Sculpted boulders
Grey and pink.
NorbertNagel — CC BY-SA 4.0 · NorbertNagel — CC BY-SA 4.0 · NorbertNagel — CC BY-SA 4.0 · NorbertNagel — CC BY-SA 4.0
One of the most photographed beaches in the world, on the south-west coast of La Digue: huge granite boulders sculpted by wind and waves into smooth, strange shapes in grey and pink, scattered between white sand and shallow turquoise water like a swimming pool. A nearby reef shelters the beach, so the water stays calm and shallow, and the shore is split into a series of small coves between the rocks, each a different scene. The major travel guides rank it among the world's finest beaches. The only way in is through the historic L'Union Estate, with a ticket covering the estate and the beach for the whole day. The tide changes the scene: at low tide the water is too shallow to swim, and at high tide the sand narrows, so mid-tide is best, per visitor guides. The first coves fill with visitors and boat trips at midday, so come early in the morning or walk on to the farther coves, and stay for sunset, when the boulders glow in golden light.
Grey and pink.
One after another.
Golden light.
South-west coast of La Digue, through L'Union Estate
L'Union EstateA historic plantation on the west coast of La Digue dating from the eighteenth c11 minutes walk4.3
Veuve Nature ReserveA small forest reserve at the heart of La Digue, set up to protect the Seychelle20 minutes walk3.8
Grand AnseThe widest beach on La Digue, on its south-east coast, with broad white sand bet23 minutes walk4.6No, access is through L'Union Estate with a ticket of about SCR 150 covering the estate and beach all day, per visitor guides.