All activities / Trekking / Hiking / Morne Seychellois National Park
Trekking / Hiking in Morne Seychellois National Park
The national park covering the mountainous spine of northern Mahe, more than a fifth of the island, from coastal mangrove to cloud-brushed granite. A network of trails climbs through endemic forest to viewpoints over the coast and the summit of Morne Seychellois, at 905 metres the highest point in Seychelles.
Why here
Morne Seychellois National Park is the wild interior most beach visitors never see. Covering more than a fifth of Mahe, it climbs from mangrove and cinnamon-scented forest to granite ridges and the 905 metre summit of Morne Seychellois, the highest point in the country. A dozen trails thread it, from the short Copolia path that ends on a granite plateau above the Sainte Anne marine park to the demanding, root-tangled scramble to the main summit through dripping mist forest. Along the way you pass endemic pitcher plants, jellyfish trees and the birdsong of the highland forest. The summit trail is steep and easy to lose, so the park authority requires a licensed guide on it, which also turns the walk into a running commentary on the island's plants, history and birds.
Best months
The drier, clearer stretch from May to September is the best walking, with firmer ground and better summit views, though showers are possible any month. Trails are steep, rooty and slippery after rain, and the summit route is unmarked in places. Copolia is a manageable half-day for most walkers; Morne Seychellois is a full, strenuous day that needs reasonable fitness and a guide.
Getting there & around
The trailheads sit off the Sans Souci and coast roads a short drive from Victoria, reachable by taxi or hire car. Copolia can be walked independently for a small fee; the Morne Seychellois summit requires a licensed guide, booked a day or two ahead. Start early to beat the heat and the afternoon cloud, and carry water, grippy shoes and a rain layer.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Guil-Rod Exotiques Tour
GuideGuil-Rod Exotiques Tour is a licensed hiking guide run by Roddey on Mahe, leading walkers on the Morne Blanc and Morne Seychellois trails inside the national park. He is known for detailed local knowledge of Seychellois plants, birds and history that goes well beyond the guidebooks, and tailors the pace and route to the group. Bookings are handled directly by phone and message rather than through a website.
The Cool Tour Guide
GuideThe Cool Tour Guide is a licensed Seychelles guiding service run by Bertrand, listed on the official Seychelles.com tourism platform and cleared to lead the trails that require a guide by law. It walks the full Mahe network, from the gentle Copolia plateau to the demanding 905 metre summit of Morne Seychellois, sharing the endemic plants, history and birdlife of the national park along the way.