A Local’s Guide To Vallée de Mai On Praslin Island
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!
The Vallée de Mai nature reserve is the biggest draw the island of Praslin has to offer – and for good reason. Its stunning beauty has even evoked comparisons to the Garden of Eden.
In this article, we will detail what to expect of and keep in mind when visiting Vallée de Mai, how to get there, and how much it costs.
👉 Key Facts | Directions | Entry Fee & Opening Hours | Exploring Vallée de Mai | Waterfall
Key Facts About Vallée de Mai
The Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, which is located on the Seychelles’ second largest island Praslin, is one of the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites the archipelago has to offer.
This prestigious status, granted in 1983, recognizes the reserve not only for its stunning natural beauty but also for its remarkable ecological significance.


Interestingly enough, it almost never became the renowned site it is today. In April 1958, a major fire threatened the nature reserve, which was ultimately fended off by local firefighters.
Its commander, Mr. Ephrem Pool, was subsequently awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List of 1959.
And since 1989, the site has been managed by the Seychelles Island Foundation, a charitable trust, under the patronage of the then-president of the republic France-Albert René.
Today, Vallée de Mai is the home of various reptile species, endemic birds like the Seychelles black parrot, and the world’s largest nut – more on that later, though.
How To Get To Vallée de Mai
The beauty of Praslin is that everything is in relative proximity (at least compared to Mahé Island), so the park can be easily accessed regardless of whether you use the bus or rent a car.
Related: how to get to Praslin Island
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, you can also take the bus. You can take the following routes:
- Route 62 (Mont Plaisir – Zimbabwe via Consolation)
- Route 63 (Mont Plaisir – Anse La Blague – Côte d’Or)
You can check timetables on the official Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) website under “Praslin 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.
We recommend downloading the mobile app. It’ll provide you with the best possible connection based on your current location. Plus, you can pay your ticket right within the app.
Entry Fee & Opening Hours
Non-residents above the age of 12 pay an entry fee of SCR 450 (some blogs on this matter are outdated and still name SCR 350 as the price). You can pay either be cash (even in Euros and Dollars) or card.

The Vallée de Mai is not just a tourist attraction but a crucial ecological sanctuary. The fee supports various conservation efforts, including protecting the largest seed in the plant kingdom, the Coco de Mer, and its habitat.
The nature reserve is open daily from 08:30am to 04:30pm. We do recommend going around lunch time as the park is fully covered by palms and thus provides a rather cool place to hang out.
Toilets are only available at the entrance, so make sure you go before entering the park. Similarly, snacks and souvenirs can be purchased there, too. And a luggage storage room is at your disposal as well.
There are also tour guides offering their services, costing around SCR 1,000 for one 1.5 hours of guiding.
We would personally recommend to hire one if you’re in a larger group since the information they provide truly does enhance the experience.

Plus, you’re supporting the local economy! That said, there a plenty of signs walking you through the local flora and fauna, so you always know what to look at.
Exploring Vallée de Mai
Certainly, the biggest highlight of Vallée de Mai is seeing the Coco de Mer, the world’s largest nut and seed, close up front.


Prior to entering the nature reserve, there’s a table featuring both the Coco de Mer as well as the male catkin of the palm.
You’re free to grab the Coco de Mer and pose for photo ops as long as you’re cautious holding it.
Keep in mind that a new Coco de Mer can weigh up to 30 kg (~ 66 pounds) and its price can reach into the thousands, so you don’t want to be loose with your grip.
As a result, the Seychelles government regulates the sale of these nuts to prevent illegal trade and to support conservation efforts. So, if you decide to purchase a Coco de Mer, you’ll even receive official documentation.
When you explore the Vallée de Mai, you will see the Coco de Mer growing on top of the palm trees.


The darker the tone of the seed, the more ripe it is. Overall, it takes the Coco de Mer about 25 years to fully grow. Its distinctive shape, which often likened to a woman’s buttocks or pelvis, forms as the nut matures inside the husk.
The nature reserve itself offers three different paths that you can explore, ranging from 1 km to 2km and taking 1 hour to 3 hours, respectively.

Overall, it took us 2.5 hours to explore the nature reserve. However, we also took tons of pictures and images, so you may finish a lot faster.
If you are not accompanied by a tour guide, then please keep a few things in mind. First, it is not allowed to bring a drone.
Similarly, whistling is also forbidden. The sound of it may confuse the endemic black parrot, which is a very vocal species using calls for communication and breeding purposes.
Apart from that, just soak in the nature reserve’s beauty and tranquility.


Wandering around, it’s no wonder that it drew comparison to the Garden of Eden, first propagated by British General Charles George Gordon in the 19th century.
Make sure to pay particular attention to the treetops where most of the animals, like birds or geckos, are to be found.
One particular highlight of the reserve is the viewing point located in the north, offering incredible views of the Praslin National Park.

You’ll also be handed a small guide book, which lists all the different flora and fauna you will likely encounter along the way as well as all explorable paths.
Personally, we would recommend exploring all available paths considering that Vallee de Mai is the biggest draw Praslin has to offer – especially if you stay on the island for more than one day.
Topping It off With The Waterfall
Once you’re done wandering through Vallée de Mai, there’s one last thing to be done: paying a visit to the nearby waterfall.

In fact, it is one of our four favorite waterfalls the archipelago of Seychelles has to offer and the only one that’s worth exploring in Praslin.
While you can park your car at Vallee de Mai and walk from there (if you rented a car), we do not recommend it as the roads are quite narrow and don’t offer sidewalks for pedestrians.
Instead, if you come from the UNESCO site, drive down towards the waterfall until you reach the following water treatment plant, which also offers a parking spot.


From there, simply walk up the road (it’s about 200 meters) until you see the red warning sign. Then it’s just a quick walk down and you should already hear/see the waterfall.
We do want to point out that you should avoid stepping into the current. The water flowing down from the waterfall is being processed (at the plant) to be used as drinking and showering water for the locals as well as tourists.
If you’re still on the fence about visiting the Vallée de Mai, let these additional images from our trip be the final nudge you need:







The park looks amazing. We will be visiting Praslin next summer and I’m looking to set up some tours. Do you accompany guests as tour guides? We prefer small group or private tours so I’m looking for some advice.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Hi Caryn,
we could certainly organize a tour for your group. Just drop us a message at seytalessc@gmail.com with the details. 🙂
Regards,
Gaelle & Viktor