Praslin & La Digue

Grand Anse

Grand Anse is a beach on La Digue's south-east coast, about 40 minutes by bike from the harbour. The tourism board describes deep water and rough seas in the south-east monsoon and says it is not safe to swim there, with Petite Anse and Anse Coco reached on foot.

Last verified 16 September 2026

Grand Anse and the east coast

The tourism board describes La Digue's east coast as wilder than the west, where most hotels are. Grand Anse, on the south-east coast, is about a 40-minute bike ride from the harbour on a route through forest. The beach has white sand and granite boulders, but the water is deep and the sea is rough in the south-east monsoon, so it draws few visitors apart from bodyboarders. The tourism board's Petite Anse listing (updated September 2024) says it is not safe to swim at Grand Anse.

Walking on from Grand Anse

Petite Anse is a short walk from Grand Anse and is quieter. It also has deep water and no reef, and signs warn that swimming is not safe. Anse Coco can only be reached on foot, from Grand Anse or from Anse Fourmis in the other direction. It is more sheltered and safer for swimming than its neighbours, but the tourism board warns that currents can still be strong. Anse Songe, a small beach next to Grand Anse, is about a 15-minute walk away and is not suitable for swimming.

Further north

Anse Banane, also on the east coast, has a small snack bar and easy access. The tourism board says its water is shallow and not well suited to swimming, and its sand is coarser than on many other La Digue beaches.

What it is

Grand Anse is a wide beach of pale sand on La Digue's south-east coast, bordered by granite boulders. The Tourism Board calls it one of the more popular beaches on this side of the island and puts it about a 40-minute bike ride from the harbour at La Passe, on a path through forest.

Why swimming is a bad idea here

There is no offshore coral reef, so the beach faces the open Indian Ocean. The Tourism Board describes deep water and a rough south-east monsoon, and SeyVillas warns that the currents are strong enough to carry a swimmer out to sea, especially during the south-east trade winds. Paddling at the edge is as far as most visitors should go. The conditions attract a few bodyboarders.

Facilities

SeyVillas lists a restaurant and toilets nearby, plus a small car park that is rarely used because there are few vehicles on the island. Shade is limited, which matters in the middle of the day.

The start of the trail

Grand Anse is where you leave your bike for the walk north. A path from the beach climbs over a small hill to Petite Anse in roughly 15 minutes, then continues through forest to Anse Cocos. Take sturdy shoes and water.

Best for

  • walking on the sand
  • photography
  • bodyboarding for experienced riders
  • starting the Petite Anse and Anse Cocos trail

Getting there

By bike about 40 minutes from the harbour (Tourism Board), or on foot; a small car park is nearby (SeyVillas). SeyVillas' hiking guide lists the trail from Grand Anse as free of charge (checked 16 September 2026). Grand Anse is the trailhead for the walk to Petite Anse (about 15 minutes over a small hill) and on to Anse Cocos (roughly 30 to 45 minutes from Grand Anse, depending on the source). SeyVillas' hiking guide puts the whole route from Grand Anse to Anse Caïman at 2.25 km, about 2 hours round trip, with 60 m of ascent and descent; wear sturdy shoes and carry at least 2 litres of water per person.

Facilities

Restaurant and toilets nearby; small car park (SeyVillas). Little natural shade.

Swimming

Not safe for swimming. No offshore reef, deep water close in, and currents strong enough to carry a swimmer out to sea, particularly during the south-east trade winds (SeyVillas). The Tourism Board describes a rough south-east monsoon and deep waters. SeyVillas' hiking guide adds that Grand Anse and Petite Anse are unsuitable for swimming because of seasonal currents.

Map of Grand Anse

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Beach

Grand Anse

Map of Grand Anse with nearby beaches and places to stayCoastline © OpenStreetMap contributors. Positions are approximate.
The 19 places on this map

Places to stay near Grand Anse

  • Dan Zoranz Self Catering Guest House

    Self-catering in Grand Anse, La Digue

    A single chalet split into two self-catering studios in a large tropical garden inland from Grand Anse, La Digue. Both studios have a kitchen, air conditioning and wifi, and the whole chalet can be booked by a group.

    • Self-catering

  • Zanboza Guesthouse

    Guesthouse in South La Digue, La Digue

    Zanboza Guesthouse is a Creole-style house with five bedrooms in the south of La Digue, run by owners Wilfrid and Monica, who put Grand Anse and Anse Source d'Argent five minutes away by bicycle.

    • Families
    Check availability on Booking.com

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  • La Bel Zilwaz

    Self-catering in Anse Réunion, La Digue

    Two self-catering units in a garden on the mountainside inland of Anse Réunion, La Digue, with breakfast served and dinner on request. The owners also rent bicycles.

    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

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  • Dan Kazou

    Self-catering in Grand Anse, La Digue

    Two self-catering apartments in a garden on the inland stretch between L'Union and Grand Anse, La Digue, with the owners on site. Breakfast and dinner can be ordered, and bicycles can be hired on request.

    • Families
    • Self-catering

  • Badamier Self Catering

    Self-catering in Anse Réunion, La Digue

    Badamier Self Catering is a small self-catering guesthouse at Anse Réunion on La Digue, with air-conditioned rooms and barbecue facilities, not far from shops and Anse Source d'Argent.

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

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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
    Check availability on Booking.com

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  • Villa Roche Bois

    Guesthouse in Anse Réunion, La Digue

    Villa Roche Bois is a guesthouse in a quiet garden in the Anse Réunion district of La Digue, run as an extension of Pension Michel, with a fully equipped kitchen, a veranda with a hammock and buggy transfers.

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

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  • Belle des Iles Guest House

    Guesthouse in La Digue

    A small self-catering guesthouse with three units in a garden, inland on La Digue. Each unit has cooking facilities, and guests share a small pool and barbecue.

    • Self-catering
    • Pool

  • Chloe's Cottage

    Self-catering in Anse Réunion, La Digue

    Chloe's Cottage is a self-catering property with a garden and mountain views at Anse Réunion on La Digue, offering buggy transfers, meals on request and bicycle rental.

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

    Affiliate link

Where to stay on La Digue

Questions

How do I get to Grand Anse on La Digue?
Grand Anse is on La Digue's south-east coast, and Tourism Seychelles puts it about a 40-minute bike ride from the harbour at La Passe, on a route through forest.
Is it safe to swim at Grand Anse on La Digue?
Take care: Grand Anse, on La Digue's south-east coast, has rough seas in the south-east monsoon and deep water, and Tourism Seychelles says it draws few visitors besides bodyboarders. UK government advice (checked 16 September 2026) is that east coasts are generally unsafe from around May to September.
How long does it take to cycle to Grand Anse on La Digue?
About 40 minutes by bike from the harbour at La Passe, according to Tourism Seychelles, on a path through lush forest.
Can you swim at Grand Anse on La Digue?
It is not recommended. There is no protecting reef, the water gets deep quickly, and currents can be strong enough to carry swimmers out, especially in the south-east monsoon.
How do I get to Grand Anse?
Most people cycle; the Tourism Board puts it at about 40 minutes by bike from the harbour. You can also walk.
Where does the Anse Cocos trail start?
At Grand Anse. The path heads over a small hill to Petite Anse, then through forest to Anse Cocos. Leave bikes at Grand Anse.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.