Praslin – Curieuse St Pierre Anse Georgette Private Trip

Tortoises, beaches, and a good boat day. This private Praslin excursion packs Curieuse Island, St Pierre snorkeling, a nature trail, and two famous beaches into seven hours. I especially like the private boat for up to two people and the chance to sit beside giant tortoises during a Seychellois BBQ lunch. The main consideration is the extra marine park fee, which costs SR300, or about €20, for each person aged 12 and older.

I also like that hotel pickup, snorkeling gear, drinks, lunch, and an English- or French-speaking local guide are included. You get plenty of variety without arranging several separate trips. Still, this is an active day on and around the water, so it is not suitable for non-swimmers, people with certain medical conditions, babies under one, or anyone over 70.

Key points at a glance

• Curieuse on foot: Cross the 1.7-kilometer trail through mangroves after meeting the island’s giant tortoises.
• St Pierre snorkeling: Make an early water stop among Seychelles sea life before reaching Curieuse.
• Lunch beside tortoises: The BBQ is served on Curieuse, with giant land tortoises close by in their natural habitat.
• Two famous Praslin beaches: Spend time at Anse Georgette and see Anse Lazio from the sea, with a snorkeling stop in the area.
• Private value: The $525 price covers a private group of up to two, boat crew, hotel transfers, food, drinks, and equipment.
• Flexible finish: The captain chooses the final place for swimming or snorkeling, depending on the day.

Why this seven-hour trip works well

If you want to see several Praslin-area highlights in one day, this trip makes good sense. You move by boat from one setting to another, so the day includes open-water views, snorkeling, a short nature walk, wildlife, lunch, and beach time.

The private format matters. The price is $525 for a group of up to two, not a separate charge for each person. For a couple or two friends, that works out to $262.50 each before the marine park fee. The package also includes hotel pickup and drop-off, which saves you from arranging transport to the waterfront.

You also get a boat and crew, masks and fins, a local guide, and a BBQ lunch. Drinks include water, lemonade, one beer for each adult aged 18 or older, and a rum cocktail. I like that the food and basic drinks are already handled, since a full day on the water is easier when you do not need to carry supplies.

The drawback is simple: $525 is a serious price for two people. It makes the most sense if you value privacy and want a full itinerary rather than a basic boat transfer. You must also add SR300, or about €20, for each person aged 12 and above for the marine park entrance.

Setting out from Praslin to St Pierre

The day begins with a cruise from Praslin. Depending on your pickup arrangement, you may meet at Pirogue Restaurant Beach Front, while hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the package.

The first planned stop is St Pierre, where you can snorkel among local sea life. This is a smart way to begin the day because you get into the water before the main island visit. You will want your towel and swimwear ready, rather than buried under dry clothes and beach items.

Masks and fins are supplied, so you do not need to pack your own equipment. Even so, fit matters. Take a moment to adjust the mask before entering the water, and tell the crew if you need help. The outing is not suitable for non-swimmers, so you should be comfortable in the sea before booking.

St Pierre is also part of the appeal of the cruise itself. You get changing views as the boat moves away from Praslin, then a close look at the water around the small island. The exact conditions can affect how long the stop feels, and the captain has some flexibility later in the day.

Walking Curieuse’s 1.7-kilometer mangrove trail

After snorkeling, you land on Curieuse Island. The island gives the trip its strongest nature element, with a trail that crosses mangrove forest for 1.7 kilometers.

This is not simply a boat ride with a quick photo stop. You walk through a distinct island environment, then come out at another attractive beach. The route gives the day a useful change of pace after time in the water.

You should wear practical footwear for the walk, though the suggested items include flip-flops. Flip-flops are handy around the boat and beach, but some people may prefer sturdier footwear for a 1.7-kilometer trail. The supplied information does not describe the trail surface, so pack with comfort in mind and avoid bringing anything you will not want to carry.

The mangrove section also gives you a chance to slow down. The boat stops are about scenery and sea life, while this part is about walking through Curieuse at ground level. If you prefer a day with no walking, this is an important point to consider before booking.

Meeting Curieuse’s giant land tortoises

The giant tortoises are the emotional center of the trip. You can walk among them, take photographs, and see them in their natural habitat rather than only viewing wildlife from a boat.

The plan includes lunch beside the tortoises, which makes the meal feel like part of the island visit instead of a separate break. You can eat a BBQ lunch while remaining close to the animals, then spend time watching them and taking pictures.

I would keep your phone or camera ready, but remember that the tortoises are the attraction, not a photo prop. The experience is best when you allow time to watch their slow movements and presence. The chance to take a selfie is there, but the setting is more special than a quick picture.

Curieuse is especially useful for anyone who wants a wildlife experience without giving up beach time. You do not have to choose between an island walk and a swim. The day gives you both, though the seven-hour schedule means each stop has a limit.

BBQ lunch and Seychellois touches

The BBQ lunch is included, and it is served on Curieuse. That removes one of the small hassles of a full-day excursion: deciding where to eat between water stops and sightseeing.

The trip is described as 100 percent Seychellois, and the local guide speaks English and French. That local character is part of the appeal. You are not only being moved between postcard locations; you are spending the day with a local crew and eating on one of the islands.

