CC BY 4.0, Seychelles News Agency, Wikimedia CommonsHike· Aride· Seychelles
Aride summit trail and viewpoint (Gros la Tête)
4° 12.6′ S · 55° 40.1′ E · approximate
A steady guided climb from the coastal plateau through hill woodland to the 134 m hilltop, where the northern cliffs drop to open ocean and thousands of frigatebirds hang in the updraft — and the panorama looks back over the whole granitic archipelago from the Sisters to Silhouette.
Practical
Do not go up the hill without a guide/warden; stay on the paths (ICS trail rules). Trail brochures in English, French, German, Italian and Creole. Strolling times on the ICS map: about 5 minutes from the visitor shelter to La Cour, 15–20 minutes along the plateau, then the hill climb. Thin soil, Balfour's screwpine and stinging tangen rouz shrub near the top — long trousers help. Bring water. Coordinate approx: hilltop north of island centre, from the ICS trail map.
Best for
The best view in the inner islands and the frigatebird cliffs
Season
Oct–May visiting season
Nearby
- Aride Island Special ReserveRight here
- Aride SE monsoon closureRight here
- Aride seabird season (lesser noddy, tropical shearwater, frigatebirds)Right here
- Aride Wright's gardenia0.1 NM away
- Aride endemic landbirds (Seychelles warbler and magpie-robin)0.2 NM away
- Aride landing (reserve boat, visiting days)0.2 NM away
- Aride safe swimming beach0.2 NM away
- Aride hawksbill turtle nesting0.3 NM away