Praslin or La Digue: which Seychelles island to choose for a holiday

Praslin and La Digue are among the three largest inhabited islands of Seychelles, second only to the main island of Mahé. Tourists who want to avoid the bustle of the capital island usually choose between Praslin and La Digue. What are the features of these islands and which one is right for your holiday? We will compare the two islands and talk about the features of staying on each of them.

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Praslin - a large protected island in Seychelles

Praslin is the second largest island of Seychelles. Here you will see the unique flora and fauna of untouched tropics, stunning beaches, and secluded hotels. Its main highlight is the Vallée de Mai reserve with its famous palm forest. This is where Coco de Mer palms grow with their huge nut fruits - one of the calling cards of the archipelago.

Location: 40 kilometers northeast of Mahé.

This is a granite island in the group of the archipelago's inner islands, bordered by a reef. The highest point is at an altitude of 367 meters. A true tropical paradise with bright greenery, rocky coasts, white beaches, and turquoise bays. The island of granite hills is divided by a ridge into eastern and western parts. Praslin has preserved its ancient ecosystem, which is already several million years old.

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La Digue - a quiet island for a peaceful holiday

A place where you can feel all the authenticity of Seychelles. La Digue is the third largest island of the archipelago, and it is quite small. About 3 thousand people live on the island, and their main sources of income are fishing, agriculture, and tourism.

Location: about 45 km from Mahé.

La Digue has preserved the natural charm of Seychelles. You will hardly find transport and entertainment here. The main means of transport are bicycles and ox carts. This quietness gives the island a special atmosphere of seclusion and exotic charm. The landscape impresses with unique beaches surrounded by granite boulders, hills covered with coconut palms, and exotic trees.

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Infrastructure: what Praslin and La Digue have

Praslin. The island consists of two districts: Baie Sainte Anne and Grand'Anse. They are divided diagonally by a road that runs from northwest to southeast. The main towns are Baie Sainte Anne, Anse Volbert, and Grand'Anse. The population is more than 6,500 residents. There is road infrastructure on the island, and boats are easy to find at the Baie Sainte Anne pier and even in every village.

Praslin has the Iles des Palmes airport, which is located in Grand'Anse on the western coast of the island. However, it accepts only domestic flights. You can fly to Praslin from Mahé by buying tickets for Air Seychelles flights.

La Digue. The island's main residential area is La Réunion, where the main infrastructure facilities are concentrated: shops, restaurants, banks, and bicycle rental points. In the north of the island there are two more villages: La Passe and L'Union. In these settlements you can see traditional Creole houses and feel the calm pace of local life. A tourist information office is open in La Passe for visitors.

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Transport: how to get around the islands

Praslin. Two main roads run from east to west, connecting all the main points. There is public transport on the island, you can use taxi services or rent a car.

• Car rental. There are several rental points on Praslin and only two gas stations: one in the port of Baie Sainte Anne and the other in Grand'Anse. Traffic on the island is left-hand. The condition of the roads is average, and there are very few signs. Be careful not to run over land crabs crossing the road day and night.
• Bicycle rental: Praslin is not large and traffic is not intense, so renting a bicycle is in trend. Please note: the elevation changes are significant and not always easy to overcome in the heat! Hotels often offer bicycles or bikes for rent.
• Public transport. There is a bus network on the island that allows you to reach most places. As a rule, these are old vehicles of the Indian Tata brand. Buses remain the most affordable way to get around the island.
• Boat. This is a good way to explore the surroundings of the island. Most sea excursions depart from the Anse Volbert and Baie Sainte Anne areas.

La Digue. This is an environmentally friendly island where there are practically no cars. The government decided not to develop the use of cars and scooters here. The following options are available for tourists:

• Bicycles. They can be rented at hotels, but pay attention to their condition, as they can sometimes be very old.
• Taxi. On La Digue this is rare. There are only about 30 cars on the island.
• Electric transport. Many hotels provide guests with transport resembling golf carts. These electric carts meet you at the port and take you together with your luggage to the hotel.
• Ox carts. Once they were the main kind of transport on the island. Now they are used for tourist rides and attract attention as a kind of attraction.

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Praslin or La Digue: which island to choose

Pay attention to several characteristics of the islands to finally decide on your holiday.