Drinks are modest but useful. You receive water and lemonade, plus one beer for each adult aged 18 and older and a rum cocktail. The package does not list unlimited alcoholic drinks, so do not treat the beer and rum as a full bar service. Water is the sensible choice during the hotter parts of the day.

The crew can assist with the marine park payment, too. The entrance fee is not included, but it can be paid online or on site by card, with cash also accepted through the supplier. I would have this money or a working card ready before the trip begins.

Anse Georgette, one of the beach highlights

Anse Georgette is one of the two major beach stops. It is presented as one of Seychelles’ more private or less accessible beaches, so reaching it by boat gives you a special angle on the coast.

The value here is not only the sand. After the walk across Curieuse and lunch, Anse Georgette gives you time to relax and swim. You will likely appreciate the slower pace, especially if you have spent much of the morning moving between water and trail.

Beach conditions and access can shape the stop, and the captain controls the practical details of the boat visit. The supplied information does not promise a fixed amount of time on shore, so you should think of the beach as a scheduled highlight within a busy day, not a long resort-style afternoon.

Bring your towel and flip-flops. Those two items are specifically recommended and cover the basic needs of the boat, beach, and swimming stops.

Seeing Anse Lazio from the sea

Anse Lazio is the other famous beach on the route. Instead of treating it only as a place to land, the trip includes views of the beach from the sea and a small snorkeling stop in the area.

That viewpoint gives you a different way to appreciate Anse Lazio. From the boat, you see the curve of the beach and its position along Praslin’s coast. You also avoid spending the whole day driving between beaches, walking inland, and returning to the water.

The snorkeling around Anse Lazio adds another short water break. Since the trip already includes snorkeling at St Pierre, this gives you a second chance to see marine life in a different location. The description also allows for a final swim or snorkeling stop chosen by the captain, so the exact water schedule can change.

This flexibility is useful when sea conditions or timing make one location better than another. It also means you should not expect a rigid minute-by-minute program. The captain’s choice is part of the private format.

What the $525 price really includes

At $525 for up to two people, this is not a low-cost beach transfer. It is a private full-day package with several costly pieces already bundled together.

You receive:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Private boat and crew
• English- or French-speaking local guide
• Masks and fins
• BBQ lunch
• Water and lemonade
• One beer per adult aged 18 and above
• A rum cocktail
• Visits to Curieuse, Anse Georgette, and the Anse Lazio area

The marine park entrance is the clear extra. Anyone aged 12 or older pays SR300, or about €20, per person. For two adults, that adds SR600, or roughly €40, to the day.

The price is easiest to justify if you are traveling as two people and want privacy. You are paying for a boat day built around your own small group rather than joining a larger party. If you mainly want one beach and a short boat ride, this package may include more than you need.

Who should book this private boat day?

I would recommend it for a couple or two friends who want a packed introduction to Praslin’s nearby islands and beaches. It suits people who enjoy switching between activities instead of spending seven hours in one place.

You should be comfortable with a boat ride, snorkeling, swimming, and a 1.7-kilometer walk. The experience is not suitable for people with heart problems, high blood pressure, recent surgeries, insect allergies, or for babies under one year. It is also listed as unsuitable for people over 70.

Strollers and baby carriages are not allowed. That rule, plus the swimming and trail requirements, makes this a poor match for families with very young children.

The private format can also help if you want to set the tone of the day. You can enjoy a quieter cruise, ask the guide questions in English or French, and benefit from the captain’s flexibility at the final stop.

Small details that make the day easier

Wear swimwear under your clothes and keep your towel close. Flip-flops are useful at the beach and on the boat, while footwear that feels secure on a 1.7-kilometer trail may be more comfortable for the Curieuse walk.

Protect anything electronic from spray and keep your belongings light. You will move between boat, water, trail, lunch, and beaches, so a small bag is easier than a heavy one.

Do not forget the marine park payment. The crew can assist, but the SR300 fee for each person aged 12 and older is still your responsibility. You can pay online or on site by credit card, and cash is accepted with the supplier.

The trip offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those policies help if your Praslin schedule is still changing, but weather and sea conditions can still affect the practical flow of a boat day.

Should you book the Curieuse and Anse Georgette trip?

Book it if you want one private day that combines wildlife, snorkeling, beaches, and lunch without arranging each piece yourself. The strongest reasons are the Curieuse tortoises, the mangrove trail, and the chance to see both Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio in the same outing.

Skip it if you are a non-swimmer, need a gentle sightseeing day, dislike boat travel, or only want a long stretch of beach time. Also check the final cost carefully: the $525 group price is attractive for two people who value privacy, but the separate marine park fee raises the total.

For the right pair, this is a well-filled Praslin day with a distinctly local feel, plenty of water time, and a memorable wildlife stop at its center.

FAQ

How long is the private Praslin trip?

The experience lasts seven hours.

How much does the trip cost?

The price is $525 for a private group of up to two people.

Is the marine park entrance included?

No. The entrance fee is SR300, or about €20, for each person aged 12 and older.

How can I pay the marine park entrance fee?

You can pay online or on site by credit card. Cash is also accepted with the supplier, and the crew can assist you.

What food and drinks are included?

A BBQ lunch is included, along with water, lemonade, one beer for each adult aged 18 or older, and a rum cocktail.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Masks and fins are included.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide service is available in English and French.

Is hotel transportation included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The meeting point is Pirogue Restaurant Beach Front.