GRAND ANSE PRASLIN
A long, breezy beach on the south coast of Praslin, with a real village behind it and the jetty for La Digue close by. More local life and wide horizons than a postcard swimming cove.
The long southern shore
Grand Anse is the long, open beach that runs along the south coast of Praslin, backed by one of the island’s main villages and its everyday comings and goings. This is a working stretch of coast rather than a sheltered resort bay, with schools, shops and homes close behind the sand, and it gives a genuine feel of island life on Praslin away from the famous northern beaches.
The beach itself is broad and long, wonderful for a walk, and the wide southern horizon and passing boats give it an airy, spacious character. The jetty at nearby Baie Ste Anne is the departure point for the short ferry to La Digue, so this corner of Praslin is a natural hub for onward island-hopping.
Wind, weather and walking
Facing south-east, Grand Anse takes the brunt of the trade winds for part of the year, which can bring breeze, waves and seasonal seaweed, and this honest exposure is why it is more a walking and living beach than a calm swimming one. In the calmer months and on settled days it is far gentler, but for reliable turquoise-lagoon swimming the sheltered north-coast beaches like Cote d’Or and Anse Lazio are the better bet.
What Grand Anse offers instead is space, local life and an easy base close to the ferries and the island’s south, within reach of the Vallee de Mai and the whole of Praslin.
Know before you go
| Where | South coast of Praslin |
| Type | Long village beach, local life and wide horizons |
| Swimming | Better in the calm season, exposed to trade winds otherwise |
| Nearby | Baie Ste Anne jetty and the ferry to La Digue |
| Good for | Long walks, local atmosphere, a base near the ferries |
| Best time | The calmer northwest-wind season |
What visitors say
★ 3.7 · 126 Google reviews★★★★★This beach is great, it’s secluded, never overcrowded. A good place to snorkel, I saw stingrays and sharks here
Saule · via Google
★★★★Grand Anse Beach is a quiet beach, located in the south of Praslin. It’s not very touristy and there’s not much to do, so it’s best for a quick stop rather than a long visit.
Bram Wouters · via Google
★★★★★💧♒️
Samuele Paccapelo · via Google
★★★This beach in Praslin is probably the least popular Grand Anse beach out of all three islands. Very weedy. But had good vegetation at the outside part. There is a pizza place by the name of Island Pizzeria. The part of g…
Eber Shibin · via Google
Grand Anse sits close to the jetty for La Digue, so it is an easy launch point for island-hopping and exploring Praslin’s north. Stay on Praslin to reach the Vallee de Mai and the calm-water beaches with time to spare.
Island day tripLa Digue island day tourfrom €200 per groupBook this tripTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Anse Volbert (Côte d’Or) · Vallée de Mai · Anse Lazio
Treat it as a walking and living beach, not a lagoon swim. For calm turquoise water head to Cote d’Or or Anse Lazio on the north coast, and use Grand Anse for its long sands, local life and the easy hop to La Digue.
