Praslin & La Digue

4 days on La Digue

A four-day itinerary for La Digue, the Seychelles island 15 minutes by ferry from Praslin, planned around a bicycle. It covers the Veuve Special Reserve and a north-coast sunset, L'Union Estate and Anse Source d'Argent timed to the tide, the walk from Grand Anse to Anse Cocos, and a boat to Ile Cocos.

Last verified 16 September 2026

4 days

La Digue

How the plan works

A 2019 Seychelles News Agency guide found no car hire on La Digue, so this plan is built around a bicycle and a few short boat and ferry crossings. Each day has one main outing and leaves the afternoon open for a beach close to where you are staying. The tourism board notes that most hotels are on the west coast, and La Passe, where the ferries come in, is where the bike rental shops are.

Who it suits

Four days suits anyone who wants to see the island's most famous beaches at quieter times of day rather than on a day trip from Praslin. Families should look at the swimming notes: SeyVillas and the tourism board (checked 16 September 2026) describe deep water and strong currents on the east-coast beaches, while the board calls Anse Patates calm and Anse Sévère shallow. The guided hike to Anse Marron is for sure-footed adults, and the tourism board does not recommend it for children.

How to adapt it

Getting to La Digue takes 15 minutes from Praslin. From Mahé, Cat Cocos sailings take 1 hour 45 minutes via Praslin, and Seychelles Bookings lists a non-stop crossing of 70 minutes from La Digue to Mahé at weekends. The Veuve Special Reserve lists no Sunday opening hours (Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, checked 16 September 2026), so move day one's visit if you arrive on a Sunday.

Ride with a torch or headlamp after dark, as the island has few streetlights. Tides shape the day at Anse Source d'Argent, so look up the tide times before fixing day two.

Day by day

  1. La Digue

    Arrive, collect a bike and see the flycatcher reserve

    Arriving

    Ferries come in at the jetty in La Passe, where taxis, bicycle rentals and hotel shuttles meet arrivals, according to Seychelles Bookings. The crossing from Praslin takes 15 minutes; from Mahé, Cat Cocos takes 1 hour 45 minutes via Praslin.

    Afternoon

    Ride to the Veuve Special Reserve, 21 ha on the island's western plateau set aside for the Seychelles black paradise flycatcher. It opens Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00 and Saturday from 9:00 to 15:00. Non-citizens pay SCR 150, or SCR 200 with a guided tour (Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, checked 16 September 2026).

    Evening

    Cycle north to Anse Sévère, which the tourism board describes as facing Praslin and known for its sunset view. The water is shallow, with a reef offshore for snorkelling. Carry a light for the ride home, as La Digue has few streetlights.

  2. La Digue

    L'Union Estate, Anse Source d'Argent and Anse Pierrot

    Early morning

    L'Union Estate opens at 6:00, and the estate puts the ride from the jetty at 15 minutes. Foreign nationals pay SCR 150 for the day (L'Union Estate, checked 16 September 2026), and a ticket bought after 16:30 counts for the next day. Stays of more than five days qualify for a special rate. Inside are giant Aldabra tortoises, a copra mill and a vanilla plantation.

    The beaches

    SeyVillas reports that Anse Source d'Argent is busiest between about 10:00 and 17:00, so arrive before then. The reef keeps the water shallow, and swimming and snorkelling work best around high tide. At low tide, walk south along the coral to Anse Pierrot, about 1 km away, in reef shoes. The tourism board warns that Anse Pierrot can disappear at high tide and has no facilities.

    Afternoon

    Anse Source d'Argent has a restaurant and toilets near the entrance. The estate says Takamaka Rum joined it in late 2025, with a rum tasting bar in the Pirogue Shed.

  3. La Digue

    The east coast on foot, or a guided hike to Anse Marron

    Option one: Grand Anse to Anse Cocos

    The tourism board puts Grand Anse at a 40-minute ride from the harbour. From there, Petite Anse is about 15 minutes over a small hill, and seychelles.cc times the walk to Anse Cocos at about 45 minutes. SeyVillas rates the route easy, gives 2.25 km and about two hours for the round trip to Anse Caïman, and suggests starting before 9:00. SeyVillas (checked 16 September 2026) warns of strong currents and deep water at Grand Anse and Petite Anse; the tourism board says Anse Cocos is more sheltered but still has strong currents. There is a restaurant near Grand Anse.

    Option two: Anse Marron

    SeyVillas says Anse Marron, at the southern tip, can only be reached with a guide, and the tourism board says the path can be slippery (checked 16 September 2026). SeyVillas describes a hard route of about 3 km over boulders, taking around 6 hours with breaks, starting between 7:00 and 9:00 from Anse Source d'Argent or Grand Anse depending on the tide. Arrange the guide in advance.

  4. La Digue

    Ile Cocos by boat, Anse Patates and departure

    Morning

    Ile Cocos Marine National Park lies 7 km from La Digue, about a 10-minute boat ride, and visits are arranged through tour operators and boat charters. It is open from 9:00 to 17:00, and non-residents over 12 pay SCR 200 (Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, checked 16 September 2026). The tourism board says tickets are bought online through the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority and that children under 12 enter free. Hawksbill turtles are found here, and whale sharks can be spotted from around August to November.

    If you would rather stay on land, walk up Nid d'Aigle from the Belle Vue restaurant: about 1.3 km each way, 45 minutes up and 30 down, according to SeyVillas.

    Afternoon

    Swim at Anse Patates on the northern tip, which the tourism board describes as shaded, close to the road and calm for swimming and snorkelling near the shore. Return your bike and take the ferry on to Praslin or Mahé, checking the day's sailings when you book.

Questions

Is four days on La Digue too long?
Four days allows early starts at Anse Source d'Argent, which SeyVillas reports is busiest from about 10:00 to 17:00, plus a half-day walk on the east coast and a boat trip to Ile Cocos, without fitting them around a ferry back to Praslin.
How do I get around La Digue without a car?
By bicycle, on foot or by taxi. A 2019 Seychelles News Agency guide found no car rental on the island and only a handful of taxis, and noted that most guesthouses rent bikes. SeyVillas lists several rental shops in La Passe. Under the 2022 transport policy, bicycles must be licensed and insured and e-bike riders must wear helmets. Amendments approved in March 2024 limit e-bikes to 300 W, bar riders under 16 and require helmets for children under 14 on bicycles.
Can I visit Anse Marron without a guide?
The tourism board advises booking a guide because the beach is hard to find and the path can be slippery, and it does not recommend bringing children. SeyVillas says the hike is only possible with a guide.
Where is it safe to swim on La Digue?
Conditions change with the tide and the season. The tourism board describes Anse Patates as calm and Anse Sévère as shallow (checked 16 September 2026). SeyVillas warns of deep water and strong currents at Grand Anse and Petite Anse, and says Anse Source d'Argent is best for swimming around high tide.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.