Praslin Day Trip: A Local’s Guide

From The Authors: Gaelle was born and raised in the Seychelles while Viktor has been living here for 1+ year. Unlike many other travel blogs, we actually have first-hand knowledge and experience of the places we write about. If you have any questions, we respond quickly to comments!

Praslin is the second largest island of the Seychelles – and one that’s absolutely worth visiting. While it has much to offer, we do think that the majority of it can be explored within a day’s time.

In this article, we walk you through how a day trip to Praslin would look like, what you need to bring, and how to get there.

👉 How To Get To Praslin | What To Pack | Getting Around Praslin | Vallée de Mai | Cote D’or | Anse Lazio | Cost Of The Trip

How To Get From Mahé To Praslin

You can get from Mahé to Praslin either by boat or flying. The two most popular options are taking the Cat Cocos ferry and flying with Air Seychelles.

We detailed those two steps as well as the other two options (private boat hire & helicopter) in a separate and more thorough article that you can find here.

That said, let us give you the gist of the Cat Cocos and Air Seychelles options:

Cat Cocos

Traveling from Mahé to Praslin, and then to La Digue, is most commonly done via Cat Cocos ferry. The journey takes around 1.5 hours, including check-in. Arrive 30 minutes before departure with your passport.

Consider extra travel time for Victoria traffic during morning or afternoon trips. Cat Cocos’ schedule for the first half of 2024 looks as follows:

Ferries leave Mahé from 8 am to 4:30 pm, with direct continuation to La Digue from Praslin. Tickets are available online, at Cat Cocos’ offices, or through travel agents, with online being the most cost-effective.

Booking is possible through Cat Cocos’ website or third-party sites like GetYourGuide or Viator. Viator offers better rates and flexible cancellations, so this would be our personal recommendation (you can book here).

Air Seychelles

Option two for traveling between Mahé and Praslin is with Air Seychelles, the country’s national airline, established in 1978. Originally focused on domestic routes, it now serves international destinations as well.

Air Seychelles operates exclusive flights from Mahé to Praslin using Twin Otter aircraft, accommodating up to 20 passengers for a quick 20-minute journey.

And its biggest draw, apart from saving some time, are the picturesque views of the Indian Ocean the flight route has to offer.

Another significant advantage is the frequency, with over 30 daily flights between Mahé and Praslin, making it convenient for day trips, with an early morning departure and late evening return.

Tickets can be purchased directly from the Air Seychelles website or through aggregators like Google Flights, Kiwi, or Skyscanner.

While aggregators may offer slightly lower prices, booking directly with Air Seychelles allows you to change your flight up to 72 hours before departure, with an adjustment fee for fare differences.

Cancellation is possible, with a USD 150 fee, and the remainder refunded, approximately USD 70. International non-residents can check in up to 30kg of baggage and 7kg of hand luggage.

What To Bring For Your Praslin Day Trip

Every Seychelles adventure starts with a healthy dose of sunscreen. Plus, if you packed and needed, also bring a rash vest and sun hat.

Cash is also instrumental. There are various MCB ATMs (= the best bank for foreign CCs in terms ATM fees) on the island but they’re not as widespread.

SCR 500 (~ USD 38) per person should be sufficient, especially since most things can be paid by card. Cash is mostly needed for parking (if you rented a car), paying the bus (if you don’t use the app), drinks at beach bars.

Next, your passport is needed for boarding either the boat or plane. Also, bring a driving license if you aim to rent a vehicle.

Camera gear, whether that’s a GoPro or drone, should definitely be packed as well – you don’t want to miss these picturesque moments.

Lastly, don’t forget snorkeling gear. If you did not bring it with you, then purchase it on Mahé since it’s going to be cheaper and provide you with more options compared to Praslin.

Getting Around Praslin

There are three primary modes of transport suitable for a Praslin day trip, namely taking the bus, renting a car, or hiring a driver.

The cheapest option option is certainly to take the bus. Praslin has 3 different bus lines (61, 62, and 63), with buses normally showing up every 20 odd minutes or so.

You can check timetables on the official Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) website under “Praslin Normal Timetable No. 202” 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.

The other transportation option you have is to take a car, either by hiring a chauffeur or renting one yourself.

The former is certainly more expensive and starts at around USD 220 per day. You can book them directly on Viator, for example here.

Our personal recommendation for a day trip would be to rent a car from one of the many operators present on the island.

