The Seychelles is preparing to host the second edition of the Seychelles Nature Trail on the 23rd of August 2025, a signature eco-tourism event designed to highlight the islands’ natural wealth while promoting environmentally responsible travel. Set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most celebrated biodiversity hotspots, the event is positioned as more than a recreational trail, it is a statement of Seychelles’ commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship.
Following the success of its inaugural edition, this year’s trail offers participants a guided experience through some of Seychelles’ most remarkable landscapes. From dense tropical forests and endemic flora to coastal paths overlooking pristine shorelines, the event immerses participants in the ecological and cultural essence of the archipelago.
The 2025 Seychelles Nature Trail is a 22 km endurance run with a demanding 1,210 m climb, set in the Morne Seychellois National Park, the largest and most biodiverse area of Mahé. The trail takes runners from Port Glaud through varied terrain: coastal vistas at Cap Ternay, forest paths at Anse Major, rugged ascents at Mare aux Cochons and Cassedent, rolling forest tracks at Tomassin, before culminating at the festive finish at Grand Anse Mahé.
Bernadette Willemin, Director General for Destination Marketing- Tourism Seychelles
With roughly 210 runners, including 150 international guests and 60 locals, the event demonstrates growing global appeal. It’s a one-day, technically challenging adventure designed to test both seasoned athletes and enthusiastic newcomers. Adding a cultural dimension, the finish line will host a vibrant Creole fair, with community vendors, conservation messaging, and sustainability features like eco hydration and waste separation along the route.
New to 2025 is an expanded category system, allowing participants of varying skill levels to engage meaningfully. Distances range from shorter formats for beginners to longer, more intensive loops for experienced runners.
Organizers have placed increased emphasis on sustainability, introducing eco-friendly hydration points, waste separation zones, and community-driven conservation messages along the trail.
For Tourism Seychelles, the Nature Trail is more than a sporting event, it reflects the nation’s Sustainable Tourism Strategy, which balances visitor experience with conservation imperatives. The initiative diversifies Seychelles’ tourism offerings beyond its beaches, encouraging year-round engagement and strengthening the country’s reputation as a leader in eco-conscious travel.
Bernadette Willemin, Director General for Destination Marketing, remarked: “The Seychelles Nature Trail is an opportunity for us to demonstrate how tourism can contribute positively to the preservation of our environment while creating meaningful experiences for visitors. It is aligned with our broader vision of ensuring that tourism continues to serve both our people and our ecosystems.”
She further added: “This second edition consolidates our model of guided, environmentally responsible hiking that links nature, culture, and physical challenge. It is intentionally immersive, from lush forest to pristine coastline and heritage sites, so that the ecological value of the archipelago is clear to every participant.”
Echoing this, Allen Cedras, CEO of the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, highlighted the event’s appeal: “The Seychelles Nature Trail will be a chance for us to see not only who wins, but how every participant completes the challenge. It is good visibility for Seychelles Parks and Gardens and for the Department of Tourism, as it shows the world that even as a small nation, we have our beauty, our landscapes, and we are making the best use of them for visitors and for the athletes who will take part.”
Allen Cedras, CEO of the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority
He also noted: “On 23 August I’ll be at the finish in Grand Anse Mahé. Whether a local or an international runner crosses first, the story is how each participant meets the challenge. The trail motivates, showcases our protected areas and landscapes, and offers Seychelles valuable visibility.”
The Nature Trail continues to evolve as a platform for wellness, environmental stewardship, and community pride. Local schools, tourism operators, and residents are engaged in its delivery, ensuring benefits extend beyond the athletes. From volunteer stations to local food vendors, the event is firmly anchored in community participation.
The Creole cultural fair at the Grand Anse Mahé playing field, the finish line, will further celebrate Seychellois heritage, while the event also stimulates economic activity. Local businesses, from accommodation providers to small-scale vendors and transport operators, benefit from increased visitor traffic, alongside seasonal job creation and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The trail’s growing scale resonates beyond sport. It supports Seychelles’ broader tourism strategy by drawing nature-based and experiential travelers, while showcasing the archipelago’s untapped potential in adventure tourism.
The 2025 edition, with its 150 international and 60 local runners, affirms Seychelles’ rising prominence on the international trail-running calendar. A prize-giving ceremony will crown the event, celebrating both athletic excellence and community participation.
As preparations advance, the Seychelles Nature Trail 2025 stands as a clear example of how destination marketing, sustainability, and authentic visitor engagement can intersect. For Seychelles, it is both a celebration of natural heritage and a practical reminder that the future of tourism rests on protecting the very resources that make the islands unique.
