praslin island
Praslin is the second largest island in the Seychelles, lying approximately 45km northeast of Mahé with an area of around 37.5km². Its nickname, Ile Des Palm, was given by Lazare Picault, who discovered the island during one of his expeditions (see the History of Seychelles), and was referring to the Coco De Mer Palms he had seen.
Travel to Praslin can be by both air and sea. The domestic flights from Mahé to Praslin take approximately 15 minutes whereas the longer ferry journey can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.
Praslin is not as busy as Mahé, so offers a more relaxing and even more laid back atmosphere. The two main locations of Grand Anse and Baie Ste Anne are expectedly the busiest in terms of economic activity.
The small population of approximately 8700 people, is largely employed in the tourism industry. There are numerous luxury hotels on Praslin that cater for the many tourists that visit the island.
One of the main tourist attractions on Praslin is the Vallée de Mai, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Here you will find various flora and fauna including the unique Coco De Mer palm.
Praslin in its entirety is a must-see for nature enthusiasts as the whole island is pretty much a tropical jungle.
Surrounding Praslin are the islands of Cousin, Cousine and Curieuse, as well as the smaller islands of St. Pierre, Round Island and Chauve Souris.
The Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette beaches are located on Praslin. These two beaches are often ranked among the most beautiful in the world. A visit to Praslin definitely necessitates a trip to at least one of these beaches.
Learn about the different islands:
Aldabra Atoll
Assomption
Cosmoledo
Astove
Alphonse
St. Francois
Bijoutier
Farquhar
Providence
St. Pierre
Deroches
African Banks
Rémire
D’Arros
St. Joseph Atoll
Poivre Atoll
Étoile
Boudeuse
Marie-Louise
Coëtivy
Île Platte
Choose one of the options below to learn more about Seychelles –
History
Geography
Climate
Flora & Fauna
Culture
Cuisine
The Islands
Fact File
