Exploring The Copolia Trail on Mahé (Seychelles)

From The Authors: Gaelle and Viktor are avid hikers and have done the Copolia Trail various times between 2018 and 2023.

The Copolia Trail is one of the best hikes you can do on Mahé, thanks in large parts due to its stunning views and relative easiness.

We have done the hike for the first time back in 2018 – and it continues to be just as awesome in 2023. One of the only things that changed are the number of tattoos on Viktor’s legs.

In this guide, we’ll detail how you can get there, what things to keep in mind, and show you what to expect on the hike and viewpoint.

👉 How To Get There | What To Keep In Mind | The Hike Itself | Some Additional Impressions Of The Copolia Trail

How to get to the copolia Trail

The Copolia Trail is located in the north of Mahé Island, on the edge of the Morne Seychellois National Park (which contains other amazing hikes like the Morne Blanc Trail and historical sites like Mission Lodge).

If you rented a car (or hired a driver), simply drive up Sans Souci Road until you reach the information booth. The location on Google Maps is accurate and there’s plenty of (free) parking space.

Another option is to take the bus. The bus stop is just a few meters away from the information booth (see first picture above). Bus lines 14 or 35 are the ones you could take.

You can check timetables on the official Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) website under “Mahe Normal Timetable No. 103” by downloading the attached Word document.

Alternatively, download the namesake SPTC mobile app where you can also purchase individual tickets or reload your existing travel card.

We recommend downloading the mobile app. It’ll provide you with the best possible connection based on your current location.

What to consider

The two most important aspects to be aware of are the opening hours as well as the fact that you need to pay to be able to hike the trail.

The Copolia Trail costs 100 SCR (~ $7.75) for non-residents over 12 years old and can only be paid by card. Another 5 SCR are charged if you need to use the toilet, which is part of the booth where you pay.

Interestingly, when we did the hike for the first time back in 2018, it was free of charge. In August 2020, at the height of the Covid pandemic, the trail was reopened after renovation works – and has since not been free anymore.

Apart from paying, you also need to consider opening hours. The trail can be accessed any day from 8 am to 4 pm. Security is guarding the entry during non-opening hours, so you won’t be able to sneak in past those times.

Since the views are what makes this trail one of the best on Mahé, we recommend that you do the hike if there isn’t much overcast.

Otherwise, your pictures may look somewhat like this (from when Gaelle and Viktor’s sister did the hike):

The same naturally goes for rain. The majority of hikes in Seychelles are jungle trails, which means it gets very slippery during rain and can lead to greater risk of injury.

Talking about pictures, make sure to bring a drone. The imagery you can get from the top of the mountain are second to none (ours is currently broken, otherwise you’d see a bunch of examples).

Plus, if you go early in the morning and/or during the week, then you’ll likely be by yourself, giving you even better photo ops.

Another thing to keep in mind for almost any Seychellois hike is to not randomly touch trees without looking. For example, the palm trees of the species Verschaffeltia splendida carry hard long spikes on the stems. You also want to do your part in keeping the nature intact.

Last but certainly not least, make sure to bring water (and whatever else you need) with you since there are no nearby shops.

Hiking the Copolia Trail

Before we get started, here are some key facts about the hike:

• Distance: 2.8 km (1.74 miles)
• Elevation Gained: 488 meters
• Duration: 1 hour – 2 hours
• Difficulty: low – medium

While some might wonder why you would have to pay to go on a hike, it becomes evident from the moment you enter the trail.

The whole path, all the way to the mountain top, is extremely well maintained (for a jungle trail, that is), thus making it a safe hike for all age groups.

The Copolia Trail, just like other hikes including Morne Blanc, is conserved by the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA).

They’re also the ones providing you with additional information alongside the trail, educating visitors on the local fauna and flora.

The trail itself is pretty straightforward. You will, for the most time, simply walk up. Anyone who’s moderately fit shouldn’t have any issues in our opinion.

That said, those of you with knee-related issues may struggle, especially on the way down. We, therefore, recommend taking your time if you do feel any form of discomfort.

What’s certainly helpful is the fact that most of the trail is covered by the (palm) trees, thus providing plenty of shaded spots for rest.

The sky begins to clear up around the 200m sign, which means that you’re close to the viewpoint. Right before reaching it, you’ll be asked to climb these stairs and a ladder.

And that’s about it. You’ll need to walk another 100 meters or so until you end up at the mountain top.

Make sure to take your sweet time because it’s truly on of the most magnificent experiences to be had on Mahé Island.

Even if you don’t have a drone, there are plenty of spots to take incredible pictures of Eden, surrounding islands, and the Indian ocean (btw, these pictures are not edited and the sky really is this blue).

There’s also a small shaded area where you can take a break from the scorching sun.

However, we implore everyone reading this to not test their limits. Please stay within the designated area and refrain from going to the edge of the mountain – it’s a steep drop that’d likely end up being fatal.

Once you’re ready to go back down, make sure to pace yourself. Some of the steps are abrupt, which can be strenuous on the knees or even cause you to slip and possibly get hurt.

More Impressions of the Copolia trail

Here is some additional imagery from the three times that we (plus Viktor’s sister) did the hike throughout the years:

Let us know in the comments if you have any questions about the trail or would like to share your experience. 😊