Anse Major — Attraction in undefined

LENGTH: 2 KM (1.2 MI.) TIME: 40 MIN. DIFFICULTY: EASY TOTAL ASCENT/DESCENT: 218 M (715 FT.)

At the very end of the road on the edge of Bel Ombre, you will see a drinking fountain on your right. The trailhead is very close by on your left, past a chain that prevents vehicles from entering the track. The main overlook for the trail is located 1.5 km (1 mi.) away. Budget 30 minutes to reach the shelter that looks out onto two enchanting creeks. You will reach these about 10 minutes later. The first part of the trail can be a little churned up at the end of the rainy season due to run-off. After this, the walk becomes more pleasant, with granite underfoot. The path cuts crosswise across an immense glacis. On your right, the ocean and the horizon, dotted with a few islets. Below, the shifting turquoise colors where the waves meet the rocks. To your left, an array of somewhat unusual plant life. The drier coastal ecosystem bathed by the sea spray has some surprises in store. There are the cocoplums (Chrysobalanus icaco) and the royal poinciana (Delonix regia) that turns red in December. Pleomele (Dracaena reflexa) and hard alstonia (Alstonia macrophylla) also rear their leafy heads against the azure sky. On the ground are a multitude of succulents, including agave plants whose pointed leaves will tickle the calves of passing hikers. You will also see the coral wood trees (Adenanthera pavonina) whose bright red seeds are used to make jewelry. Nearly flat for most of its length, the trail occasionally crosses some natural hollows, including Roche l’Eglise. Its walls are covered with old wasp nests made from dried mud. Views of the ocean regularly reveal themselves as you come around a bend. At times the glacis descends straight into the sea, mixing the blue of the open ocean and the green of the guayacan trees, another species that has become rare and precious. Avoid straying from the trail on the glacis, especially on the ocean side where hikers can be trapped by the crevasses. Take care on the rocks as well, as these can be slippery. Some sections are equipped with security chains, and we recommend waiting until the end of the trail to get near the water. When you see the shelter ahead, you will know that the end is in sight. It overlooks the famous Anse Major, which you will want to reach as soon as possible to enjoy a swim in this magical setting. It is actually made up of two small bays in one, separated by only a few large rocks. The second, larger bay is a curving thin band of sand where the ocean, forest and river meet. On one side, there is warm salt water. On the other, it is cool and fresh. If you are hiking with a guide, be sure to ask them to find a cool coconut for you. A must-try. Note that you can reserve a private boat and sail directly from the beach for a faster return journey to Bel...

Great beach, great paths through the nature. Just don't be fooled by other descriptions, is not for rookies. It was a demanding path with stones and rocks you have to step on. Total walking from Beau Vallon to the beach: 3 hours with lots of ups and downs. Wear shoes and bring with you bottles of water, you are gonna need them until you get to the beach. By the beach there is a cantina that sells water and a boat taxi to bring you back if you don't feel like doing it again in reverse. At some point of the route there was a loser with a bat that was shouting from distance "flying fox, come see" asking for money. Didn't bother and moved forward.

Conclusion: Totally worth it. If I could change something, I would take the bus until the end, and then walk from that point. And I would bring...

I know Anse Major since 2007. It used to be one of my top 5 places to be on Mahé, have been here five different periods now.

It used to be one of the most remote and silent pearls of Mahé having rich indigenious forest, a soft bay with no current, exceptional sea live with turtles and a lot more.

Nowadays they created a kind of bar there, polluting this paradise like place with digusting loud music ripping off hikers with horrendous prices for any kind of rubbish.

Even worse on Anse Major Trail, inside the reservate, Seychelles' Authorities allowed a Russian Oligarch creating his villa, actually a fortress, contained in artificial defending walls, in the middle of the sensitive indigenous forest.

Government failure like on mainland Afrika, corrupt! Shame on Seychelles'...