Praslin strikes the perfect balance
Most visitors to Seychelles set foot on Praslin at some point – and for good reason!
The tropical island offers the beauty and tranquillity of the much smaller La Digue without the relative “bustle” of Mahé – all while striking a perfect balance between long stretches of stunning (undeveloped!) beaches and luxury of the highest order.
You can definitely visit Praslin while staying on a budget, but it’s not for nothing that Praslin is known as Seychelles’ best honeymoon island. The romantic places to stay here are simply unmatched.
So: kick back and enjoy life at its finest on Praslin’s powdery white sands, surrounded by that crystal-clear water and the island’s biodiverse, lush interior.
Oh, how we dream of going back.
In this travel guide to where to stay on Praslin, we’ll introduce the island’s main areas and help you choose the right base for your trip.
We’ll then share our recommendations for the best luxury hotels on Praslin, excellent-value stays and a few budget-friendly options.
Where to stay on Praslin:
- Budget: Exotic Guest House – Right next to Anse Volbert, with a spectacular view (and a kitchen).
- Value for money: Acajou Beach Resort – Best all-round resort on Praslin.
- Luxury: Le Chateau de Feuilles – Exclusive boho vibes and plenty of privacy.
- Ultra-luxury: Six Senses Zil Pasyon – One of the world’s best (and most expensive) resorts.
Search for the best hotels on Praslin.
Table of contents
Praslin map and geography
Praslin is the second-largest granitic island in Seychelles at 38.5 km² (compared to Mahé’s 157 km² and La Digue at just 10 km²).
Praslin’s main road runs along the perimeter of the island. Only the stretch between Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio in the north is without a road. A “shortcut” goes across the island, right next to the Vallée de Mai.
Around 7,500 people live on Praslin. Its highest point is 367 metres above sea level.
Everything you need to know about Praslin Island in Seychelles including what to do, when to visit, where to eat and where to stay
Read moreHow long to stay on Praslin
Most travellers spend three to four nights on Praslin.
This gives you enough time to visit the highlights, while still enjoying a relaxed day at the beach.
Two nights can work if you’re short on time and mainly want to see the island’s top attractions. However, we think it might feel a little rushed, particularly once you count travel time.
Consider staying five nights or longer if you prefer slow-paced holidays, want plenty of beach time or plan to take a day trip to Curieuse Island. A longer stay also gives you more flexibility if the weather affects your plans.
The best area to stay in on Praslin
You can’t really drive for more than an hour on Praslin, so wherever you’re based, it’s pretty easy to get around the island.
But which area of Praslin is the best? Well, the three main areas to stay in on Praslin are:
- Grand Anse: Where the airport is.
- Baie Sainte Anne: Praslin’s ferry harbour.
- Anse Volbert (Côte d’Or): A popular place to stay for tourists.
Staying in Anse Volbert (Côte d’Or)
Anse Volbert (Côte d’Or) is where most visitors choose to stay, and you’ll find a good selection of some of the best hotels on Praslin.
Here you’ll be able to step straight out onto a long, wide, white sandy beach with shallow waters perfect for swimming and for families with children.
Being so long, the beach doesn’t get crowded and you’ll easily be able to find your own spot in the soft sand.
The best hotels and resorts on Anse Volbert (Côte d’Or):
- Acajou Beach Resort – Where we first stayed on Praslin. The island’s best all-round resort.
- Les Lauriers Eco Hotel – Luxury at a fraction of the cost of some of the island’s more expensive options.
- Exotic Guest House – Best budget stay on Anse Volbert.
Secluded hotels and resorts on Praslin
If you want to stay at a more private location for your honeymoon or romantic trip, consider staying at Praslin’s northern or southern end.
You could even stay on your own private island!
The best secluded hotels and resorts on Praslin:
- Constance Lemuria – Direct access to the gorgeous Anse Georgette and two private beaches.
- Le Chateau de Feuilles – Exclusive boho villas at Praslin’s southern tip.
- Black Parrot Suites – The adults-only luxury version of Coco de Mer Hotel.
- Chauve Souris Relais – Stay on a private island!
- Six Senses Zil Pasyon – Located on nearby Félicité Island, Six Senses Zil Pasyon is one of the best (and most expensive) resorts in the world.
Plan a Seychelles honeymoon across Mahé, Praslin and La Digue with all of our tips
Read moreThe best hotels on Praslin
Some of the most luxurious hotels on Praslin are among the best in Seychelles, so you can definitely splurge here if you’re looking for that romantic holiday of a lifetime.
Budget options are also available, and we’ve tried our best to give you recommendations across the board here.
To help you decide where to stay on Praslin, we’ve grouped the hotels below by budget.
Search for the best hotels on Praslin here (adlink).
