greeted by a sight straight out of a fairy tale – Giant tortoises ambling about the Ranger’s Station at Laraie Bay. These gentle giants are the crown jewel of the island, boasting the second-largest population of their kind in the Seychelles … Leper Colony Ruins Take a step back in time and uncover the chilling history of Curieuse, which served as a leper colony from 1829 to 1965. The first inhabitants were African slaves, abandoned on isolated islands in the Indian Ocean, who were brought to the island in a desperate effort to contain the infectious Virus. Discover the island’s hidden treasures as you wander through lush mangrove swamps, bask in the sun on pristine beaches, and stumble upon the remnants of the haunting leprosarium. Witness the awe-inspiring sight of the majestic Giant Aldabra tortoises, some of which are over a century old and roam freely on the island. And if you’re planning a day trip to this paradise, use this guide to help you make the most of your visit to this island, peppered with iconic coco-de-mer trees. At the top of the list of natural wonders is the breathtaking Coco de Mer palm tree. The island is home to one of the world’s two natural forests of the iconic tree, with the other being Vallée de Mai on Praslin. This magnificent species produces the largest and heaviest seeds in the world and draws plenty of attention due to its suggestive shape. Surrounding the Coco de Mer, you’ll find Curieuse’s seemingly endless thick and rich mangroves. The awe-inspiring ecosystem is a sanctuary for six out of Seychelles’ seven native mangrove species and provides crucial habitat for a diverse array of animals. Speaking of animals, the real highlight of Curieuse is its fascinating wildlife. And no presence on the island is more striking than the 300-strong colony of Aldabra giant tortoises that roam freely around it. In addition, Curieuse’s pristine beaches are a crucial nesting ground for sea turtles that return each year to lay their eggs, providing a mesmerizing spectacle of nature in action. And for bird lovers, the island is also the exclusive habitat of the Seychelles Black Parrot, one of the rarest endemic birds in the world and the national bird of Seychelles. While it breeds on Praslin, Curieuse is the only other place in the world where you can catch a glimpse of this elusive bird in its natural habitat. Tip: In order to discover Curieuse’s rare flora and fauna, follow the island’s guided trails, visit the Giant Tortoise Farm, or opt for a snorkeling trip! The Day Charter also Includes a deep dive in crystal clear water of St-Pierre marine Park. Tip: Explore beautiful reef, beautiful marine life.

Giant Tortoise Farm As soon as you set foot on Curieuse, you will be greeted by a sight straight out of a fairy tale – Giant tortoises ambling about the Ranger’s Station at Laraie Bay. These gentle giants are the crown jewel of the island, boasting the second-largest population of their kind in the Seychelles … Leper Colony Ruins Take a step back in time and uncover the chilling history of Curieuse, which served as a leper colony from 1829 to 1965. The first inhabitants were African slaves, abandoned on isolated islands in the Indian Ocean, who were brought to the island in a desperate effort to contain the infectious Virus. Discover the island’s hidden treasures as you wander through lush mangrove swamps, bask in the sun on pristine beaches, and stumble upon the remnants of the haunting leprosarium. Witness the awe-inspiring sight of the majestic Giant Aldabra tortoises, some of which are over a century old and roam freely on the island. And if you’re planning a day trip to this paradise, use this guide to help you make the most of your visit to this island, peppered with iconic coco-de-mer trees. At the top of the list of natural wonders is the breathtaking Coco de Mer palm tree. The island is home to one of the world’s two natural forests of the iconic tree, with the other being Vallée de Mai on Praslin. This magnificent species produces the largest and heaviest seeds in the world and draws plenty of attention due to its suggestive shape. Surrounding the Coco de Mer, you’ll find Curieuse’s seemingly endless thick and rich mangroves. The awe-inspiring ecosystem is a sanctuary for six out of Seychelles’ seven native mangrove species and provides crucial habitat for a diverse array of animals. Speaking of animals, the real highlight of Curieuse is its fascinating wildlife. And no presence on the island is more striking than the 300-strong colony of Aldabra giant tortoises that roam freely around it. In addition, Curieuse’s pristine beaches are a crucial nesting ground for sea turtles that return each year to lay their eggs, providing a mesmerizing spectacle of nature in action. And for bird lovers, the island is also the exclusive habitat of the Seychelles Black Parrot, one of the rarest endemic birds in the world and the national bird of Seychelles. While it breeds on Praslin, Curieuse is the only other place in the world where you can catch a glimpse of this elusive bird in its natural habitat. Tip: In order to discover Curieuse’s rare flora and fauna, follow the island’s guided trails, visit the Giant Tortoise Farm, or opt for a snorkeling trip! The Day Charter also Includes a deep dive in crystal clear water of St-Pierre marine Park. Tip: Explore beautiful reef, beautiful marine life.