Beautiful Bays and Glorious Nature on Praslin

We flew with Etihad via Abu Dhabi to Mahé, then covered the remaining 45 km to Praslin in a small propeller aircraft (13 minutes). Our hire car was waiting for us at Praslin Airport (remember, they drive on the left!). It took us just under half an hour to reach our accommodation on Praslin’s east coast, the Cote D'Or Chalets, on the ‘Gold Coast’ of the same name (Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or)). The lovely ladies who were the ‘good spirits’ of the property looked after our comfort and well-being and were always happy to have a little chat. They were there every day until 15:30 and helped with any questions or requests, even though there was nothing extra to be earned from us (booked through SeyVillas / accommodation only).

A wealth of plant life – here at Praslin Airport Our chalet was spacious and equipped as described: comfortable beds, plenty of wardrobe space, air conditioning in the bedroom (individually adjustable / in my opinion), sun-blocking curtains, and everything was clean and well maintained. There was a large bathroom with a shower and toilet that always worked. Hot water was provided by the sun heating a water tank on the roof – whenever the sun was shining. The living room and kitchen fully met our expectations and were equipped for 2 people. The cookware was new, the safe appeared secure, the window and door locks worked, as did all the appliances and fittings (fridge, cupboard, cooker, microwave... / no television!). Wi-Fi cost €50, regardless of how long it was used, which was fine. The house stands in extensive gardens crossed by a public footpath, which is not lit at night. The grounds are not enclosed.

Our hotel on Praslin A chalet nestled in a tropical garden The beautiful white, fine-sand beach is just 50 m away. You walk across a large grassy area with several coconut palms, and there is no traffic along the way, so everything is very peaceful and free from exhaust fumes – pure relaxation! In the evenings, there is no loud music or ‘mobile discos’ to disturb the peace (cars full of young people who leave the doors open, turn up the stereo to blast music across the bay and call the noise ‘Créole Spirit’).

This superb fine-sand beach is around 3 km long and rarely busy. Only at weekends do a few more visitors arrive. Because of the offshore reef, there are practically no waves and little water exchange, so the water quickly becomes very warm, well above 30°C. The offshore islands and glorious colours have a Caribbean feel, and everything simply looks beautiful. A daily walk along the beach was always part of our routine. Swimming was possible at any time, regardless of the tides. The number of boats anchored in the bay was reasonable.

View of the offshore island from Cote d Or beach, right by the chalets The ‘village’ has plenty of restaurants and small shops, including both ‘supermarkets’ and boutiques, as well as a small takeaway (a fast-food caravan) and cash machines.

One of Praslin’s attractions is the Vallée de Mai: tropical rainforest grows on a hill in the centre of the island, criss-crossed by an established walking trail around 5 km long. Cool, clean air, birdsong and the splendour of the enormous trees – all of this creates the primeval atmosphere of this refuge. We spent around 3 hours walking leisurely through it, and no special equipment is required. There is a bus stop as well as parking. Do not forget an umbrella – it is called a ‘rainforest’ for a reason!

The island’s showpiece bay is Anse Lazio in the north. There is no protective reef here, which means there are always waves. The water is very clear, and you can snorkel around the rocky edges (of course, you can snorkel anywhere, but here it is genuinely worthwhile). However, you should take care: strong waves and currents require caution, and you should not overestimate your abilities! Also, do not leave valuables unattended on the beach. The unforgettable view across turquoise water beneath the bright sunshine pouring from an azure sky is reason enough to visit this bay.

Anse la Blague lies in the east of Praslin. Here, you will find peace and relaxation in the shade of numerous trees, interspersed with small beach coves. Hardly any cars venture out here. Relax, let your mind wander and enjoy the journey as much as the destination...

East coast of Praslin near Anse La Blague Finally, we visited Anse Kerlan, where the road along the west coast ends – at the end of the world, so to speak. It is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Although the beach belongs to a luxury hotel, all beaches in the Seychelles are public and accessible to everyone. There is an expansive view towards the ever-lower sun, a glowing red ball of fire slowly sinking into the sea, while the clouds take on increasingly vivid colours with every passing minute. These impressions remind us that even the loveliest holiday must eventually come to an end.

Before long, we will leave our chalet by 10:00 (otherwise additional charges apply!), return our hire car at the airport and fly back to Berlin via Mahé and Abu Dhabi, where we will once again enjoy a planned overnight stopover.