Praslin Island

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the valley contains a prehistoric forest that contains 4,000 examples of the giant coco de mer fruit palm (unique to Seychelles), vanilla orchids, palmiste, latanier, splayed traveller's palm and Chinese fans. The trees form an overhead canopy, and large prehistoric boulders are strewn over the forest floor.The valley is home to many species of lizards and rare birds such as the Seychelles bulbul, fruit pigeon and the national bird of Seychelles, the black parrot. A nature trail is marked and rated an Easy hike. It takes from 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on your route.

A nature reserve established in 1968 for the Seychelles warbler and the hawksbill turtle, it is now administered by the International Council for Bird Preservation and the Royal Society for Nature Conservation. Birdwatchers can walk trails near the breeding grounds of a bird population of 500,000. These include brush warblers, magpie robins, white-tailed tropic birds, Seychelles Foxy, the Seychelles Turtle Dove, the White-faced Tropic bird, the Wedge-tailed Shearwater, the beautiful Fairy Tern, noddies, Bridled Terns and the Seychelles Brush Warbler.

A Special Reserve of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation for seabird breeding, Aride is home to 10 breeding species, including Frigate birds, Red-tailed Tropic birds and the world's largest colonies of Lesser Noddy and Roseate Terns.Sightseers will find the highest density of lizards anywhere on earth, as well as several endemic species of flowers. Wright's Gardenia, or bois citron, is unique to this island.

This 3 sq.km/1 sq.mi islet features a Marine National Park that is home to a breeding program for giant tortoises. The ruins of a leprosarium stand on the south shore, and the doctor's house is a preserved national monument. Most of the island is covered with takamaka and casuarina trees, which shade the white sand beaches.

This trail is rated Easy and can be travelled by foot or by bicycle. It passes French colonial era houses, woodlands and a marsh to reach the Grand Anse beach. The return leads through small hamlets and nesting grounds of the Black Paradise Flycatcher bird.

Nine ha/22.2 ac Marine Park that can be hiked across in 45 minutes. The park contains species of endemic Seychelles flora, including coco de mer, bwa de fer, the dragon tree and Wright's gardenia. Giant land tortoises inhabit the island, and there are snorkelling sites along the shore.

A small village surrounded by tea plantations and coconut groves. The houses have old-fashioned palm thatch roofs, and the harbor docks receive ferries from Mahé and La Digue.

Located on the north shore of Praslin, this white sand beach features rounded granite boulders and clear water. The shallow east end is protected by coral reef and provides swimming and snorkelling opportunities.

One of the two main settlements on Praslin, this simple village provides visitors with a view of typical undeveloped tropical life. Fishing and small farms are the mainstays.

Rock climbing sites are en route from Baire Ste Anne over the hill to Anse Marie-Louise behind Anse Kerlan road at Pointe Ste Marie. Cliff climbers should go to Anse Possession, Anse Citron, and between Anse Government and Anse Matelot.

This beach is the spot at which the French laid their original "stone of possession" to mark their claim to Seychelles.

A large white sand swimming beach, with warm shallow water protected by coral reefs.