Praslin is one of the larger Seychelles’ islands which also has 7% of the area’s population – approximately 9,000 residents. It is also one of the most visited islands and has at least a dozen resorts.
If I had researched this island before my visit, I might have reacted a bit negatively – too close to the main island of Mahè, “too many” people, etc. Happily I did not and what I discovered first hand is an island of jaw-dropping exquisiteness, most of this due to the excellence of our guides and experts. Not only that, but the topographical and geographical divergence took my breath away. I want to take this island recap slowly so you can take it all in.
BEACHES : ANSE LAZIO AND ANSE VOLBERT
While “Anse” is the French word that translates to “cove” or “small bay” the word is often used as a name for a beach in French-speaking and Creole-speaking places like the Seychelles.
Praslin beaches are world-known for their non-pareil beauty. Anse Lazio and Anse Volbert rank among the world’s most stunning stretches of sand.
- Anse Lazio: Located on the northwest coast, this beach is celebrated for its powdery white sand, crystal-clear waters and weathered granite .
- Anse Volbert (also known as as Côte d’or Beach): Primarily a long, open stretch of sand.
What is most unique about these beaches are the boulders – massive, immense, towering, imposing, hulking, monolithic – none of these descriptors can prepare one for their visual impact against the smooth flat beaches. Let’s briefly revisit where these boulders came from.
Remember my posts about Gonwanda? It was an ancient supercontinent that dominated the Southern Hemisphere from roughly 550 to 180 million years ago:
These boulders are remnants of the supercontinent Gondwana. The rocks isolated when India drifted away from Africa. Their distinctive smooth contoured appearance is a result of intense tropical rains, ocean waves and freshwater runoff for millions of years.
Praslin is not just about gorgeous flat white sand beaches with massive boulders – it has another, completely opposite but no less stunning side. – more in next week’s post.
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