Round Island (Praslin)

Auf einen Blick

• Inselgruppe: Inner Islands

• Inseltyp: Sub-island

• Fläche: 0,19 km²

• Entfernung zu Mahé: 44 km

• Anreise: boat

• Bewohnt: ja

• Geologie: granite

• Besonderheiten: Remote island with abundant nature and little infrastructure

 

The circular, green secret off the east coast

If you're standing in the harbor of Baie Sainte Anne on Praslin, or looking out to sea from Anse La Farine beach, you'll inevitably notice a tiny, densely vegetated island. It looks as if someone has placed a perfect green cone in the turquoise ocean. That's Round Island (or Île Ronde in French)!

With a mere 20 hectares in area and a steep, 75-meter-high peak, this small granite island truly lives up to its name; it is as round as an island can possibly be. Today, Round Island is an exclusive, private retreat offering absolute discretion and tropical perfection far removed from the hustle and bustle.

Luxury in miniature: A private hideaway

Round Island is free from mass tourism and day-trippers crowding the beach. Privately owned, it's an absolute dream destination for those seeking a true Robinson Crusoe experience without sacrificing first-class luxury.

• Exclusive villas: The island is home to only a tiny handful of luxurious villas built in the traditional Creole wooden style, blending almost invisibly into the lush vegetation. Often, the entire complex is rented out by families or groups who wish to remain completely undisturbed.

• Pure nature instead of concrete: Since all the buildings were constructed with extreme care around the massive granite boulders, nature plays the leading role. You'll share the tiny paths mainly with white tropicbirds, fairy terns, and of course, the obligatory giant tortoises.

The lagoon: A protected underwater paradise

Since Round Island is located directly in a sheltered lagoon in the lee of Praslin, the water here is almost always wonderfully calm and crystal clear – perfect conditions for water lovers!

• Snorkeling right from your living room: The island is surrounded by wonderful little sandy coves. You can practically slip into the water with your snorkeling mask right from your terrace.

• Encounters at the reef: Beneath the gentle waves, colorful parrotfish, groupers, and majestic stingrays hide. In the small caves and rocky overhangs of the granite coast, you can also observe reef sharks sleeping. A true insider tip for relaxed, calm dives and snorkels!

From giant nut to coconut plantation

Despite its tiny size, Round Island has had a small botanical roller coaster ride.

• Traces of the past: Originally, the island, just like its larger neighbor Praslin, was home to the famous Coco de Mer palm . These endemic palms were cleared in the past to make way for a lucrative coconut plantation (for copra production). Now, the dense, pristine jungle is reclaiming the island, covering the small mountain cone with a rich, impenetrable emerald green.

The verdict: Round Island off Praslin is tiny, but wow! This private island is generally inaccessible to typical day-trippers, but it offers a fantastic, pristine photo opportunity from a boat or Praslin's east coast. Those who check in here, however, experience an intimate island idyll of the highest caliber, where the outside world is guaranteed to stay right outside the door.