Best 5-star luxury resorts on Praslin
Not only is Praslin home to some of the world’s finest beaches, but the Seychellois island is also home to some of the finest luxury resorts.
Here are the best luxury hotels on Praslin:
- Constance Lemuria – Huge golf course, two private beaches and direct access to Anse Georgette (our favourite beach on Praslin).
- Raffles Seychelles – Great value luxury villas.
- Le Chateau de Feuilles – A resort you won’t want to leave.
- Six Senses Zil Pasyon – Located on nearby Félicité Island, this is one of the world’s best (and most expensive) resorts.
Constance Lemuria
You have to actually go through Constance Lemuria to get to the exquisite Anse Georgette beach, so we can only imagine how luxurious it must feel to be able to just walk down there from your room.
There’s a huge golf course here, and apart from direct access to Anse Georgette, the resort also provides access to two additional private beaches that look nothing short of stunning.
Check prices and availability at Constance Lemuria (adlink).
Raffles Seychelles
Raffles has a direct view over to Curieuse Island – and Anse Lazio is not far away, either.
As far as we could tell, the villas here are some of the largest for their price on Praslin.
Check prices and availability at Raffles Seychelles (adlink).
Le Chateau de Feuilles
The design, style and architecture of Le Chateau de Feuilles are somewhat different from what we’ve seen at other luxury hotels in Seychelles.
It’s more of a boho vibe, yet still very much exclusive-looking. There are also just 7 rooms.
Though close to Baie Sainte Anne, the resort’s location is very private – but why ever leave when you’ve got that view?
Check prices and availability at Le Chateau de Feuilles (adlink).
Six Senses Zil Pasyon
Even though it’s not technically on Praslin, it would be a shame not to mention Six Senses Zil Pasyon.
The resort, on nearby Félicité Island, is considered one of the best in the world (and also one of the most expensive).
Staying here for just one night costs more than most people make in a month – or even a year.
But if you have that kind of money to spend, this is where you would want to do so.
Check prices and availability at Six Senses Zil Pasyon (adlink).
Our recommendations for five-star beach resorts on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue + private-island pool villas.
Read moreBest value-for-money hotels on Praslin
These hotels offer an excellent balance of comfort, location and price, making them great choices for travellers who want to get the most for their money.
Here are the best value-for-money hotels on Praslin:
- Acajou Beach Resort – Where we stayed on Anse Volbert.
- Coco de Mer Hotel – Very private (and popular!). The second resort we stayed at on Praslin.
- Black Parrot Suites – The adults-only version of Coco de Mer Hotel.
- Chauve Souris Relais – Stay on a private island.
- Le Chevalier Bay Guesthouse – Unique location on the epic Anse Lazio.
- Les Lauriers Eco Hotel – Luxury at a fraction of the cost of some of the island’s more expensive options.
Acajou Beach Resort
Acajou Beach Resort is smack in the middle of the stunning Anse Volbert beach.
While this part of Praslin is one of the few that have been just minimally commercially developed, it still feels very wild around these parts.
There aren’t many big hotels on Anse Volbert, and most of the time all you can see are palm trees and that mesmerising ocean.
The hotel itself is lovely. The rooms at Acajou Beach Resort are spacious and include all of the amenities you might need – there’s a pool and a gym, and everyone working here is just super friendly.
Both breakfast and dinner are served buffet style in the restaurant, and the quality of the food is high. Dinner changes theme nightly.
Because we eat a plant-based diet, we ended up talking a lot with the head chef, who helped prepare some special meals for us. Top-class service!
Check prices and availability at Acajou Beach Resort (adlink).
Coco de Mer Hotel
Coco de Mer Hotel is located at Praslin’s kind of remote southern end. This makes it the perfect hideaway for couples looking for some privacy.
As the hotel faces west, there’s good potential here for some jaw-dropping sunsets.
There are two pools at Coco de Mer – one of which is overwater on the “ship” in front of the hotel.
It’s also possible to swim from the private beach (which is quite tide-dependent). Snorkelling is supposedly amazing.
The vibe at Coco de Mer is formal and professional yet elegantly relaxed. All of the rooms are stylishly decorated and include free wifi, A/C, European electrical plugs and all those other things that are nice to have.
Both breakfast and dinner are served in the restaurant as buffets with quality ingredients. Make sure to come early if you want a table overlooking the water!
All in all, Coco de Mer is a great place to stay on Praslin. It’s also (justifiably) very popular, so this is one of those places you probably have to book far in advance.
Check prices and availability at Coco de Mer Hotel (adlink).
Black Parrot Suites
Black Parrot Suites is the extra-luxury version of Coco de Mer.
Located just steps away from each other (and run by the same people), the two are still separate hotels – the main difference being that Black Parrot Suites is adults-only.
