Beau Vallon & the North Coast

Introducing Beau Vallon & the North Coast

A long, brilliant white arc of sands laced by palms and takamaka trees, Beau Vallon (on Mahé’s northwest coast, 3km from Victoria) is the most popular beach in Mahé, yet not the most appealing. It’s one of the few beaches where the water is deep enough for swimming (watch out for large swells between June and November). It’s overbuilt by Seychellois standards, but you’ll find it remarkably low-key and quiet if you have experienced other tropical destinations. The seaside ambience, with fishermen selling fresh fish late in the afternoon in the shade of takamaka trees, adds a dash of real life to the area.

In Beau Vallon village, where the road from Victoria forks west to Bel Ombre and northeast to Glacis, there is a petrol station, a Barclays Bank ATM, a Cable & Wireless internet café and the police station. You’ll find convenience stores supplying basic foodstuffs and other necessities on the beach road and around the junction with the Bel Ombre road.

Beau Vallon is the main destination on the northwest coast because of its beach and tourist infrastructure, but there’s also some great scenery north, up the coast to Glacis and North Point. With your own wheels, it’s a scenic drive on a narrow road that hugs the coastline, with intermittent, lovely views over secluded coves at the foot of the cliffs. From North Point, you can head down to Victoria via Anse Étoile.

Last updated: Aug 27, 2009