The second largest island of Seychelles, Praslin, is home to sheltered valleys, ancient palm forests, glorious beaches of soft white sand and the Valee de Mai - a designated World Heritage Site. The pace of life on this dreamy island is very leisurely and although public transport does exist, car, bicycle and foot are probably the best methods for island exploration. The Air Seychelles flight from Mahe takes 15 minutes whereas aspirant seafarers have an option of a fast catamaran ferry or a more relaxed paced schooner to get to Baie Ste Anne on Praslin.
Notable highlights of Praslin include the pretty village of Baie Ste Anne - one of the island's "capitals" and your first sight of the island if you arrive by boat. The Cote d'Or, also known as Anse Volbert is the island's main tourism centre, which hosts safe swimming beaches ideal for snorkelling. A myriad of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, boat operators and souvenir shops make Cote d'Or relatively vibey and busy by Seychelles standards. Other destinations for exploration include Grand Anse, the largest village on Praslin, the Valee de Mai, a primeval forest and one of the Seychelles greatest natural treasures, as well as Curieuse Island ("The Red Island"), just off the north coast of Praslin in the centre of a Marine National Park.
