TURTLE BAY
A calm, pretty bay on the north-west of Mahé near Bel Ombre. Sheltered water and a quiet setting make it an easy swim, and it sits close to the trailhead for the famous Anse Major walk.
A sheltered north-west bay
Turtle Bay lies on the north-west coast of Mahe near the village of Bel Ombre, a short way beyond the busy sweep of Beau Vallon. It is a calmer, quieter alternative to its famous neighbour, a sheltered bay with gentle water and a relaxed, local feel, backed by greenery and the steep hills of the coast.
Because it is tucked away from the main beach strip, it rarely feels crowded, and it makes an easy, unfussy spot for a swim or a lazy hour by the water when you want the north of the island without the bustle of Beau Vallon.
The gateway to Anse Major
Turtle Bay’s other value is its position. This corner of Bel Ombre is where the coastal trail to the hidden beach of Anse Major begins, so the bay works beautifully as the start or the end of that walk, a place to cool off before or after the hour along the granite coast. Boats to Anse Major and the north-west coves also leave from around here.
It is a practical, pretty base for exploring the wilder north-west shore, close enough to Victoria and Beau Vallon for convenience but quiet enough to feel like a small escape.
Know before you go
| Where | Bel Ombre, north-west coast of Mahe, beyond Beau Vallon |
| Type | Sheltered, quiet bay, calmer than nearby Beau Vallon |
| Swimming | Generally gentle and sheltered |
| Nearby | The trailhead and boats for Anse Major |
| Facilities | Limited, with more back toward Beau Vallon |
| Best time | Morning calm, or around an Anse Major walk |
What visitors say
★ 4.3 · 23 Google reviews★★No infrastructure and quite dirty.. no big deal!
Mac Ventura · via Google
★★★★★Nice beach to relax for a while. There are many spots to hideout in the shadow. Not many people around and calm sea – for me a perfect spot
Bama O’Connor · via Google
★★★★★Nice beach with a gradual entrance to the sea.
Duri – · via Google
★Didn’t like it. There was just nothing there.
Yana Moyseeva · via Google
Turtle Bay is the calm end of the north-west coast and the start of the Anse Major trail. Pair it with a guided island day, and stay around Beau Vallon to have the north of Mahe on your doorstep.
Traveller favouriteFull-day private Mahé island tourfrom €129 per groupBook this tourTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Anse Major · Beau Vallon · Sunset Beach
Use it as the cool-off at the end of the Anse Major walk. The trail to that hidden beach starts near here, so a swim in this sheltered bay is the perfect reward when you get back.
