An inspiring travel guide to the Morne Blanc nature trail hike on Mahe Island, the Seychelles. Discover one of the best viewpoints on Mahe Island with this short but rewarding hike.
Are you looking for the best viewpoint hike on Mahé Island in the Seychelles? You’ve come to the right place! In this quick hiking guide, I’ll give you a complete run-down on hiking the Morne Blanc nature trail for panoramic coastal views over Mahe’s west coast.
#8 in 26 Best Things to do in Mahe
Should I Hire a Hiking Guide for the Morne Blanc Trail?
There are two ways to hike the Morne Blanc trail, either with a licensed guide or independently. If you've followed this blog for a while, you'll know that I'm a big fan of independent hiking, even choosing to go without guides for long 3 week treks in the Himalayas.
For the Morne Blanc Trail, I'd say that it would be very easy for most people to hike this without a guide as it is almost impossible to get lost. However, sometimes it is definitely worth it to get a guide. In this case, I'd recommend it, not to help you get to the top, but to make the Morne Blanc trail experience more enjoyable.
Hiking in the Seychelles is a great experience due to its incredible biodiversity and endemic species of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth.
For this reason, I chose to hike the Morne Blanc trail with my Seychelles guide and good friend Roddey who runs Guil-Rod Exotiques Tour. I had hiked the Mare aux Cochon trail with him a few days prior and let me say, he's one of the best hiking guides I've ever walked with. He knows absolutely everything about Seychellois history and nature. I learned a lot about the Seychelles from this man that you won't find in guidebooks.
Give Roddey a text or call on WhatsApp and let him know Olly from We Seek Travel sent you for a good deal: +248 259 6425
I'm not getting paid to endorse Roddey's business. Instead, when a tour provider really blows me away with quality and authenticity, I want to help get their service out there!
Related: Best Mahe Snorkeling Boat Excursion (Sainte Anne Marine National Park)
How To Get to the Trailhead
If you get a guide to the Morne Blanc trail, they'll arrange all the transport back and forth. However, for those who are hiking independently, you'll need to make your way to the trailhead yourself.
The start of the Morne Blanc nature trail begins on Sans Soucis Road. This road connects Victoria and the east coast to Port Glaud on the west side. It's a winding mountain road with notable stops including the Mission Lodge and Copolia Trail.
To get here, you could either include a stop at the Morne Blanc hike on a customizable full-day tour of Mahe, pay a taxi driver, or get the bus.
The bus is the cheapest option and very reliable on weekdays. This only costs SCR 14. You can take a bus from Victoria and just tell your driver you want to hike to Morne Blanc and they'll drop you at the trailhead on the way.
Once you make it to the google maps pin below, you'll see the trailhead sign and the clear path to the summit of the mountain.
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The Morne Blanc Trail: What to Expect
- Hiking Distance: 1.8 kilometers return (1.1 mi)
- Duration: 1 hour return
- Elevation: 230 meters elevation gain |
Morne Blanc height: 667 meters - Difficulty: Moderate
The Morne Blanc trail is a fairly steep hike that begins climbing immediately from the road. The elevation gain is fairly consistent throughout the 900 meters to the summit.
However, there are no climbing or technical sections, meaning the hardest part about it is the effort required. For us, it was quite a breeze, whizzing up to the summit in about 30 minutes. This included stops where Roddey would explain the characteristics, history, and importance of specific plants.
Morne Blanc one of the most popular hikes in the Seychelles because it is accessible and easy to follow, but offers some of the most spectacular views.
However, it's not just the summit that makes this Mahe hike so worthwhile. The trail itself is very beautiful, climbing through a snaking path of rich, tropical jungle. There's also a cool tree that was growing on a rock, which you can climb inside.
Morne Blanc Trail Map: My Strava
Related: Anse Major Hike (Mahé)
Morne Blanc Viewpoint: Best View of Mahe West Coast
As you near the summit of Morne Blanc, you'll slowly see the plants changing due to the higher elevation. Just before you reach a small wooden bridge, you'll find some great views overlooking the Morne Seychelles National Park, including Morne Seychelles itself (the highest point on Mahe).
With that said, the Morne Blanc viewpoint is by far the main event. You'll know you've reached the end when you see the wooden platform with a steel safety barrier.
The Morne Blanc viewpoint is breathtaking on a clear day. You'll be rewarded with panoramic coastal views over the west coast of Mahe. From the top, you'll get a vantage point of Therese and Conception Island, running all the way down the coast to Petite Anse on the south cape. The beautiful Port Glaud lagoon (near Sauzier Falls) is also visible from the top.
Below are some photos that I took at the top of Morne Blanc on a beautiful, clear morning.
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Related: Hikes on La Digue
Where to Stay on Mahé Island
Mahé is the main island and home to Victoria, the capital city of the Seychelles. It's the largest of the inner islands and has several great places to stay. Here is a quick area guide with the top 4 accommodation recommendations below.
- Victoria and Eden Island for nightlife
- Beau Vallon for beaches and restaurants
- Private islands for the ultimate island experience
Top Accommodation Picks
- Top pick on Mahé: Eden Bleu Hotel (Eden Island) - The Eden Bleu Hotel is one of the best places to stay if you're looking to be close to the Victoria and on Eden Island. It's an amazing contemporary hotel on the foreshore of Eden Island's prestigious marina.
- Mid-range resort: Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort - This beautiful, beachfront resort and casino combo offers elegantly furnished rooms with all the facilities you could ever want. Here, you'll find a large pool, three restaurants, a pizzeria, a fitness center, PADI diving center, and a tennis court.
- Budget self-catering Studio: Precious Residence - If you want to explore Mahé on a budget, then self-catering accommodation is your best bet. Precious Residence is an apartment with excellent reviews (9.5/10), offering budget apartments equipped with free WiFi, air conditioning, and a kitchenette on Grand Anse (west coast).
- Ultimate getaway: JA Enchanted Island Resort - Looking for the ultimate Indian Ocean getaway? JA Enchanted Island Resort is an impeccably beautiful resort located on a tiny private island on the footsteps of the St Anne Marine Park.
- ...10+ More Top Recommendations in this guide to where to stay on Mahé
More Mahe & Seychelles Adventure Inspiration
I hope that my experience hiking the Morne Blanc trail in the Seychelles has inspired you to embark on your own trip when visiting Mahe.
While you’re here on my blog, make sure to check out some of my other articles for more inspiration. I’ve written extensively about travel on Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue, including nature trails, waterfalls, beaches, island-hopping and amazing cultural experiences. I’m sure you’ll find something to inspire your adventures in these beautiful Indian Ocean islands.