The amazing pool here is only for the guests of Black Parrot Suites, and from the looks of it, this is the perfect place to stay if you basically just want to shuttle between your room and the pool.
Black Parrot Suites is on top of a granite hill and has also managed to incorporate the stones into its architecture in a very impressive way.
The views from up here are naturally spectacular.
Check prices and availability at Black Parrot Suites (adlink).
Chauve Souris Relais
Who wouldn’t want to stay on their own private island?!
On the way to Curieuse Island, we sailed past Chauve Souris Relais and couldn’t stop talking about how cool it must be to stay out there.
It doesn’t even look as expensive as we would have thought.
Check prices and availability at Chauve Souris Relais (adlink).
Le Chevalier Bay Guesthouse
Le Chevalier Bay Guesthouse is uniquely located on Anse Lazio – the beach often touted as one of the most beautiful in the world.
Rooms aren’t huge here and you do pay for the privilege of the location – but if Anse Lazio is one of the top reasons you wish to visit Praslin, it just might be worth it.
Check prices and availability at Le Chevalier Bay Guesthouse (adlink).
Les Lauriers Eco Hotel
We love the natural materials and attention to detail that have gone into building Les Lauriers Eco Hotel.
You essentially get what looks like a luxury hotel for a fraction of the cost. It’s still not cheap, but Les Lauriers Eco Hotel is a great option for a romantic hotel on Praslin.
Just like Acajou, Les Lauriers has direct access to the long, amazing Anse Volbert beach.
Check prices and availability at Les Lauriers Eco Hotel (adlink).
Best budget hotels on Praslin
Thankfully, staying on Praslin doesn’t have to break the bank, as there are quite a few affordable places to stay on the island.
Here are some of the best budget hotels on Praslin:
- Exotic Guest House – Fantastic views over Anse Volbert bay, plus a kitchen.
- Hotel Plein Soleil – Value for money with a pool.
- La Residence D’Almee Guesthouse – Comfortable stay near the port.
Exotic Guest House
Exotic Guest House is right next to Anse Volbert.
For the price, you not only get a spectacular view over the bay but also access to a (simple) kitchen where you can save some money by cooking your own meals.
Check prices and availability at Exotic Guest House (adlink).
Hotel Plein Soleil
The rooms at Hotel Plein Soleil aren’t huge, but you get direct access to a pool for a price that’s hard to beat.
The rooms look modern and include A/C, free wifi and a private bathroom.
Check prices and availability at Hotel Plein Soleil (adlink).
La Residence D’Almee Guesthouse
If you want to stay comfortably and rather cheaply near the port, La Residence D’Almee Guesthouse is a solid bet.
The rooms look clean and also include a fridge, kettle and microwave.
Check prices and availability at La Residence D’Almee Guesthouse (adlink).
A practical guide to affordable accommodation, food, transport, activities and island-hopping in Seychelles.
Read moreThe best things to do on Praslin
There is so much to do on Praslin!
For all of the best beaches and activities on the island, check out our full Praslin travel guide with the best things to do and most beautiful beaches.
Everything you need to know about Praslin Island in Seychelles including what to do, when to visit, where to eat and where to stay
Read moreHow to get around Praslin
Rent a car
One of the best ways to see Praslin is surely to rent a car.
We only rented a car ourselves on Mahé but can definitely attest to the flexibility it provided there. Being able to stop anywhere for a quick photo or swim is just the best.
Driving around Praslin ourselves would have been amazing.
There aren’t many rental cars on Praslin, so reserving your car in advance is a really good idea.
Be aware that they drive on the left in Seychelles. Many rental cars are automatic.
Private transport
A popular way to get around Praslin is by private transport.
The drivers of the cars and minivans (which are essentially taxis) work independently, and as far as we could tell, the fares were fixed.
We used Golden Transportation, run by Mike and Jeannie, and can easily recommend them. You can contact them by WhatsApp on +248 2 619 441.
Public transport
Buses run on Praslin.
There are three routes that basically cover all of the island’s roads.
You can’t go directly to Anse Georgette or Anse Lazio, but you can get pretty close.
Big suitcases are usually not allowed on buses.
You can see the latest timetables here.
Walking
Walking around Praslin is doable, but if you’re going far, we wouldn’t recommend it.
Unfortunately, the main road doesn’t have a pavement most of the time, so safety-wise it’s not great.
Renting a bike to go around the island also didn’t seem like a realistic option.
To get around Praslin, renting a car, taking a taxi or taking the bus are generally your best options.
How to get to Praslin
By ferry
Most people arrive on Praslin from Mahé by ferry. The crossing takes just over an hour.
