Praslin Island is a top Seychelles vacation destination, boasting what many claim to be the most idyllic beaches in the world. That's saying quite a bit, but should you take a Praslin vacation, you'll understand why visitors fall in love with the sandy stretches here. As beautiful and enticing as the beaches are on Praslin Island, you could surely spend your entire Praslin vacation scuba diving, snorkeling, and soaking up the sun. However, no Praslin vacation would be complete without a trek through the famed Vallee de Mai, which is a slice of virgin forest that UNESCO saw fit to deem a World Heritage Site. Together with the main Seychelles island of Mahe, and the Silhoutte Islands, Praslin Island is a hub for Seychelles travel and tourism, and many a Seychelles vacation package includes spending time here. You can bet that it will be time well spent, and like so many before you, you will probably find it difficult to leave.

Praslin Island is found just north-east of the main Seychelles island of Mahe, and visitors to Praslin can get here from Mahe by way of both plane and boat. This one-time hideout for Arab merchants and pirates has managed to remain overly underdeveloped, with only some 5,000-6,000 people living on it. At just 7 miles long and 3 miles wide, Praslin is hardly a large island, though it is the second-largest in the Seychelles archipelago. There are some nice Praslin hotels and resorts to choose from, and Praslin tourism provides employment for many of the island's residents. Those not working in the tourism sector most likely earn a living fishing. Praslin Island residents live in small villages that are spread about the island, with the village of Baie Ste Anne being one of two places where you can find a Praslin travel information office. The other tourist office on Praslin Island is found at the airport. The village of Grand Anse is where the bulk of the Praslin travel agencies can be found, and it's also home to some banks and a post office.

As mentioned before, the Praslin beaches are about as good as beaches get. The whole island is encircled by a soft, white sand shoreline that gives way to breathtakingly beautiful, blue-green waters. Many, if not most, of the Praslin beaches are quite secluded, so if you are planning a Seychelles honeymoon, they are ideal for romantic escapades. Stunning coral reefs can be found not far offshore at Praslin Island, so scuba diving and snorkeling are generally top Praslin vacation pursuits. One of the granitic islands of Seychelles, Praslin boasts a mountain ridge that runs down the center of the island, and large granite boulders are common on the beaches. Anse Lazio is probably the best-known Praslin beach, and it's commonly named among the best beaches in the Seychelles, but it's hard to find fault with any of the beaches here, really. When you're not exploring the coral reefs or sunning among swaying palms during your Praslin vacation, you might look into the island's other interesting attractions.

Seychelles Map

The Vallee de Mai is the top Praslin attraction, and it is where you will find the rare Coco de Mer palm tree. Native to only a few places, including Praslin Island and Curiese Island in the Seychelles, the Coco de Mer palm produces the world's largest nut, which tops out at around 40 lbs. Besides the rare Coco de Mer palm, the Vallee de Mai is also home to some of the rarest birds on the planet, among them the black parrot. There are 3 main trails that wind through the Vallee de Mai, and they provide hours of fun trekking and birdwatching. On the cultural side of Praslin attractions, the George Camille Art Gallery is worth dropping in on if you have the time. Camille has had his Creole-style art exhibited in such cities as Paris and London, and you can pick up quite a souvenir or gift at his Praslin gallery. When that shopping bug hits, your Praslin travel agenda can also see you hitting the island's Black Pearl LTD farm. When day gives way to night, the Praslin nightlife heats up, but all in all, nightlife is not a Praslin tourism staple. The villages of Baie Ste Anne and Grand Anse have the liveliest nightlife scenes on Praslin Island, so you might head to one or the other if going out on the town is on your list of things to do.

Praslin Island Seychelles can surely remedy any stress that you might have, and you could hardly regret spending at least a few days here. You can make your way about the island by bicycle, or you could rent a car if you fancy the idea of heading out and about on your own. Buses are also a good way to get around during your Praslin vacation, and taxis are also available. Highly-recommended trips by boat to nearby islands like Aride Island, Curiese Island, La Digue, and Cousin Island can generally be arranged at the Praslin hotels, and many Seychelles vacation packages will include such destinations in their Praslin travel itineraries.