Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve
Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve, Anse Volbert: Hours, Address, Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve Reviews: 4/5
Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve
Vallee 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 Vallee 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 Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
36 within 5 kms
Kokosye Cafe
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0.1 kmDessert • Cafe
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1.4 km₹₹₹₹ • Seafood • Sushi • Grill
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1.8 km₹₹₹₹ • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Les Lauriers
1,230
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1.8 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Caribbean • Cajun & Creole • Seafood
Pirogue Restaurant & Bar
1,533
1.9 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Cajun & Creole • Seafood • Vegetarian Friendly
Le Duc de Praslin
179
2 km₹₹₹₹ • European • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options
Cafe des Arts
965
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Starfish Bar & Restaurant
45
1.9 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Cajun & Creole • International • Vegetarian Friendly
St Pierre Beach Restaurant
75
2.1 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • International • Contemporary • Vegetarian Friendly
Attractions
7 within 5 kms
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Popular mentions
4.0
2,860 reviews
Excellent
1,358
Very good
911
Average
444
Poor
91
Terrible
56
Roi Eshel
Bat Yam, Israel997 contributions
Like entering the movie set of "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids"
Jul 2021
I grew up on the classic film "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids". I envied the kids that could experience their garden as a wild forest. Given that I am 6.2 ft it is a feeling that was very foreign to me. I finally got my wish when I entered the realm of Vallee de Mai.
You walk on paths under gigantic trees that make you feel tiny. The atmosphere is calm and amazing. You can take either a tour guide or walk the paths on your own.
We walked without a guide and simply enjoyed the quite and awe of nature.
Two FYIs:
* The paths contain stairs so all you people with bad knees be aware.
* It is advisable to bring your mosquito repellent to avoid any mosquito bites
You walk on paths under gigantic trees that make you feel tiny. The atmosphere is calm and amazing. You can take either a tour guide or walk the paths on your own.
We walked without a guide and simply enjoyed the quite and awe of nature.
Two FYIs:
* The paths contain stairs so all you people with bad knees be aware.
* It is advisable to bring your mosquito repellent to avoid any mosquito bites
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
igw21
Doha, Qatar30 contributions
Great family experience, a guide is recommended
May 2021
We visited Vallee de Mai during May 2021. For my wife and me it was the third time to visit, but for our 4-year old daughter it was the first time. We "did our homework" before coming and had arranged a personal guide, Josepha, to show us around.
I would highly recommend visiting with a guide in general, and with Josepha in particular. Without a guide there's so much to miss, both in terms of what to look out for, but also in terms of understanding this unique eco system.
I would highly recommend visiting with a guide in general, and with Josepha in particular. Without a guide there's so much to miss, both in terms of what to look out for, but also in terms of understanding this unique eco system.
Written 19 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marios Mantzourogiannis
2 contributions
Great experience! Guide highly recommended
May 2021
Vallee de Mai is a must if you travel to Seychelles. Private tour is highly recommended. We had Josepha as our guide. She was very knowledgable and we would have missed much without her. We learned so much for the nature of Vallee de Mai but also about the history of Seychelles.
An amazing experience with an amazing guide!
An amazing experience with an amazing guide!
Written 18 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
EBKATL
Atlanta, GA2 contributions
Request Jesse for a tour!
Jun 2021
The wonderful Ms. Jesse gave us a tour at Valee de Mai and it was incredible. She was informative, friendly, funny, and fun (she got a kick out of us too). We highly recommend that you request her should you have the opportunity to visit this beautiful preserve.
Pryor and Jared
Pryor and Jared
Written 18 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
katha91_01
San Francisco, CA51 contributions
Beautiful, but overpriced
Jun 2021
Beautiful park with great nature. Paths are well taken care of. Quite overpriced though (compared to other comparable sites on the island like Fond Ferdinand for example).
What really bothered us, however, is that guides - despite spending time with many groups every day - are not required to wear masks or keep distance. So it didn't feel safe to take a guide for us.
What really bothered us, however, is that guides - despite spending time with many groups every day - are not required to wear masks or keep distance. So it didn't feel safe to take a guide for us.
Written 14 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dalia R
Munich, Germany10 contributions
great place
May 2021
It's a very nice place to visit while on Praslin. Even if you can see Coco de mer palm trees all over the island, it is the only place where you could see the black parrot and the bronze gecko. We took a guide who explained us a little bit about the palm trees around and it was totally worth it. 1000 rupees seemed a bit much at the beginning but you get a lot of information which I think it's a shame to loose.
