Grande Soeur Island

Grande Soeur is the larger of the two Sisters islands northeast of La Digue, privately owned since 2005 by a hotel on Praslin, which has added a few villas, a staff house and a helipad, and boats run out to it on day trips: a beach on each side of the island, a short path across the middle between them, snorkelling off the rocks and a barbecue lunch on the sand. Giant tortoises roam the interior. The crossing takes around half an hour from La Digue.

History

In the 20th century the island had a small coconut plantation, and in 2005 it was bought by the hotel Château de Feuilles on Praslin, which has since built villas, a staff house and a helicopter platform (Wikipedia, Grande Soeur).

The landscape

• The two beaches - one on each side, linked by a short path across the island.
• The tortoises - the giant tortoises roaming the island's interior.
• The snorkelling - the reef and rock off the eastern beach.
• The crossing - the half-hour boat run from La Digue.

When to go

April to October has the calmest crossings. Trips are cancelled in rough conditions. Boats run in the morning and return mid-afternoon.

Practical notes

Access is only on organised day trips and independent landing is not permitted. Crossings are rough and often cancelled in the monsoon. Several boats can arrive at once on a small beach.

Nearby

Île Cocos is southwest, and La Digue is south.

Key facts