7 great Hikes to do in the Seychelles
If you like hiking to explore a region you will love the Seychelles.
The inland forests are home to an unspoilt nature and lush tropical vegetation which includes many endemic species. Giant bamboos, mangrove trees, vacoas and many varieties of palm trees like the famous coco de mer are part of the scenery. The hikers venturing in the mountains are always rewarded by superb sea views. Walking on the coastal paths gives the best perspectives to admire the pristine beaches nestled in the rock-fringed coves also called "anses".
Walking is the best way to explore the splendor and the unique character of The Seychelles.
But don't think hiking on these islands is easy! The terrain can be very steep and slippery because of the granit rock foundations. The lack of signs on the paths plus the humid heat and beating sun can give a hard time even to the fittest ones.
These are actually part of the charms of the Seychelles. Feeling like an explorer, alone in the wild!
We are sharing 7 hikes we did without a guide in Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. They are listed by order of difficulty starting with the easiest one. We kept the toughest and most adventurous one for the end.
30 minutes - Difficulty: Easy
This nice little walk which can be done with just wearing flip flops is the only way to access to the secluded beach of Anse Coco.
Park your bike at Grand Anse then walk along the beach until the next one called Petite Anse. From there take the path through the forest and walk about 30 minutes until you reach Anse Coco. On the way, don't miss the sensitive plants with their leaves moving inwards when you touch them as a defense mechanism. It can be difficult to swim in Anse Coco depending on the tide and the currents. But the immaculate beach is idyllic.
2 hours - Difficulty: Easy
The Fond Ferdinand is an excellent alternative to La Vallée de Mai to see the "coco de mer" because it is cheaper, wilder and less busy. For €10 a ticket, you can enjoy a 2 hours sportive walk with a guide through the jungle, in the shade of the majestic palm trees which are endemic to the island. A magical experience! While you will admire these butt nuts in their natural habitat, the guide will tell you everything about their pollination and fertilization process. Did you know that the palm trees had a male organ? Their size can be really impressive! This tour is literally getting very sensual. The walk ends with a 600 steps climb up to a hill to enjoy a breathtaking view on the lagoons and nearby islands.
Visits only with a guide only and a group 3 times a day: 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30pm
The inland forests are home to an unspoilt nature and lush tropical vegetation which includes many endemic species. Giant bamboos, mangrove trees, vacoas and many varieties of palm trees like the famous coco de mer are part of the scenery. The hikers venturing in the mountains are always rewarded by superb sea views. Walking on the coastal paths gives the best perspectives to admire the pristine beaches nestled in the rock-fringed coves also called "anses".
Walking is the best way to explore the splendor and the unique character of The Seychelles.
But don't think hiking on these islands is easy! The terrain can be very steep and slippery because of the granit rock foundations. The lack of signs on the paths plus the humid heat and beating sun can give a hard time even to the fittest ones.
These are actually part of the charms of the Seychelles. Feeling like an explorer, alone in the wild!
We are sharing 7 hikes we did without a guide in Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. They are listed by order of difficulty starting with the easiest one. We kept the toughest and most adventurous one for the end.
1. Anse Coco - La Digue
This nice little walk which can be done with just wearing flip flops is the only way to access to the secluded beach of Anse Coco.
Park your bike at Grand Anse then walk along the beach until the next one called Petite Anse. From there take the path through the forest and walk about 30 minutes until you reach Anse Coco. On the way, don't miss the sensitive plants with their leaves moving inwards when you touch them as a defense mechanism. It can be difficult to swim in Anse Coco depending on the tide and the currents. But the immaculate beach is idyllic.
Sensitive plants
2. Fond Ferdinand - Praslin
The Fond Ferdinand is an excellent alternative to La Vallée de Mai to see the "coco de mer" because it is cheaper, wilder and less busy. For €10 a ticket, you can enjoy a 2 hours sportive walk with a guide through the jungle, in the shade of the majestic palm trees which are endemic to the island. A magical experience! While you will admire these butt nuts in their natural habitat, the guide will tell you everything about their pollination and fertilization process. Did you know that the palm trees had a male organ? Their size can be really impressive! This tour is literally getting very sensual. The walk ends with a 600 steps climb up to a hill to enjoy a breathtaking view on the lagoons and nearby islands.
Visits only with a guide only and a group 3 times a day: 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30pm
The 600 steps leading to...
... a breathtaking view
The coco de mer and the male organ in a good shape.
Even more impressive when erected directly from the tree ;-)
3. Anse Major Trail - Mahé
This coastal trail nestled between the mountains and the sea offers a full immersion in the native nature surrounded by tropical plants and granit blocks. At the end of the path you will arrive at the hidden beach of Anse Major.
