Praslin & La Digue
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Praslin vs La Digue for beaches

Praslin and La Digue, neighbouring islands in Seychelles, offer different beach days. Praslin's beaches are spread around a larger island and mostly reached by road. La Digue's are closer together, several are reached by bike or on foot, and the most famous sits inside a paid estate. On both, which coast is calm depends on the season.

Updated 20 September 2026 · Last verified 16 September 2026

Seasons decide which coast to use

UK government travel advice (checked 16 September 2026) says west coasts in Seychelles are generally unsafe for swimming during the north-west monsoon, around December to March, and east coasts during the south-east winds, around May to September. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority adds that between June and September beaches facing south and south-east collect weed and are less pleasant, while sheltered west and north-west beaches are more comfortable. There are few lifeguards, so check local advice and warning signs.

The two islands' beaches, side by side:

Praslin La Digue
Best known Anse Lazio, north-west Anse Source d'Argent, south-west
Longest or busiest Anse Volbert and Côte d'Or, the main resort strip Anse Source d'Argent, among the busiest in Seychelles
Paid or arranged entry Anse Georgette: entry arranged with Constance Lemuria Anse Source d'Argent and Anse Pierrot: SCR 150 for foreign nationals
How you reach them Mostly car, bus or taxi Bike or on foot: L'Union Estate 15 min from the jetty, Grand Anse 40 min from the harbour
Calm or shallow water Petite Anse Kerlan, Anse Boudin, Anse La Farine (boat only, behind a reef) Anse Sévère, Anse Patates, Anse Pierrot (beach can disappear at high tide)
Deep or rough water Anse Lazio, large waves in the north-west monsoon Grand Anse and Petite Anse, deep with no reef; Petite Anse signposted unsafe for swimming
Reached on foot Anse Georgette, a trail of about an hour Anse Coco, from Grand Anse or Anse Fourmis; Anse Marron, guide advised

The beach descriptions are the tourism board's; the Anse Lazio wave note is a 2017 Seychelles News Agency report. Which side is calm still turns on the season.

Praslin

  • Anse Lazio, north-west: the tourism board's most famous beach on Praslin. A 2017 Seychelles News Agency report described it as half a kilometre long, with large waves in the north-west monsoon.
  • Anse Volbert and Côte d'Or, north coast: the island's longest and most popular beach and its main resort strip, suited to swimming and water sports.
  • Anse Georgette, west coast: the tourism board says entry must be arranged with Constance Lemuria, and its top beaches article also describes a trail of about an hour.
  • Petite Anse Kerlan, north-west: shallow, calm water with little seaweed, rated safe for families.
  • Anse Boudin, north-east: shallow water and facilities, facing Curieuse.
  • Anse La Farine, south-east: reached only by boat, with calm water behind a reef.

La Digue

  • Anse Source d'Argent, south-west: reached through L'Union Estate (SCR 150 for foreign nationals; L'Union Estate, checked 16 September 2026) and listed by the tourism board among the busiest beaches in Seychelles.
  • Anse Pierrot: about 1 km further south, shaded and shallow, but the beach can disappear at high tide.
  • Anse Sévère and Anse Patates, north: shallow or calm water with reef snorkelling, close to the road.
  • Grand Anse and Petite Anse, south-east: deep water with no reef; Petite Anse is signposted as unsafe for swimming.
  • Anse Coco, east: reached only on foot from Grand Anse or Anse Fourmis, more sheltered but with strong currents at times.
  • Anse Marron, southern tip: a sheltered pool, but the path is slippery and the tourism board advises booking a guide.

Access and cost

Most Praslin beaches are reached by car, bus or taxi. On La Digue, the tourism board gives Grand Anse as a 40-minute bike ride from the harbour, and L'Union Estate as a 15-minute ride from the jetty. Anse Source d'Argent and Anse Pierrot sit behind the estate's entrance fee.

Choose Praslin if…

  • You want a range of beaches you can drive between in one day.
  • You want Anse Lazio or Anse Georgette.
  • You want a family-rated beach such as Petite Anse Kerlan or Anse Boudin.

Choose La Digue if…

  • You want to cycle or walk to your beaches.
  • You want Anse Source d'Argent and its neighbours in the south-west.
  • You are happy to hike for Anse Coco or book a guide for Anse Marron.

More comparisons

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Stays you can book now

A spread of what is open and has a live, property-specific Booking.com link, from hotels to self-catering.

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  • Mountain View Hotel

    Hotel in Grand Anse, La Digue

    Mountain View Hotel is a ten-room hotel in the hills above Grand Anse on La Digue, reached by a steep access road. It has mountain views, a small outdoor pool, a restaurant and a bar, and SeyVillas puts Anse Source d'Argent about 2 km away.

    • Families
    • Pool
    More information
    Check availability on Booking.com

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  • Villas De Mer Hotel

    Hotel in Amitié, Praslin

    Villas De Mer Hotel is a family-run hotel of 12 rooms directly on Amitié beach on Praslin's south coast, a few minutes from Praslin airport. It has a pool and a beachside restaurant and bar, and looks towards Cousin and Cousine islands.

    • Beachfront
    • Families
    • Pool
    More information
    Check availability on Booking.com

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Mountain View HotelGrand Anse, La Digue

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Questions

Which coast is safe for swimming in July?
UK government advice (checked 16 September 2026) is that east coasts are generally unsafe during the south-east winds, around May to September, and the Seychelles Meteorological Authority says sheltered west and north-west beaches are more pleasant from June to September.
Do you have to pay to visit Anse Source d'Argent?
Yes. The beach is reached through L'Union Estate, which charges foreign nationals SCR 150 for a day pass (L'Union Estate, checked 16 September 2026). A pass bought after 16:30 is valid the next day.
When is there seaweed on the beaches?
The Seychelles Meteorological Authority says beaches facing south and south-east get high amounts of weed washed ashore between June and September.
Are there lifeguards on the beaches?
Few. UK government advice (checked 16 September 2026) notes some lifeguards on popular beaches and recommends asking locally about conditions before swimming.
Can you visit Anse Georgette if you are not staying at Constance Lemuria?
The tourism board's family beach guide says entry must be arranged with Constance Lemuria, and its top beaches article also describes a trail of about an hour. Check access with the resort before going.
Which is better for beaches, Praslin or La Digue?
Both islands have celebrated beaches: Praslin has Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, and La Digue has Anse Source d'Argent, Anse Coco and Grand Anse. Some La Digue beaches, such as Anse Coco, can only be reached on foot.
Which side of Praslin and La Digue is safe for swimming at different times of year?
Avoid west-coast beaches from around December to March and east-coast beaches from around May to September: UK government advice (checked 16 September 2026) says each coast is generally unsafe in that season. There are few lifeguards, so ask locally before swimming.
Are there lifeguards on the beaches of Praslin and La Digue?
Not many. UK government travel advice (checked 16 September 2026) says there are few lifeguards in Seychelles, though some are stationed on popular beaches, so ask locally about conditions and follow any warning signs.
Which beaches avoid seaweed in July and August?
West- and north-west-facing beaches, which are sheltered from the south-east trade winds. The Seychelles Meteorological Authority says these stay more pleasant from June to September, when south- and south-east-facing beaches collect weed.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.