Praslin
Praslin is the honeymoon island for couples who want the Seychelles fantasy without total seclusion: Anse Lazio's granite boulders and gin-clear water open the show, and the prehistoric palms of the Vallée de Mai — home of the suggestive coco de mer — supply the only UNESCO site you can tour in flip-flops.
- Best forHoneymooners · Beach lovers · Luxury seekers
- In January26°C · 21 rainy days · sea 29°C
- Ideal stayA week
- Approx. flying time~20h 25m from Los Angeles
- CurrencySCRSeychellois rupee
- LanguageSeychellois Creole, English and French
- Local time15:103h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType GUK plugs fit
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+248
Why go
The second largest of the Seychelles is a granite island of steep forested ridges, small bays and boulders worn smooth by the sea. Beaches are the main event, but so is the interior: the Vallée de Mai holds a remnant palm forest that has changed little in millennia, dark, humid and loud with birds. Everything sits close together, and the island can be driven end to end in under an hour.
A week split between Praslin and one of its neighbours is the usual shape, with La Digue twenty minutes away by ferry and Mahé an hour by boat or fifteen minutes by light aircraft. Prices are high across the board and there is no cheap season, though April, May, October and November bring the calmest water between the two monsoons. Nightlife barely exists. Anyone needing bustle will be bored by day three.
- Ideal stay
- A week
- The vibe
- Granite, glassy water, unhurried
From our guides
Take the ferry to La Digue for a day of bicycles and empty coves. April, May, October and November bring the calmest seas and kindest prices.
Featured in Ten dreamy honeymoon islands worth the long flight
Things to do
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Anse Lazio
A wide north-western bay with pale sand, granite boulders at either end and shallow, clear water. Best in the morning before the boat trips arrive.
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Vallée de Mai
A UNESCO listed palm forest and the natural home of the coco de mer, whose seed is the largest of any plant. Flat shaded paths, black parrots overhead.
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Anse Georgette
A smaller, quieter beach on the north-west corner, reached through resort land or by boat. Access can need arranging in advance.
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La Digue by ferry
Bicycles, ox carts and the boulders of Anse Source d'Argent, all doable as a long day trip from Praslin's jetty.
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Curieuse island
A short boat ride north, with free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises, mangrove boardwalks and a former leprosarium kept as a small museum.
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Creole cooking
Grilled fish, breadfruit, octopus curry and chilli chutney, eaten at simple takeaways as much as in hotel dining rooms.
Getting there
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Fly to
Praslin Island (PRI)
The airport is on the doorstep.
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Then
To Praslin
International flights land at Mahé (SEZ); from there it is a fifteen-minute domestic hop to Praslin (PRI) or about an hour on the fast catamaran, then ten to twenty minutes by taxi to your hotel.
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On the ground
Getting around
One main road crosses the island past the Vallée de Mai to Anse Lazio, covered by a cheap bus, taxis or a small hire car; ferries to La Digue leave from Baie Sainte Anne.
Public transport: A public bus circles the island through the day, which many visitors find perfectly adequate.
Flights
Los Angeles Praslin, Seychelles
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Roughly 20h 25m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 25°C in August to 27°C in April. Wettest in December, with rain on about 25 days. The sea is warmest in April at around 31°C, coolest at 27°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
January26° · rain 21 days · sea 29°Warm and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Small luxury resorts, mid-range hotels and a large stock of licensed guesthouses and self-catering flats. Nothing is high-rise, and self-catering is the way to beat Seychelles restaurant prices.
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Best base overall
Côte d'Or at Anse Volbert
The island's main beach strip, with the widest choice of hotels, a few independent restaurants and calm swimming. It is the busiest stretch on Praslin, which here still means quiet.
Find stays in Côte d'Or at Anse Volbert -
Best for couples
Anse Lazio and Anse Possession
The north-west, near the famous granite beach, with a handful of small hotels and villas. Secluded and lovely, though you drive for dinner and taxis are expensive.
Find stays in Anse Lazio and Anse Possession -
Best value
Grand Anse and Baie Sainte Anne
The south coast, with guesthouses and self-catering flats at a fraction of resort rates, near the ferry jetty. Seaweed builds up seasonally on Grand Anse, so check the season.
Find stays in Grand Anse and Baie Sainte Anne -
Quietest
La Digue
A short ferry away, where bicycles outnumber cars and Anse Source d'Argent draws the photographers. Guesthouses rather than resorts, and everything shuts early.
Find stays in La Digue
Worth knowing before you book: April, May, October and November are calmest and best value. Book the inter-island ferry when you book the room, as sailings are limited and fill in peak weeks.
Search everything else in Praslin by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- International flights land on Mahé. From there a fast catamaran takes about an hour, or a light aircraft fifteen minutes; both fill in peak weeks.
- Cash or card
- The Seychellois rupee is the local currency and cards work at hotels, but small shops, buses and takeaways want cash.
- Coco de mer
- Buying a nut requires an official permit and export tag. Never take one without the documentation.
- Pack this
- Reef-safe sun cream, a rash vest and repellent for the evenings. The sun here is equatorial and unforgiving.
- Hire cars
- Vehicles on the island are limited in number and often sell out. Book one before arriving or plan around the local bus.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Praslin?
Daytime highs run from about 25°C in August to 27°C in April. Wettest in December, with rain on about 25 days. The sea is warmest in April at around 31°C, coolest at 27°C.
How long should I spend in Praslin?
Our suggestion: a week.
How do I get to Praslin?
International flights land at Mahé (SEZ); from there it is a fifteen-minute domestic hop to Praslin (PRI) or about an hour on the fast catamaran, then ten to twenty minutes by taxi to your hotel.
Do I need a car in Praslin?
No. A public bus circles the island through the day, which many visitors find perfectly adequate.
What currency and language are used in Praslin?
Currency: Seychellois rupee (SCR). Language: Seychellois Creole, English and French. Plugs: type G.
Who is Praslin best for?
Best for honeymooners, beach lovers and luxury seekers. In a phrase: granite, glassy water, unhurried.