Written 5 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Svitlanka Sergiichuk
Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine265 contributions
Time machine takes you to Jurassic park
May 2021 • Couples
This park is definitely a must visit on Praslin. The forest used to be there 80 mln years ago when Seychelles have been a part of a larger continent. The continent is no longer there for millions of years, but the forest is! The plants are still giants, huge 5 meter long palm leaves and iconic Coco de Mer coconuts... loved it!
By the way, there are lots of tables with information around the forest trails. So I think having a guide is not a must. You can disregard the guides trying to chase you at the entrance :)
By the way, there are lots of tables with information around the forest trails. So I think having a guide is not a must. You can disregard the guides trying to chase you at the entrance :)
Written 22 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jan V
Sofia, Bulgaria6,236 contributions
Unique tree within poorly organized site
May 2021 • Friends
Though the natural reserve is a must see, I could say it was a boring, overpriced tropical forest with basic infrastructure. For $22 entry I expected more in terms of organization, approachability and storytelling. Coco de mer is unique, but the place not.
Written 16 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maurizio3030
Cairo, Egypt1,516 contributions
Beautiful jungle to walk through
May 2021 • Couples
A cool spot to visit. Easy to get to as it is is in the middle of Praslin. The road is tight but you can not miss it. They have 3 trails to take. We took the short 1 saw lots of plants and heard birds saw a few. All in all it was nice to get some shade on a hot day. Lots of guides available but at a cost and not really necessary. It is a little pricey but it goes to the restoration of the park and corral reeds so worth it. Sadly my pics are on my wife's phone
Written 11 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tanya G
Dubai, United Arab Emirates27 contributions
Giant Jungle with a great guide!
Apr 2021
A great national park with some of the tallest palms I've ever seen, you feel so tiny walking through this jungle, marveling at the giant leaves high up above.
We paid approx. 350 scr for our entry ticket (20 euro), this goes towards the upkeep of the national park, conservation efforts, etc. There are reviews that this is too dear, but it is similar to what you pay at any national park in the US so I found it reasonable.
We also paid separately for a guided tour, hiring Francis for 1000 scr (60 euro) with the cost split between our group of 3. The tour lasted around 1 hour, he talked to us about the part, conservation & history, the animals inside the jungle, and most importantly the coco de mer! Fun and detailed we could stop for a few photos and chat easily!
After the tour you are left in the part to further explore the trails or take photographs.
Without a guide you are simply walking through the jungle, beautiful with without information.
A very interesting and shaded activity, away from the beach and up in the hills for once! Easy level well marked trail, minimal stairs and incline, all levels accessible.
We paid approx. 350 scr for our entry ticket (20 euro), this goes towards the upkeep of the national park, conservation efforts, etc. There are reviews that this is too dear, but it is similar to what you pay at any national park in the US so I found it reasonable.
We also paid separately for a guided tour, hiring Francis for 1000 scr (60 euro) with the cost split between our group of 3. The tour lasted around 1 hour, he talked to us about the part, conservation & history, the animals inside the jungle, and most importantly the coco de mer! Fun and detailed we could stop for a few photos and chat easily!
After the tour you are left in the part to further explore the trails or take photographs.
Without a guide you are simply walking through the jungle, beautiful with without information.
A very interesting and shaded activity, away from the beach and up in the hills for once! Easy level well marked trail, minimal stairs and incline, all levels accessible.
Written 25 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
michele949
Palermo, Italy2 contributions
ciao hai il telefono di vincenzo o un suo conatto? Grazie
floriana56
Frosinone, Italy509 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, Italy1,141 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, 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, UK569 contributions
Hi, is possible to buy the nut here? If so, how much are they roughly?
Thanks
travelwithchildren2
den haag270 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
Ciao, vi è possibilità di qualche gita organizzata per Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve? Come si può raggiungere Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve dal porto? Grazie mille
simona c
Genoa, Italy11 contributions
Ciao, proprio di fronte all'uscita del porto c'e' la fermata del bus pubblico che porta all'ingresso della valle de mai. All'interno ci sono guide anche italiane che accompagnano all'interno del parco e spiegano le biodiversita' del parco.