Beaches of Praslin and La Digue: where it is better to relax on the coast

• Praslin. A green island with an incredible number of beautiful coasts and natural places. Anse Lazio is located in the northwestern part of the island and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the most picturesque beaches in the world. Anse Georgette is a paradise coast in the northwest of Praslin. A snow-white beach with blue waters surrounded by jungle. The tourist area of Anse Volbert has the picturesque Côte d'Or coast. This is a wonderful place for long walks and incredible sunset photos.
• La Digue. The real treasures of La Digue are its wonderful white-sand beaches. On the eastern side of the island there can be strong currents: pay attention to warning signs placed on some beaches. One of the most photographed beaches in the world, Anse Source d'Argent, is located on La Digue. Many of the island's bays are protected by coral reefs, which makes the island's beaches ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

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What to see on the islands

Praslin. First of all, this is the amazing Vallée de Mai reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where unique Coco de Mer palms grow, reaching a height of 40 meters. Giant nuts weighing up to 25 kilograms are a symbol of Seychelles. Besides it, it is worth visiting:

• Fond Ferdinand reserve. It is located in the south of the island and can be visited as part of an excursion or independently.
• Curieuse Island. A small island near the northern coast of Praslin, which is part of the marine park. Its coasts are decorated with ancient rocks, and on its white beaches you can meet giant tortoises. The history of this hermit island will also be no less interesting.
• Sainte Anne Bay - this is not only the main port of Praslin, but also a picturesque place with beautiful beaches.
• Island Coco Enterprises coconut oil factory. A tour of the production and sale of natural oil.
• Lemuria golf course. Enjoy a game against the stunning scenery of the Indian Ocean.

La Digue. Be sure to visit the former coconut and vanilla plantation Union Estate, where you can see the process of growing and pollinating vanilla by hand, as well as the process of making coconut oil at the old ox-powered mill. The finished oil can be bought right there. Union Estate is also home to giant Aldabra tortoises living in an enclosure, which will be a great photo opportunity. And also:

• Eagle's Nest. In the east of La Digue there is the Nid d'Aigle peak (Eagle's Nest) with a height of 333 meters, which is the highest point of the island.
• A walk around La Passe port. A charming place with the main street lined with kiosks with food, drinks, and souvenirs. Colonial houses typical of Seychelles architecture add a special charm.
• La Veuve reserve in the south of the island, created to protect rare birds.
• La Digue is surrounded by amazing islets such as Cocos, Grand Soeur, and Félicité, which are worth attention. You can go on a cruise that includes visiting these islands.

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How to get to the islands

Praslin. You can get to the island in two ways:

• By plane. A domestic flight from Mahé to Praslin takes only 15 minutes.
• By ferry. High-speed ferries run between Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. The Mahé-Praslin ferry ride lasts about 50 minutes.

La Digue. Cat Cocos ferries cover the distance from the main island to La Digue in about 1 hour 10 minutes. The ticket price is about 60 euros one way. The trip from Praslin to La Digue takes only 15-20 minutes by boat. The fare is about 15 euros one way. Most often tourists use Cat Cocos services.

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Where to stay: accommodation choice on Praslin and La Digue

Praslin. Hotels are mostly located on the eastern and western coasts of the island. You can rent accommodation mainly in Anse Volbert, Baie Sainte Anne, and Grand'Anse. Praslin has a rich choice of hotels and guest houses. One of the most prestigious hotels in Seychelles is located here - the five-star Constance Lemuria Resort, with its own 18-hole golf course. In high season, from May to October, it is better to book accommodation in advance.

La Digue. The island offers accommodation for every taste, from cozy guesthouses to comfortable hotels and villas, many of which are located on the western coast in the La Passe area.

Constance Lemuria Resort

Choose Praslin if you:

• prefer trips by car;
• plan active excursions;
• need a large choice of hotels;
• love nature and trekking.

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La Digue is suitable if you are looking for:

• a romantic holiday in a secluded atmosphere;
• bicycle rides;
• the famous beaches of Seychelles.

Regardless of your choice, both islands will delight you with Seychelles scenery, beautiful beaches, comfortable hotels, and incredible places to explore! Praslin and La Digue are equally popular tourist destinations of Seychelles.

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