Page 117 of Africa by Audley Travel

praslin s waters are clear and warm praslin praslin is one of the larger islands being 12 kilometres long and five kilometres wide it is exceptionally pretty with thick emerald vegetation sugar white beaches and pale turquoise waters offshore coral reefs surround the island and small atolls are visited by a myriad of seabirds and nesting turtles the pace of life on praslin is gentle and unhurried its small villages basking in the sun rainbow-coloured shops selling banana bread and smoked sailfish sandwiches and bulbuls babbling in the trees fishing is a main source of income and early in the morning boats chug into the small ports to unload the day s catch needless to say fish is often on the menu whilst a sleepy island there is plenty to see and do in the centre of the island is the vallée de mai national park a world heritage site and the place to see coco de mer palms growing in magnificent profusion there are walking trails to view points and paths that lead to deserted beaches and coves without a soul in sight diving and snorkelling are lovely with rich reefs surrounded by haloes of butterflyfish sweetlips damselfish and more you might want to take a boat trip to the nature reserve islands of cousin aride or curieuse with their thousands of seabirds or simply snooze on a beach with a picnic on the sand beside you le duc de praslin cote d Ô r praslin this lovely little hotel is a minute s stroll from the beautiful cote d Ôr beach on northern praslin there are fifteen chalets spaced around a green lawn interspersed with palm trees and exotic flowers the dining room is open-air and overlooks the swimming pool and an orchid garden with over 100 varieties of orchid this hotel has a tranquil atmosphere and is ideal for relaxing although if you d like to be active the hotel can arrange bicycles walks snorkelling and diving cafÉ praslin des arts coted Ô r situated beside cote d Ôr beach the café des arts has been created by two artists and comprises a tiny but stylish hotel and art gallery there are four small rooms with high ceilings polished wooden floors smooth carved tables and fresh cream fabrics outside there is a small garden where breakfast is served and the view stretches over cote d Ôr beach and to saint pierre island in the distance activities such as diving snorkelling and boat trips are easily arranged le duc de praslin praslin from the air 116

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