Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
4
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
One of Seychelles' two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this ancient forest is home to the wondrous Coco de Mer palm, which has the largest seed in the world, and many other birds, plants and reptiles, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Visiting the Vallée de Mai is a step back in time and a unique experience.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Top ways to experience Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
41 within 5 kms
Attractions
16 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
2,976 reviews
Excellent
1,427
Very good
940
Average
455
Poor
96
Terrible
58
Gene R J
Silver Spring, MD8,539 contributions
Jan 2023
We took the local bus to the Praslin National Park and walked 100m to this UNESCO site. A cheerful docent gathered entrants into a group for general information; facility layout, restrooms and guide availability for 150 SAR each. After paying 350 SAR each, we took the forest pathway to the covered entry booth displaying open pollen pods and nuts. A medium-sized one weighing ~20 pounds gave an indication of the heft of the larger ones seen along the trail hanging from the giant palms. We were impressed with the size of their fronds, needing a person in the picture to give them scale as we progressed along the 1km purple trail. It was mostly sand with some puddles and mud from previous rains. There are a lot of steps for a gentle incline.
Information posts were nicely spaced and helpful, especially ones showing the other endemic palms among this large concentrated stand of stately Coco de Mer palms.
Information posts were nicely spaced and helpful, especially ones showing the other endemic palms among this large concentrated stand of stately Coco de Mer palms.
Written 22 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ken R
2 contributions
Jan 2023
AMAZING. MUST DO! My wife and I were scheduled to do one-day island cruise, which got cancelled at last second, so we decided to visit Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve. Hiking, nature is not my interest, but makes my wife happy, so I decided to do it. We paid our guide Dora (highly recommend) 1,000 for both of us. It was so worth it. I am reading the negative reviews on Trip Advisor and have to laugh at the people writing it. "too expense," "It's just a rainforest," "there are signs so do it on your own,".....if we didn't have a guide, we would've missed so much. There are signs but the guide is so, so informative about each plant, tree, stories, history.....also the price of the guide is not much considering that many of these same tourists are staying at 5 star resorts, expensive dinners, etc. and they want to see and do things on the cheap. Anyway, all I can say is that it is a nice forest walk on your own and spectacular hike with a. guide. Our guide founds us the rare Black Parrot. People come from around the world to see it...and those people without guides, missed it. Penny wise, pound foolish. Also the money gets to support the local economy and people. The guide cost was less than half for one-person at Disney World and it was a nice, memory filled two hours.
Written 7 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
LuciaLuf2000
Andorra80 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
We did a private tour with Medina from Laboudalloniana tours. It was fantastic! so interesting! Medina is a great guid, she has so much knowledge and is so nice with kids. Her and her little beautiful daughter Chiara were able to keep our 3 boys interested during 2 hours! great job !
super recommended! Medina was great in recommending other placed and restaurants on Praslin! She is native from Praslin and knows the island perfectly
Loved it!
super recommendable
super recommended! Medina was great in recommending other placed and restaurants on Praslin! She is native from Praslin and knows the island perfectly
Loved it!
super recommendable
Written 30 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Schnozzers
Brighton, UK206 contributions
Dec 2022
We stopped here with our hire car and wandered through the beautiful forest for an hour. We didn't use a guide and this worked fine and there are signs dotted around.
A great place for a forest wander on a sunny chilled holiday.
A great place for a forest wander on a sunny chilled holiday.
Written 12 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
paulgX2108VV
Market Harborough, UK13 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
The cost of entry is expensive but the charge of the guide was extortionate! There was a group of 8 and he charged us 20 euros each so 160 euros. He dragged it out moving really slowly to justify the charge. There is very good signage in the park which provides all the information. For 2 people it cost us around 80 euros to walk round a forest!
Written 15 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JandP_Cotswolds
Stroud, UK431 contributions
Oct 2022
Well worth a visit to see the coco de mer trees, noting both the male and female versions of the nuts. Our guide rushed us around - you need at least two hours to get an appreciation of the place.
Written 10 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
john b
3 contributions
Jun 2022
they allow men to stand outside and offer tours for tons of money and give little to nothing more than what i read also they cant even speak English when they say they do.
Written 6 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dieter H
4 contributions
Oct 2022
It's a rain forest like all over Praslin island, so you don't necessarily have to go there. Our guide was nice and explained the flora well. No particular animals sighted.
Written 21 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Maccisco GVA
Geneva, Switzerland143 contributions
May 2022
Very interesting visit to Valley de Mai Nature Reserve. We had a great guide and learned plenty of useful informations.
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland25,638 contributions
Nov 2021
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vallée de Mai is no doubt one of the main attractions of the Seychelles and accordingly it doesn't lack visitors. Many guests come in groups with a local guide, who will give plenty of explanations. At the entrance a brochure is handed out with the ticket, where in 4 languages (English, French, Italian, German) some general information is given, also about the flora and fauna in the park, with a 'spotter's checklist' included.
More information boards are found inside by the paths. There are several routes one can take: Circular Path South, Circular Path North, Cedar Path, Central Path. The so-called 'Orange Route', combining the two Circular Paths is 2km long and takes about 3h. This tropical rain forest is special because in the majority it consists of different types of palm trees.
The main reason why this forest valley has been included in the world heritage is the fact, that it is the home of the unique palm tree 'Coco de Mer' with its big seed. If one is looking for birds, like the Seychelles Black Parrot, or for other creatures such as frogs, geckos or skinks, that live on the trees, to take along binoculars is recommended. Depending on the weather an umbrella, a waterproof bag for the camera and drinking water might also be appreciated. For the hike it is best to go in trekking sandals.
