Our Ros Lepa hike on Mahé takes you to a place that very few visitors ever see. In the humid forest of the southwest, rain and time have carved real steps into the ancient granite. The locals call it Ros Lepa, Creole for "rocks in steps".
The trail winds through a cinnamon forest, and you will recognise the scent straight away. It is an easy, mostly shaded walk, suitable for children from 5 years. Your guide grew up walking these paths and knows the way to this quiet spot, which is hard to find on your own.
This is a private tour, only for you and your partner, family or group. We pick you up anywhere on Mahé and bring you back afterwards. Plan about 3–4 hours in total.
Highlights
- Private guided Ros Lepa hike, only you and your partner, family or group
- Natural granite staircase formed by erosion over thousands of years
- Scented cinnamon forest in the southwest of Mahé
- A quiet spot away from the usual tourist routes
- Easy, mostly shaded walk, suitable from 5 years
- Free pick up and drop off anywhere on Mahé
Your day
Pick up at your accommodation
We collect you at your hotel, guesthouse or any other address on Mahé at the time you choose when booking.
Drive to the southwest
We drive to the start of the trail in the green, humid forest of southwest Mahé.
Through the cinnamon forest
About one hour of easy walking through a shaded cinnamon wood. Your guide shows you the plants and the scents of the forest.
Ros Lepa
You reach the stone staircase and stay about half an hour. Time to explore, rest and take photos.
Walk back and drop off
We return along the same shaded path and drive you back to your starting point or anywhere else on Mahé.
Included
- Private guided hike for you and your partner, family or group only
- Licensed local guide speaking English or French
- Free pick up and drop off anywhere on Mahé
- Transport by car to the trailhead and back
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Personal expenses
What to bring
- Proper closed shoes (no light sandals)
- Drinking water
- Mosquito repellent
- Light clothing
- Camera or phone
Good to know
- Suitable for children from 5 years.
- If two adults book with one or more children, the first child aged 5–12 joins free of charge.
- The trail is about 2.7–3.2 km and mostly in the shade of the forest.
- About 3–4 hours in total, including transfers.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour, with a full refund.
- The tour is paid in advance online. Would you like more time? You can simply add extra hours when you book, and if the day runs a little longer, that is no problem.
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | €129 |
| 2 person | €69 |
| 3 to 4 persons | €55 |
| 5 to 25 persons | €49 |
With two paying adults, one child up to 12 years travels free. Lunch, dinner, drinks and entrance fees are optional and paid on site.
Ros Lepa: the secret staircase of southwest Mahé
Most people who visit Mahé never hear of Ros Lepa. That is part of its charm. Deep in the humid forest of the southwest, a granite rock has turned into a natural staircase. In Creole, Ros Lepa means "rocks in steps". The place is also known as Ros Leskalye.
How did the steps form? The rock here is Precambrian granite. Over thousands of years, heavy tropical rain washed out the softer minerals in the stone. What remained are real steps, shaped by nature and not by people.
The Ros Lepa hike through the cinnamon forest
The trail is roughly 2.7 to 3.2 km long and winds through a wood of cinnamon trees. You will notice the warm, sweet scent within the first minutes. Most of the path lies in the shade of the forest, which makes the walk pleasant even on a sunny day.
The walk to Ros Lepa takes about one hour. There we stay for around half an hour, so you have time to climb a few steps, look closely at the rock and take photos. Then we return the same way, again in the shade.
A place the locals know
Ros Lepa is not signposted like the famous viewpoints of our island. It is a place that the people of the southwest know, and that is passed on from one generation to the next. Your guide has walked these trails since childhood and brings you there safely. For you, this means a quiet, authentic experience away from the busy spots.
Is the Ros Lepa hike right for you?
The hike is easy and suitable for children from 5 years. You do not need special fitness, but you do need proper closed shoes. Light sandals are not suitable for the forest path. Bring water, mosquito repellent and light clothing. The forest is humid, and a little protection against mosquitoes makes the walk more comfortable.
Including pick up and drop off, plan about 3–4 hours in total. If two adults book with one or more children, the first child aged 5–12 joins free of charge.
Your private tour with Island Tour Seychelles
Island Tour Seychelles is a family business on Mahé, run by Sheena Jean since 2020. Every guide in our team is licensed and holds an official tour guide certificate. Together with our guides Chris, Kevin, Yannick and Keeto, we love sharing the quieter corners of our island. Our guides speak English and French, and Sheena also speaks a bit of German.
Every tour is private: only you and your partner, family or group walk with us, at your own pace. We pick you up free of charge anywhere on Mahé, whether you stay at a hotel, a guesthouse, on Eden Island or with friends, or arrive at the airport, the cruise terminal or the jetty in Victoria. After the hike we bring you back wherever you like.
The tour is paid in advance online, and you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start.
Questions and answers
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Read up on the places
What awaits you at each stop, in peace and before you go.
