Praslin

Ships anchor during calls at Praslin and bring guests ashore by tender. Baie St. Anne is 1.5 miles from the pier, where taxis are generally available.

Carry a printable map.

This tropical Eden spans 14.5 square miles and lies just 28 miles from Mahe island. Alongside glorious beaches and superb marine life, Praslin is particularly known for the Vallee de Mai World Heritage Site, where the rare coco de mer grows in the wild. Indeed, this remarkable palm forest gave the island its original name, "Isle de Palme".

Arrival by sea at Baie St. Anne brings breathtaking views of the small island capital. Located 1.5 miles from the pier, it contains the island's banks, shops, hospital and church. Fortunately, St. Anne and the wider island have remained unspoilt despite a recent rise in visitor numbers, retaining the distinctive atmosphere portrayed in Athol Thomas's book Forgotten Eden.

Taxis are a popular choice for both short journeys and day-long hire, and can be found almost everywhere.

From here, a ferry travels to La Dique, home to some of the world's prettiest beaches, where an ox cart can be hired for about $25.00 per person.

Numerous secluded beaches line the east and north coasts in particular. The island's forests also shelter rare birds, including the black parrot, Seychelles blue pigeon, bulbul and sunbird.

Popular purchases include straw goods, local art and paintings, spices, island tea, mother-of-pearl rings, coral jewellery, locally carved walking sticks, T-shirts and wood carvings. Taking a coco de mer out of the country requires a special permit.

The Seychelles rupee (SCR) is the islands' currency. ATM machines generally provide the most favourable conversion rates, while airports and banks also offer convenient currency exchange. 1 Euro= 8 rupees.

Creole, the official language, is spoken in the Seychelles alongside English and French.

Shopping hours are Mon-Fri 0800-1700 and Sat 0800-1200. Certain shops close from 1200-1300 on weekdays.