En route one should not miss a small detour to the lookout shelter, with a great view over the primeval forest. By the entrance is the Kokosye Café, where they sell hot and cold drinks and light snack like banana cake or breadfruit chips.
More information boards are found inside by the paths. There are several routes one can take: Circular Path South, Circular Path North, Cedar Path, Central Path. The so-called 'Orange Route', combining the two Circular Paths is 2km long and takes about 3h. This tropical rain forest is special because in the majority it consists of different types of palm trees.
The main reason why this forest valley has been included in the world heritage is the fact, that it is the home of the unique palm tree 'Coco de Mer' with its big seed. If one is looking for birds, like the Seychelles Black Parrot, or for other creatures such as frogs, geckos or skinks, that live on the trees, to take along binoculars is recommended. Depending on the weather an umbrella, a waterproof bag for the camera and drinking water might also be appreciated. For the hike it is best to go in trekking sandals.
En route one should not miss a small detour to the lookout shelter, with a great view over the primeval forest. By the entrance is the Kokosye Café, where they sell hot and cold drinks and light snack like banana cake or breadfruit chips.
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
michele949
Palermo, Italy2 contributions
ciao hai il telefono di vincenzo o un suo conatto? Grazie
floriana56
Frosinone, Italy514 contributions
È su FACEBOOK.....Vinc.itatour
Io l'ho contattato così Buonavacanza
Ciao a tutti mi sapreste dire quanto dura il tour del parco?grazie
Stefania P
1,036 contributions
Noi lo abbiamo fatto da soli e siamo rimasti due o tre ore, ma ovviamente è soggettivo. Con la guida ho visto che il giro era più veloce.
paperinaPerugia
Perugia, Italy1,167 contributions
ciao, hai per caso i recapiti di Vincenzo? il prox mese sarò li e vorrei contattarlo. grazie mille. Pamela
luigiz274
Rome, Italy124 contributions
00248 2568514
NG1905
Kolkata (Calcutta), India37 contributions
Hi,
Valla de Mai or Fond Ferdinan - want to do one of the trips. Been reading that fond ferdinan is better choice. Any suggestions ?
Many Thanks !
SIF Communications
Victoria, Seychelles
Hello, we would highly recommend visiting the Vallée de Mai which is a unique, ancient palm forest and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Millions of years of isolation have led to the evolution of many unique species in this forest which are found nowhere else in the world. We would recommend taking one of our free guided tours which will explain the history iconic coco de mer palm and the other species in the Vallée de Mai,
yesh24
London, UK614 contributions
Hi, is possible to buy the nut here? If so, how much are they roughly?
Thanks
travelwithchildren2
den haag288 contributions
hello, we are a family of two adults and two children (age 14 &17). Are there family tickets available?
And the free guided tours are those still at 9am and 14:00 pm?
Justyna K
9 contributions
I'd like to see Valle de Mai, but I will have a couple of suitcases with me (I will be on the way from La Digue to my flight back from Mahe) - is there any place in the entrance to Valle de Mai, or maybe in harbour? are there taxis in the harbour and in the entrance to Valle de Mai?
SIF Communications
Victoria, Seychelles
Yes we do have luggage lockers at the Vallee de Mai where visitors can leave their suitcases. This is located right next to the ticket booth. And yes there are taxis at the harbour. At Vallee de Mai, we do not have taxi drivers that are permanently stationed here. Most of the time the visitors make their own arrangements with the taxi drivers on what time they would like to be picked up from Vallee de Mai.
Justyna K
9 contributions
Hi, could you advise please: which route is the most beautiful/interesting: purple, green or orange? Do you have some links to films on youtube or pictures from every of these routes?
SIF Communications
Victoria, Seychelles
We would advise taking the green route where you get the chance to go to the shelter and have a view point of Vallee de Mai and the greenery of the palm forest.
cinziaajolfi
Milan, Lombardia, Italy22 contributions
Ciao a tutti , mi potreste dire come contattare Vincenzo per la visita a Valle de mai? lo troviamo all entrata del parco o hai un contatto ? Grazie . Cinzia
Alessandra p
14 contributions
Ciao Cinzia, si puoi trovarlo all'ingresso del parco, chiedi di lui
Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve (Anse Volbert) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
- Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- We recommend booking Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 6 Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve:
- Half Day Discovery Tour of Vallee de Mai on Praslin Island (From ₹ 5,724.63)
- Full Day Discovery Tour of Vallee de Mai and Anse Lazio on Praslin Island (From ₹ 8,944.37)
- 02 Islands Melody (From ₹ 24,598.24)
- Discovery Car Tour of Praslin Island (From ₹ 16,054.81)
- Private Vallee De Mai and Anse Lazio Tour (From ₹ 15,653.06)
- Hotels near Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve:
- (1.65 km) Villa Gaiarda
- (1.81 km) Heliconia Grove
- (1.88 km) Les Villas d'Or
- (1.84 km) L'Hirondelle
- (1.92 km) Villa Bedier
- Restaurants near Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve:
- (0.14 km) Kokosye Cafe
- (1.79 km) Les Rochers
- (1.35 km) Pool Restaurant & Bar
- (1.89 km) Les Lauriers
- (1.84 km) La Goulue