SEYCHELLES: Praslin

Praslin, Seychelles is home to sheltered valleys, ancient palm forests, glorious beaches of soft white sand that frame crystal clear water in shades from dark blue to emerald green. It is a sight which never fails to lift the soul and calm the mind. Praslin is also home to some of the world's rarest birds, such as the fruit pigeon, black parrot, and Seychelles bulbul. The coastline is scattered with large, volcanic rocks and is surrounded by vibrant, coral reefs offering phenomenal snorkeling and diving. One of the world's most beautiful beaches, Anse Lazio, is a popular sunbathing spot on the west coast of the island.

No visit to Praslin is complete without a visit to Vallee de Mai, home to the extremely rare coco-de-mer palms, which produce the world's largest nut. Weighing up to 40 pounds, these "fruit of the sea" nuts got their name when they washed up on the pristine beaches of Praslin centuries ago. After removing the outer shell, the nut looks amazingly and strangely similar to a woman's pelvis, while the "male" part of the tree looks similarly phallic. One British explorer wrote home to tell the Queen he had literally found the Garden of Eden! These interesting trees are not the only attraction to the Vallee, it is covered by a myriad of beautiful hiking trails that meander through tropical valleys and lush mountains.

THE BEST MONTH TO VISIT PRASLIN is June when the southeast monsoon season brings drier, cooler air to the Indian Ocean. The water is spectacularly clear this time of year, making it a prime time to dive and snorkel. There are also many national celebrations in June, Liberation Day is on the 5th, National Day is June 18th, and Independence Day is June 29th. There is also a month long celebration of the Corpus Christi.

THE HIDDEN GEM of Praslin island is the Lemuria resort, a 5 star luxury resort built next to the warm waters of a calm lagoon. The turquoise sea is perfectly offset by the white sand beaches and tropical vegetation. Visitors may kayak, windsurf, sail, snorkel, scuba dive, golf, fish, play tennis or enjoy a luxury cruise on a catamaran.

A GOOD VALUE is La Reserve, on the secluded private beach Anse Petite Cour Bay on the north side of Praslin, in the middle of a large tropical garden. Sheltered the whole year by the surrounding hills and the island of Curieuse, the calm and shallow bay is one of the best places for snorkeling in the area. Each room is beachfront and has its own verandah and en-suite facilities.