MARE AUX COCHONS
A long highland trail into the wild green interior of Mahé. Through mist forest and past a rare upland marsh, it is the walk for those who want the mountain heart of the island, not just its beaches.
Into the island’s interior
The Mare aux Cochons trail leads deep into the Morne Seychellois National Park, the mountainous, forested spine that fills the middle of Mahe and that most visitors only ever glimpse from the coast. This is a longer, more committing walk than the short viewpoint trails, taking you through tall endemic forest, along streams and over glacis into a landscape that feels a world away from the beaches.
The trail is named for a high, boggy marsh, a rare wetland habitat perched in the mountains, and the route can be linked with other paths to make a proper day in the hills. It rewards walkers who want to earn their Seychelles, and who like their scenery green and wild rather than blue and sandy.
Endemic forest and a guide
The forest here is rich in the plants and creatures found only in the Seychelles, from pitcher plants on the glacis to endemic trees, ferns and highland birds. Because the trails cross and the ground can be wet and slippery, a guide is genuinely worth it, both to read the forest and to keep you on the right path. Good shoes, plenty of water and a rain layer are essential.
For anyone who has ticked off the beaches and wants to understand the other Seychelles, the one that existed long before the first plantation, a walk like this is the way in.
Know before you go
| Where | Morne Seychellois National Park, interior of Mahe |
| Type | Long highland forest and marsh trail |
| Effort | Committing, uneven and often wet ground, a real hike |
| See | Mist forest, a rare upland marsh, endemic plants and birds |
| Guide | Strongly recommended for the route and the flora |
| Bring | Grippy shoes, water, a rain layer, insect repellent |
| Best time | Morning, in the drier season, on a settled day |
What visitors say
★ 4.4 · 30 Google reviews★★★★★There are two way to reach the trail, one via san Bernard and it’s not easy to find? Path is really difficult to find in the jungle. The other is from le Niol side and this one is easy to find but super steep at the begi…
kstroj · via Google
★★★★★Important! I spent more than an hour looking for the start point. It appears Google Maps is missing a road! I’ll add in the photos a screenshot where I added the missing road in red. So basically drive in Le Niol road …
Gal · via Google
★★★★★What an amazing trail! Many different landscapes, quite easy for family. One of my favorite trail in Seychelles
Nathalie Clerempuy · via Google
★★★the trail is not good especiallh when you start it in belombre theres no much to view i advice people to use leniol way in that way you can get to view beavallon beach and road is clear also
Ndai chirayiro · via Google
The deep interior trails are best walked with a guide who knows the routes across the glacis and the endemic forest. Book a guided Mare aux Cochons hike, and base yourself on Mahe within reach of the mountain trailheads.
Perfect 5.0 ratingGuided Mare aux Cochons trail hikefrom €125 per groupBook this hikeTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Copolia Trail · Salazie Nature Trail · Morne Blanc
Treat this as a proper hike, not a stroll. It is longer and wetter than the short viewpoint trails, so go with a guide, in the drier season, and carry more water and better shoes than a beach day ever asks of you.
