Praslin & La Digue

Anse Gaulettes

Anse Gaulettes is a long, very narrow strip of sand between the coast road and the sea on La Digue's north-east side, with views of Félicité, Marianne and the Sisters. Strong undercurrents at high tide make it a beach for walking and sunbathing, not swimming.

Last verified 16 September 2026

What it is

Anse Gaulettes runs for roughly 800 metres along La Digue's north-east coast, between Anse Patates to the north and Anse Grosse Roche to the south. It is a thin line of sand between the road and the ocean, with a long wall along part of it and an old orange orchard behind, per SeyVillas. Offshore you can pick out Petite Soeur, Grande Soeur, Félicité and Marianne.

Getting there

The coast road runs alongside, so it is easy to reach on foot, by bike or by car, with plenty of places to stop. It fits naturally into a ride around the north of the island from La Passe.

The water

SeyVillas is emphatic that this is not a swimming beach. The water is not especially deep, but at high tide the sand is barely exposed and the currents turn strong enough to sweep swimmers out to sea. It also describes the tide as potentially violent, with strong undercurrents and high waves, and says the beach is not suitable for children in the water. Coral lines the narrow sand.

Practicalities

Use it for a walk or to sit on the sand at lower tide, and check tide times before you settle in, as the beach can almost disappear at high water. SeyVillas notes an art gallery at the southern end and a snack bar a little further south at Anse Grosse Roche.

Best for

  • walks along the shore
  • views of Félicité, Marianne and the Sisters
  • a stop on a cycle round the north

Getting there

Beside the coast road on the north-east of La Digue: on foot, by bike or by car (SeyVillas). Lies between Anse Patates and Anse Grosse Roche. SeyVillas lists no entry fee. Check tide times, as the beach is almost covered at high tide.

Facilities

Art gallery at the southern end and a snack bar nearby at Anse Grosse Roche (SeyVillas; the Tourism Board also lists a snack bar at Anse Grosse Roche). Some shade.

Swimming

Do not swim. At high tide the beach is barely exposed and strong undercurrents can carry swimmers out to sea; the tide can be violent with high waves; unsuitable for children in the water (SeyVillas).

Map of Anse Gaulettes

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Beach

Anse Gaulettes

Map of Anse Gaulettes with nearby beaches and places to stayCoastline © OpenStreetMap contributors. Positions are approximate.
The 75 places on this map

Places to stay near Anse Gaulettes

  • Villa des Flots

    Villa in Anse Gaulettes, La Digue

    Villa des Flots is a six-room villa at Anse Gaulettes, on La Digue's north-east coast, where each double room has a sea-view balcony and breakfast is taken at the nearby Patatran hotel.

    • Families

  • Le Relax Luxury Lodge

    Hotel in Anse Gaulettes, La Digue

    Le Relax Luxury Lodge is a six-chalet hotel in a beachside setting at Anse Gaulette on La Digue. It has a pool, a restaurant serving Creole, international and Indian dishes, a bar and in-villa dining.

    • Beachfront
    • Pool
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Lakaz An Bwa

    Villa in Anse Gaulettes, La Digue

    Lakaz An Bwa is a wooden Creole villa for up to eight (four adults and four children) at Anse Gaulettes, on La Digue's north-east coast. The beach in front is not safe for swimming.

    • Families
    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Villa Verte

    Villa in Anse Gaulettes, La Digue

    Villa Verte is a three-bedroom self-catering house opposite the beach at Anse Gaulettes, on La Digue's north-east coast, sleeping six to eight. The beach in front is not safe for swimming.

    • Self-catering

  • Secret Garden Villa

    Guesthouse in Anse Gaulettes, La Digue

    A five-room guesthouse built from local wood on a forested hill above Anse Gaulettes, on La Digue's east coast. Rooms are open to the air with no glass windows or air conditioning, and stays include breakfast, dinner with wine and a jetty transfer.

  • Anse Grosse Roche Beach Villa

    Self-catering in Anse Grosse Roche, La Digue

    Four self-catering villas on La Digue's quiet north-east coast, facing Anse Grosse Roche beach across a road used mostly by bicycles. Three suit couples and a two-bedroom bungalow takes families.

    • Beachfront
    • Couples
    • Families
    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Patatran Village Hotel

    Hotel in Anse Patates, La Digue

    Patatran Village Hotel is a 30-room hotel at Anse Patates on La Digue, opened in 1992 by an owner from the island. The hotel says every room has an ocean view, and it has a pool, a restaurant serving Creole dinners, a bar, beach weddings and candlelit dinners on the sand.

    • Honeymoon
    • Pool
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Villa D'Amour

    Self-catering in La Passe, La Digue

    A licensed self-catering property on La Digue with five rooms and ten beds on the Tourism Department register, which lists it under La Passe. Its map pin is north-east of the ferry terminal, inland near Anse Sévère.

    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Island Bungalow

    Chalet in Anse Sévère, La Digue

    Two self-catering bungalows and a small villa in a garden about 300 m from Anse Sévère in the north of La Digue, with continental breakfast served each morning. The largest bungalow has three bedrooms and sleeps six.

    • Families
    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

Where to stay on La Digue

Questions

Can you swim at Anse Gaulettes?
No. SeyVillas warns of strong undercurrents at high tide that can sweep swimmers out to sea. Swim instead at a sheltered beach such as Anse Sévère or Anse Réunion.
Which islands can you see from Anse Gaulettes?
Petite Soeur, Grande Soeur, Félicité and Marianne, according to SeyVillas.
Can I visit Félicité for the day?
The Tourism Board's Félicité listing puts the island 4 km from La Digue and says a visit to the island includes a stay at the Six Senses Zil Pasyon resort. Anse Peniche on Félicité falls inside the Ile Cocos Marine National Park boundary, according to the Tourism Board.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.