The ferry drops you off at Baie Sainte Anne in the southeast of Praslin. This is also where you can catch the ferry to La Digue.
We took the ferry from Praslin to Mahé, and let’s just say that it wasn’t exactly pleasant…
Even though the weather was extra wild that day, we have heard that the sea is generally rough even on clearer days.
It’s important to say that we always felt safe. We also felt very sick from the rollercoaster ride.
By plane
The ferry is both cheaper and more environmentally friendly than flying with Air Seychelles between Mahé and Praslin, but if you’re prone to seasickness and have the funds, we could definitely see the argument for the plane winning out.
Flight time between Mahé and Praslin is around 15 minutes, and on the way, you’ll get scenic views of both islands and some of the smaller islands in between.
The planes are very small (with room for just about 15-20 people) – so that’s also an experience in itself.
When to visit Praslin
The weather on Praslin is very similar to the weather on Mahé and La Digue.
Seychelles is a year-round destination, but there are some seasonal weather variations which might be worth knowing about.
The sun almost always shines, and the temperatures consistently hover between 24°C at night and around 30°C in the day (it very rarely gets hotter than 32°C).
The best time to visit is generally considered the shoulder months of April to May and October to November, when the weather is at its best.
High season is July and August, plus Christmas and New Year in December and January. Autumn is also a popular time to visit.
The warmest months are March, April and May.
The sea breeze is at its strongest between May and September, which isn’t ideal for snorkelling or diving. The best visibility is found during April, May, October and November.
It rains all year (it’s the tropics, after all), but often just in short bursts. The average humidity is 80%.
The southeast trade wind picks up between May and September, while the northwest monsoon blows between November and March. In between, there’s almost no wind.
Praslin very rarely gets hit by tropical storms because the granitic islands lie outside the usual cyclone belt.
Tips for visiting Praslin
- There is free wifi in many hotels, but it’s usually not as fast as 4G.
- We can easily recommend buying a SIM card with data for internet access. We bought ours from Airtel. They have shops all over the country (including on Praslin).
- Downloading or carrying an offline map is a good idea, especially when hiking.
- The standard electrical plugs in Seychelles are type G (like in the UK). Many hotels have adapters, and some even have standard European plugs (type C) or USB chargers installed.
- Checking the tides is crucial for visiting many beaches and natural pools at their best.
- The tap water is drinkable (on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue as far as we could tell) but doesn’t taste good. Consider bringing a water filter or buying water in 5-litre containers to save money and plastic. A few hotels offer free water refills – including Coco de Mer Hotel (adlink).
- Bring euros or dollars to easily exchange for Seychellois rupees (SCR) once you’re in the country. There are many banks where you can exchange money (also on Praslin), but they might be closed at weekends, so check the opening hours.
- Credit cards are widely accepted in shops, hotels and restaurants, but some smaller businesses, such as takeaway shops, prefer cash.
- Bring a torch or at least a phone with a torch. If you come back from a hike late or leave the beach after sunset, it can come in handy as there aren’t streetlights everywhere.
Practical advice on entry requirements, island-hopping, costs, transport, beaches, safety and more
Read moreWhat to bring to Praslin
- Travel insurance (adlink). Never travel without it!
- A good camera – here’s a guide to the gear we use.
- Sunscreen (adlink).
- Hiking shoes.
- Swimwear and a towel.
- Water and snacks.
What camera, drone and accessories we use to capture life on the road
Read moreSustainable travel tips
A few ways to keep your impact down while you are there:
- Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle.
- Avoid single-use plastics, including straws.
- Dispose of waste properly. While putting your rubbish in the nearest bin is convenient, wrappers and other small items are easily taken by the wind and end up in the ocean.
- Check your sunscreen before going in the water. Many brands contain oxybenzone and other chemicals that are harmful to coral reefs.
- Take only photos, leave only footprints. Leave everything in its natural place.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
- Respect wildlife.
Thanks for reading our guide to the best hotels on Praslin
Thanks for reading our travel guide to where to stay on Praslin in Seychelles.
We hope it has helped you find the perfect area and place to stay for your trip, whether you’re looking for a budget place, a romantic honeymoon resort or one of the absolute best hotels on Praslin.
Make sure to also check out our ultimate travel guide to Seychelles with the best things to do, where to go and itinerary ideas.
What do you think about Praslin in Seychelles?
If you’ve been to Praslin (or any other place in Seychelles), it would be awesome to hear your best tips in the comments.
If you haven’t been yet, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything. We’re glad to offer tips and share our experiences.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for hotels and apartments.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- AirHelp for flight delay compensation.
- GetYourGuide for great tours everywhere.
- Airalo for reliable eSIM.
- Discover Cars for transparent car hire.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like True Traveller. Compared here.
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