Hotels in Praslin

Praslin: Vallée de Mai and the Coco de Mer Palms

Praslin is the second-largest island in Seychelles, lying 44 km northeast of Mahé by air or 3.5 hours by ferry. The island is the global epicentre of the coco de mer palm — the world's largest seed — protected inside the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. The reserve covers roughly 19.5 hectares of primeval forest and shelters the endemic black parrot alongside six native palm species.

Where to Stay

Most hotels concentrate along the Côte d'Or strip on the northwest coast, within walking distance of calm, shallow water. The Anse Lazio beach, on the northern tip, draws day visitors from across Seychelles and consistently ranks among the Indian Ocean's most-photographed shores. Smaller guesthouses cluster around Grand Anse on the southwest, offering quieter surroundings at lower nightly rates than the larger resorts.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Air Seychelles operates 15-minute inter-island flights from Mahé; the Cat Cocos ferry departs Victoria Harbour and takes approximately 3.5 hours.
• Best time to visit: April–May and October–November bring calmer seas and lighter crowds between the two monsoon seasons.
• Currency: Seychellois Rupee (SCR); major resorts accept cards, but carry cash for local stalls.
• Vallée de Mai hours: The reserve opens daily; book the guided dawn walk to spot the black parrot before heat peaks.