Travel Guide
Vallée de Mai Ticket, Hours, and Coco de Mer Guide
Vallée de Mai on Praslin is a compact UNESCO natural site where the main experience is walking quietly through a coco de mer palm forest.
ByMomentBook EditorialPublished
Vallée de Mai on Praslin is a compact UNESCO natural site where the main experience is walking quietly through a coco de mer palm forest. The practical plan is simple: arrive inside official hours and treat the reserve as a conservation site, not a theme park.
As checked on 5 May 2026, SIF lists opening hours of 08:30-16:30, last entry at 15:30, and closures on 25 December and 1 January. The on-site entrance fee is SCR 450 and supports management of both Vallée de Mai and Aldabra.
What to know first
- Opening hours are 08:30-16:30, with last entry at 15:30.
- The reserve closes on 25 December and 1 January.
- The entrance fee is SCR 450, bought at the visitor-centre ticket office.
- Facilities include a visitor centre, toilets, cafeteria, lockers, souvenir shop, and parking.
- Walking routes range from about 1.5km to 4km; the visitor centre and first forest section are wheelchair accessible.
_Image: Wikimedia Commons, Radoslaw Botev._
Plan the walk
Rain is common, and the palm canopy helps, but paths can still be wet. Avoid arriving near last entry unless you only want a short loop. Start with the free map leaflet, then choose the route that fits your time.
Read the forest as heritage
UNESCO and SIF describe the reserve as a stronghold for coco de mer and all six endemic Seychelles palms. Stay on marked paths, do not remove seeds or leaves, and keep wildlife viewing passive.
Why the fee matters
SIF is a public trust created by the Seychelles government. It says Vallée de Mai income also helps fund the remote Aldabra Atoll, so the ticket is part of the conservation model.
Check again before travel
Prices and payment rules can change. Recheck the SIF page on the day you go for hours, closure notices, and accepted currencies.