Praslin & La Digue

Anse Petite Cour

A small reef-sheltered bay on Praslin's north coast beside Le Domaine de La Réserve, inside the Curieuse Marine National Park boundary. Calm, shallow water with coral, views of Curieuse, and limited parking for non-guests.

Last verified 16 September 2026

The beach

Anse Petite Cour is a small bay on Praslin's long north coast, about 240 m of sand with granite boulders at one end and a view across to Curieuse. Le Domaine de La Réserve hotel sits beside it, and most visitors are its guests.

Marine park

The hotel says the bay is inside the Curieuse Marine National Park, and the park's 1979 designation order runs the boundary along the coast of Anse Petit Cour. Park regulations prohibit taking or disturbing marine animals and shells and removing sand. The hotel says its guests get free entry to the marine park.

Getting there

The main road passes nearby, so the beach can be reached by car or bus, but SeyVillas says hotel parking is for resort guests, which makes parking awkward. SeyVillas adds that the hotel sometimes limits the number of non-guests on the beach, so check ahead.

In the water

A reef shelters the bay, and the hotel describes gentle water for swimming and snorkelling. Tourism Seychelles notes butterflyfish and surgeonfish on the reef. SeyVillas reports a little seaweed through much of the year, especially when the north-west trade wind begins in December, and says the beach can disappear at high tide.

Also here

A Patience Tree, whose interlocking seeds give it the name Puzzle Nut, grows on the beach, and the hotel restaurant stands on stilts over the water.

Best for

  • Snorkelling in the marine park (SeyVillas; Tourism Seychelles; Le Domaine de La Réserve)
  • Views of Curieuse (Tourism Seychelles)

Getting there

By car or bus via the nearby main road; hotel parking is reserved for Le Domaine de La Réserve guests, so parking can be difficult (SeyVillas). The hotel sometimes restricts non-guest numbers; SeyVillas advises obtaining permission before arrival.

Facilities

Le Domaine de La Réserve's restaurant, built on stilts over the water, is a few minutes' walk from the beach; shade (SeyVillas).

Swimming

Shallow water protected by a reef, calm most of the year (SeyVillas; Le Domaine de La Réserve). A little seaweed most of the year, especially at the start of the north-west trade wind in December; the beach can disappear at high tide (SeyVillas). Within the Curieuse Marine National Park, where disturbing marine life or removing shells and sand is prohibited (hotel website; Designation Order and Regulations).

Snorkelling

Known for snorkelling over coral (SeyVillas); Tourism Seychelles lists butterflyfish and surgeonfish among reef species. Le Domaine de La Réserve describes the reef-protected water as gentle for snorkelling.

Map of Anse Petite Cour

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Beach

Anse Petite Cour

Map of Anse Petite Cour with nearby beaches and places to stayCoastline © OpenStreetMap contributors. Positions are approximate.
The 43 places on this map

Places to stay near Anse Petite Cour

  • Acquario Villa

    Guesthouse in Anse Petite Cour / Côte d'Or, Praslin

    A small guesthouse of self-catering apartments and a two-bedroom family villa in a garden at Anse Petite Cour, Praslin, a few minutes from Côte d'Or, with breakfast or dinner from its own restaurant on request.

    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

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  • Passage du Soleil

    Villa in Anse Possession, Praslin

    A two-bedroom self-catering villa for up to five guests, built on granite boulders above Anse Possession on Praslin's north coast. It looks out over the bay towards Curieuse Island and has private access to the sea.

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

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  • La Saline

    Villa in Anse Possession, Praslin

    A three-bedroom self-catering villa of local red granite at the entrance to Anse Possession, Praslin, with a wraparound veranda over the water facing Curieuse and snorkelling from the door.

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

    Affiliate link

  • Mirella Villa

    Self-catering in Anse Possession, Praslin

    Self-catering villas and an apartment spread across a garden estate near Anse Possession on Praslin's north coast. The beach is about 300 m away and a food shop is next to the estate.

    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

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  • Paradise Sun Hotel

    Hotel in Côte d'Or / Anse Volbert, Praslin

    Paradise Sun is a Southern Sun hotel of French-Creole beach bungalows at the quieter western end of Côte d'Or beach on Praslin. It has 80 rooms, a pool, a beachfront restaurant, a spa and a weekly kids' programme, and room rates include breakfast and dinner.

    • Beachfront
    • Honeymoon
    • Families
    • Pool
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Sea View Lodge

    Villa in Anse Possession, Praslin

    Six self-catering villas with a pool and their own car rental on the bay at Anse Possession, Praslin, looking out to Curieuse, with meals and a beach buffet available on request.

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

    Affiliate link

  • Villa Kass

    Villa in Anse Possession, Praslin

    Two self-catering villas with air-conditioned bedrooms, kitchens and verandas at Anse Possession, Praslin, about 2 km from Anse Volbert village, with boat trips and car hire arranged on request.

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

    Affiliate link

  • Villa Milou

    Self-catering in Anse Possession, Praslin

    A four-bedroom self-catering villa at Anse Possession on Praslin's north coast. The tourism board describes it as overlooking the beach; rooms have air conditioning and sea or garden views, and daily maid service is available. It shares its owners and phone number with the neighbouring Villa Kass.

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

    Affiliate link

Where to stay on Praslin

Questions

Can non-guests use Anse Petite Cour?
SeyVillas says visitors can come by car or bus, but hotel parking is for guests and the hotel sometimes limits non-guest numbers, so ask Le Domaine de La Réserve before arriving.
Is Anse Petite Cour in a marine park?
Yes. Le Domaine de La Réserve says the bay is in the Curieuse Marine National Park, and the park's designation order names Anse Petit Cour on its boundary.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.