The best of Silhouette island

NPTS have planted a number of rare endemic plants here, a small step towards restoring the island, and a short guidebook is available from their visitors centre. The nature trail rejoins the main track, which leads uphill then descends to Anse Lascars. This is a lovely secluded bay. From here, the path winds uphill to a viewing point at the headland of Point Zeng Zeng. It then descends to the secluded bay of Anse Patates with its fascinating mature mangrove swamp and beach crest of windswept sea hibiscus. Returning towards La Passe, look out for the path on the right to Anse Cimetière, site of the old cemetery.

The Hilton resort lies north of the La Passe jetty on Anse La Passe, a beautiful sandy beach that stretches northwest of the hotel. Beyond it lies an equally lovely, palm-fringed and deserted beach, Baie Cipailles. The path running along the coast between the two bays winds through an abandoned coconut plantation and a line of takamaka trees.

At the northern end of Baie Cipailles, there are two paths leading to Anse Mondon, a one-house settlement that offers the very best snorkelling around Silhouette. The lower path is overgrown and best avoided. The upper path, which runs over Belle Vue through thick forest, is easier and more scenic. Just before the descent back to the coast, the forest opens up to reveal a spectacular view of Anse Mondon. If landing at Anse Mondon, this walk may be done in reverse. Either way, it takes about two hours.

The old path from Anse Mondon to Grande Barbe has all but disappeared so this walk is no longer possible. However, the path connecting La Passe and Grande Barbe is well worn. It’s about a three-and-a-half-hour walk from one side of the island to the other, but you can arrange for your boat to drop you at one side and collect at the other. Once home to many families, Grande Barbe is now a virtual ghost town. A short way inland from the beach, on the coastal plateau, is a marsh and the largest surviving wetland in the Seychelles.

The trek from La Passe to the summit of the magnificent Mont Pot à Eau takes the best part of a day. It is not for the faint-hearted, and should not be attempted without a guide (obtainable from La Belle Tortue guesthouse): as it is infrequently used, the path is sometimes unclear and is often muddy and slippery due to high rainfall on the mountain side. However, if you enjoy a challenge, it’s a wonderful walk that takes you through a fascinating mist forest, rich in exotic flora including the striking pitcher plant that grows on its exposed summit.