Praslin Island is a port of call on Indian Ocean itineraries from Emerald Yachts, Atlas Ocean Voyages, and Seabourn, concentrated from November through May, with a few Ponant sailings departing from here.
Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles, pairs jungle-fringed beaches with clear, calm waters and pale sand shaped over centuries by wind and tide. Anse Lazio, often ranked among the world's finest beaches, sits beneath granite boulders and takes shape as a graceful curve of shoreline backed by coconut palms, with a reef just offshore offering coral and marine life for snorkelers. The island's interior rises into forested hills that shelter rare palm species found almost nowhere else on earth.
Visitors typically arrive by tender or ferry from Mahé, since Praslin has no deep-water cruise pier, with taxis and small buses providing onward access to the beaches and reserves. The compact scale of the island makes it easy to pair a morning on the sand with an afternoon exploring the forest, offering a relaxed rhythm suited to a single day ashore.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Praslin Island.
Explore Vallée de Mai
Wander this UNESCO-listed palm forest to see the rare coco de mer, whose giant double-lobed nuts grow nowhere else on earth. Reachable by taxi in about 20 minutes, with trails looping through in an hour or so.
Boat to Curieuse Island
Take a short boat trip to this nearby island reserve to walk among giant Aldabra tortoises and mangrove boardwalks. Best arranged in advance, as excursions typically combine the crossing with snorkeling stops.
Relax at Anse Georgette
This secluded cove on Praslin's northwest coast offers powder-soft sand and turquoise water with far fewer visitors than Anse Lazio. Access is by taxi plus a short walk through a resort, so plan the route ahead of time.