Here’s a list of the ones that either we or our friends have tried and been happy with:

• Amitie Car Hire: call +248 282 96 99 or +248 258 07 87 or +248 271 08 63
• Capricorn Car Rental: call +248 258 11 10 or +248 251 04 46 // text info@capricornseychelles.com
• Century Cars: call +248 252 46 00 or +248 256 06 11 // text centurycars.sey@gmail.com
• Premier Cars: call +248 252 46 00 or +248 256 06 11 // text mhibonne@hotmail.com or hibonne@seychelles.net

Prices for car rentals should range from USD 50 to USD 80 per day (+ fuel). Make sure to ask whether you need a credit card for the insurance deposit (we recommend bringing a CC to Seychelles nonetheless).

Explore Vallée de Mai & Praslin National Park

Vallée de Mai, nested in the heart of the Praslin National Park, is certainly the biggest attraction the island has to offer.

Since 1983, it has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its stunning beauty, which has even led settlers to believe that it was the original Garden of Eden.

Moreover, it is home to the world’s biggest nut and seed, the Coco de Mer. It grows across the reserve’s various palm trees, needing around 25 years to fully grow.

The Coco de Mer itself can be purchased at licensed gift shops. However, make sure to leave enough space in your luggage as it can weigh up to 18 kilo (~ 40 pounds), with prices ranging from USD 200 to USD 600.

An entrance fee of SCR 450 is charged to non-residents. It costs another SCR 1,000 if you hire one of the tour guides, with tours lasting round about an hour.

Expect to spend between 1.5 hours to 3 hours at Vallée de Mai, depending on which of the three available paths you choose to explore.

If you rent a car, simply follow the directions on Google Maps – it’s impossible to miss. Parking in front of the entrance is both free and plentiful. Alternatively, bus lines 62 and 63 will also get you there.

Once you’re done with Vallée de Mai, there’s still one thing left to be seen. Around 500 meters towards the West side of the island, there’s a stunning waterfall located at the side of the road.

In fact, it’s one of our favorite waterfalls across the whole of the Seychelles, so carving out another 15 minutes to 30 minutes to explore it is absolutely worth it (we detailed how to get there and where to park in the linked article below).

Related: The best waterfalls in the Seychelles

Do make sure to not step into the water current, though, as it is processed to serve as drinking and showering water for the locals and tourists alike.

Feast At Cote D’or Beach

Once you wrapped up your Vallée de Mai visit, it’s time for some relaxation and lunch to keep you energized – and Cote D’or Beach (also known as Anse Volbert) is a great option to do just that.

Located on the Northeastern coast of Praslin Island, it boasts a 2.5 km stretch of pristine white sand where various hotels and restaurants are located.

Our personal recommendation is to give Cafe des Arts a try. They serve some of the best shrimp fried rice we ever had.

Plus, the restaurant offers plenty of shaded spots to avoid the heat of the midday sun as well as free parking. Spending around 1 hour to 1.5 hours at the beach and restaurant should be enough.

Unwind On Anse Lazio Beach

Once you’re done with lunch, it’s time for the next and final destination: Anse Lazio.

It is, by far, the most popular beach in Praslin. And for good reason: its sand is as soft as it gets, the water is safe to swim in (with the option to snorkel), and it offers plenty of shade below the palm trees.

There’s also a small granite formation where you can take great pictures, especially during sunset. You can also purchase refreshments at the nearby beach bar or feed tortoises.

If you rented a car, then keep in mind that parking isn’t free. It costs SCR 50 (payable in cash) to park your car for at the nearby premises. Should you take the bus, then you can pick all three available bus lines, namely 61, 62, and 63.

Anse Lazio, due to its popularity, will also be one of the busiest beaches you’ll see during your Seychelles trip. However, it makes for a great option to get to know other travelers.

Cost Of The Day Trip

Here’s what you can expect to pay for each activity and mode of transport during your day trip (price per person):

• Boat ticket Cat Cocos: SCR 1,850
• Airplane ticket Air Seychelles: ~ SCR 2,900
• Vallée de Mai: SCR 450
• Tour guide Vallée de Mai: ~ SCR 1,000
• Rental car + fuel: ~ SCR 1,000
• Bus tickets: SCR 100
• Cafe des Arts: ~ SCR 800
• Parking ticket Anse Lazio: SCR 50

As you can see, the cost of the day trip varies greatly, based on the modes of transport you elect.

All in all, I would expect that pay a minimum of SCR 4,000 (~ USD 300) for a Praslin day trip. On the higher end, I would plan with around SCR 8,000.