Vallée de Mai
Discover Praslin’s UNESCO World Heritage Site
Step into a prehistoric palm forest and experience one of Seychelle’s Most extraordinary nature treaures.
Parslin, Seychelles
A Nature Treasure in the Heart of Praslin
No visit to Praslin is complete without exploring the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, one of Seychelles’ most famous natural attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Located in the heart of Praslin, Vallée de Mai is an extraordinary prehistoric palm forest and one of the best places on the island to experience Seychelles’ unique natural environment. Walking beneath the enormous palm leaves and towering Coco de Mer trees can feel like stepping into another world.
Home of the Coco de Mer
Vallée de Mai is best known as the natural home of the legendary Coco de Mer, an endemic Seychelles palm that produces the largest seed in the plant kingdom.
The reserve is particularly special because all six of Seychelles’ endemic palm species can be found here.
Dense vegetation, giant leaves and shafts of sunlight breaking through the canopy give the forest its distinctive atmosphere and have helped inspire its reputation as the original “Garden of Eden.”
Keep your eyes and ears open as you walk. Vallée de Mai is also home to an incredible variety of wildlife, including the rare Seychelles black parrot, the national bird of Seychelles, as well as blue pigeons, bulbuls, sunbirds, geckos, skinks, chameleons, tree frogs and numerous other endemic species.
- Exploring Vallee de Mai
A network of marked walking trails allows you to explore the reserve at your own pace. Routes range from approximately 1.5 km to 4 km, so you can choose between a elatively short visit or spend longer discovering the forest.
Independent guides are also available if you would like to learn more about the Coco de Mer, wildlife, history and fascinating legends surrounding the Vallée de Mai.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and take some water with you. Much of the walk is beneath the forest canopy, making Vallée de Mai a good place to explore even when you want a break from Praslin’s beaches and sunshine.
Getting to Vallee de Mai
Vallée de Mai sits close to the centre of Praslin, making it easy to reach from both Grand'Anse and Baie Ste Anne.
One of the easiest ways to visit is by rental car. Having your own car means you can explore the reserve
in your own time and combine your visit with some of Praslin’s other beaches, viewpoints and attractions.
There is parking at the Visitor Centre, and the reserve is also accessible by public bus and taxi.
Ola Tip: Make Vallée de Mai part of a day exploring Praslin by car. Visit the forest in the morning before continuing across the island to discover some of Praslin’s spectacular beaches and stopping for lunch at one of the island’s local restaurants.
Visitor Information
Opening Hours
8:30am – 4:30pm
Last Entry
3.30 PM
Closed
25 December And 1 January
Facilities
Information centre, souvenir shop, cafeteria, toilets, lockers and parking.
Accessibility
Centre and first section of the forest are wheelchair accessible.
- Visitors receive an information leaflet and trail map on entry, while independent guides are available for those who would like a more detailed tour.
- As a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, visitors should remain on designated trails, avoid disturbing plants or wildlife and take all litter with them.
- The reserve and surrounding areas are also strictly smoke- free.
Explore Praslin with Ola Car Rental
Vallée de Mai is only one of the incredible places waiting to be discovered on Praslin. With your own rental car, you have the freedom to explore the island at your own pace – from UNESCO-listed forests and hidden viewpoints to beautiful beaches, restaurants and traditional Seychellois communities.
Explore Praslin's Stunning Beaches
Anse Lazio - One of Praslin's Most Beautiful beaches
No trip around Praslin is complete without a visit to Anse Lazio, one of Seychelles’ most famous beaches and regularly recognised as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Located on the north-west coast of Praslin, Anse Lazio has everything you imagine when you think of a tropical Seychelles beach – soft white sand, clear turquoise water, lush green vegetation and huge granite boulders framing the shoreline.
- A Praslin Must Visit
Anse Lazio is a fantastic place to spend a few hours or even most of the day. The beautiful clear water makes it popular for swimming and snorkelling, while the long stretch of sand provides plenty of space to find your own spot and relax.
The surrounding granite rocks and tropical vegetation also make Anse Lazio one of Praslin’s most photogenic locations, so make sure you have your camera or phone ready.
There are restaurants and facilities close to the beach, making it easy to combine your visit with lunch or refreshments before continuing your journey around the island.
- Getting to Anse Lazio
One of the best ways to reach Anse Lazio is by car. The drive takes you through Praslin’s beautiful tropical landscape and gives you the freedom to stop and explore along the way.
From Grand’Anse, allow approximately 25–30 minutes by car, while the journey from the Baie Ste Anne and Côte d’Or area takes around 20–30 minutes depending on your starting point.
The road becomes winding as you approach the beach, so take your time and enjoy the journey.
Ola Tip: Head to Anse Lazio earlier in the morning if you prefer a quieter beach experience. Alternatively, make it one of the final stops on your Praslin road trip and enjoy the beautiful late-afternoon surroundings before heading back.
- Explore Anse Lazio with Ola Car Rental
Having your own rental car makes visiting Anse Lazio easy and gives you the freedom to discover much more of Praslin along the way.
Combine your trip with a visit to Vallée de Mai, explore the Côte d’Or and Anse Volbert area, stop at viewpoints along the route, or simply take your time discovering somewhere new.
With Ola Car Rental, there’s no timetable just pick up your car and explore Praslin your way.
Getting To Praslin
Getting to Praslin from Mahé is easy, with two main options; take a short domestic flight with Air
Seychelles or travel across by the Cat Cocos ferry.
Fly to Praslin
For the quickest journey, Air Seychelles operates regular domestic flights between Mahé and Praslin. The flight takes around 15 minutes in a small aircraft and offers some fantastic views of the Seychelles islands along the way. Flights depart from the domestic terminal at Seychelles International Airport and arrive at Praslin Island Airport at Grand'Anse. It’s a particularly convenient option if you’re connecting directly from an international flight.
Take the Cat Cocos Ferry
Alternatively, Cat Cocos operates regular high-speed ferry services between Mahé and Praslin.
The journey takes around an hour and gives you the chance to experience Seychelles from the water as you travel between the islands. Ferries depart from the Inter Island Quay in Victoria and arrive at Baie Ste Anne Jetty on Praslin.
Arriving on Praslin
Whichever way you choose to travel, Ola Car Rental makes it easy to start exploring as soon as you arrive.
We can arrange your rental car for collection when you arrive on Praslin, giving you the freedom to head
straight to your accommodation and start discovering the island.
Fly or ferry, then pick up your Ola Car Rental car and explore Praslin your way.