PRASLIN ISLAND

The second largest inhabited island located about 30 miles north of Mahé. Praslin is about 7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide and consists of a granite, mountainous interior with flat, sandy plains around most of its coast. There are beaches scattered all around the island, the most prominent being Grand Anse and Anse Kerlan, Côte d'Or and several delightful beaches in secluded bays of their own scattered around the north coast, including beautiful Anse Lazio. Most of the hotels are on the prominent beaches, and most of the holiday facilities - dive centres, restaurants and excursion operators - are based on Côte d'Or. The inter-island ferry jetty is at Baie St. Anne.

Praslin has a relaxed and happy atmosphere, where the people are friendly and hospitable. Being surrounded by a number of granite islands, Praslin offers excellent sea activities and island excursions. These include the bird sanctuaries of Cousin Island - a half day excursion - and Aride with the greatest concentration of sea birds in the region; snorkelling at Grande Soeur Island (Sisters Islands) a short distance from Praslin among tame turtles and at Île de Cocos Reserve, little more than a rocky islet, but reputedly the best location in the region; and some of the best dive sites which include Marianne, Sisters, Aride and Trompeuse. There are organised excursions and boats that can be hired to take you there, which can include the provision of lunch or a barbecue on the beach.

Praslin is renowned for the Vallée de Mai, a world heritage site. It is an ancient palm forest - one of only two locations where the Coco de Mer grows naturally - sometimes said to be the remains of the Garden of Eden. The pelvic shaped nut and the male flower stem offers the most graphic illustration of the difference between a male and female plant and is the source of many legends. The palms grow to 40 meters in height and 200 years of age with leaves that are amongst the world's largest. The nut at 15 Kgs is the worlds largest seed The forest is also the home of the Seychelles Black Parrot, a rare endemic bird.

Anse Lazio, the best beach on Praslin and arguably the best in the world, is an idyllic tropical beach, well worth a relaxing day. There is no accommodation there but there are two beach restaurants. Alternatively, it is perfect for a picnic lunch.

There are several Padi dive schools, some based at hotels with independent operators on Côte D'Or, which offer some excellent diving excursions on the reefs and islands around.