If you come by bus, the walk starts at the stop "Bel Ombre" near the restaurant La Scala. When you walk through Danzil village, you will probably meet the local super star, AKA Mister Batman sitting in front of his house with his domesticated bat. He offers people passing by to feed his bat with some fresh fruits or a licking massage with the animal's tongue. Wanna try? Apparently the bats love the human sweat! After this, you carry on the road until you see the sign "Anse Major Trail".From there, it normally takes an hour to walk to the beach. But if you do this hike when the sun is beating hard, it will take longer with making a few breaks. There is hardly any shade on this path! The beach at the end is beautiful but the currents can be too strong for a swim.
The bat showing her pointy tongue,picture taken upside down
4. Le Nid d'Aigle (The Eagle's nest)
333 meters high - La Digue
This hike takes you to the highest point of the island of La Digue. The vegetation is not particularly impressive but you can enjoy a 360° view from the top. If you like sweating, this is a great way to explore the inner island.
Park your bike on the way when it becomes to steep then walk up. When you reach the restaurant Belle Vue, you have 30 more minutes to go up on a narrow path in the mountain. There is no marked sign and the trail is hard to detect so you have to make your way through the bush and over the stone blocks. Once you see the antenna, carry on walking 10 minutes to reach the top. The heat can be brutal and there is no shade so bringing lots of water and a hat is highly recommended.
5. La Plaine Hollandaise - Praslin
From Côte d'Or the road winds up through the small villages of Salazie and Pasquère then leads to a forest. After a few kilometers, the landscape suddenly changes into some vast plains with incredible colors and vegetation. It was so peaceful we felt as if we were the only ones in the world. Until we saw a man walking towards us holding a large machete... He was a friendly local farmer who invited us to take a photo from the view from his secluded house overlooking Grand Anse. We enjoyed a tour of the plants he was growing including papaya trees, vanilla, orchids and were treated with some fresh and sweet passion fruits. Finally we made our way back down to the beach with our bodies' temperature feeling boiling hot. We had a well deserved picnic lunch and bath in the crystal clear water.
6. The mysterious hike from
Anse Georgette to Anse Lazio - Praslin
We tried to do this hike from Anse Georgette but we totally failed. With the brutal heat, no shade and no signs leading the way on a very steep hill, we gave up after 30 minutes. We saw other tourists doing the same which kind of we totally failed in finding the trail of this 2 hours hike. We started to climb a very steep hill but the heat was so brutal with no sign on the way which seemed endless so we came back after 40 minutes. We saw other tourists giving up as well. If one of you manage to find this trail, well done! We ended begging the guards of the Constance Lemura Hotel to let us in so we could access to Anse Georgette through the gulf course.
7. La mare aux cochons (The pigs' pond) - Mahé
Are you adventurous and fit? Then this intense hike is for you! The path takes you through the mountains of the Morne Seychellois National Park where you can explore the gems of the native forest. There are several interlinked so even though the signs are not always clearly visible, you will always find your way. Just use your instinct! The trail is in the forest so you will be walking in the shade which is very pleasant.
Hike from Danzil to Port Launey via La Mare aux cochons = 11 Km
Elevation: 470 m
From Dnazil (Bel Ombre), the hike starts with a tough 90 minutes climb first on a steep road then up a cliff in the forest. Then you will find a lovely clearing which is perfect for a picnic. Further down, the Mare aux Cochons is a vast wetland sourced with fresh altitude water. It was listed as an area of "international importance" by the local authorities. There is a waterfall a bit further where you can swim.
After you cross the bridge from the wetland you will step in the deep forest. The calmness and the wildness will give you a mixed feeling of both fascination and fear of the unknown. But don't worry there is no big wild animals in there ;-) It is good to take the time and observe the giant bamboos, the palm trees with weird sharp spines, the trees with their roots growing outside and the singing birds. Enchanting! When you see an old house in ruins, it means you only have one more hour to go down to Port Glaud. The last challenging step is to cross a granit rock. If you don't have any shoes with crampons it is very slippery.
When you reach Port Glaud you might feel relieved and sad at the same time to be back to civilization. But when you see the beautiful beach of Port Launey located only one kilometer away towards the Constance Ephelia Hotel, you will be happy to relax and jump into the turquoise lagoon.
Return by bus from Port Launey bus terminal near the beach.
Option: You can start the hike from Le Niol instead. The climbing distance at the beginning is a bit shorter.
- We tried to folow the route shown on this map we found on Internet but we ended up free styling: http://www.lesansouci.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Mare-Aux-Cochons.pdf
- We used the app MAPS.ME. Even in the deep forest, mos of the trails were localized. This app is our best friend for most of our trips everywhere in the world.
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