AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Port Launay Beach sits on the sheltered northwestern coast of Mahé, Seychelles, cradled within a marine national park that encloses eight stunning beaches. Its calm, shallow waters and powder-white sand make it one of the island's most picturesque seascapes — a place where you can snorkel over living reefs on one side of the bay and watch whale sharks drift lazily past on the other.↗↗
What sets Port Launay apart on Mahé is its extraordinary range of activities. Kayaking, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, and windsurfing are all available here through rental operators — a breadth of choice rarely found on the island. Yet the beach equally rewards pure laziness under the shade of takamaka trees, with the reef keeping the swell at bay and the water staying glassy calm for much of the year.↗↗
A Sheltered Bay Like No Other on Mahé
The bay at Port Launay is protected by coral reefs and headlands on both sides, creating a natural swimming pool that stays remarkably calm even when other Mahé beaches are rough. The water is shallow and gradually deepens, making it especially welcoming for families with children or nervous swimmers. Behind the beach, a fringe of takamaka trees provides the kind of real shade that is unusual on tropical beaches, while mangrove wetland backs part of the shore, adding a quietly wild character to the landscape.
