Seychelles Nature Trail is increasingly positioning itself among the most interesting trail races in the Indian Ocean
Seychelles Nature Trail, a trail-running event on the island of Mahé, is increasingly establishing itself as one of the recognizable sporting events of the Indian Ocean. According to a Tourism Seychelles announcement from May 19, 2026, the third edition of the race attracted participants from 14 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, confirming that the event is turning from a local sports-tourism initiative into an international gathering place for runners, nature lovers and visitors seeking an active holiday. The race takes place on Mahé, the largest island of the Seychelles, where mountainous terrain, tropical forest and coastal viewpoints combine into a demanding but visually highly attractive route. The organizers present the event as a blend of sport, nature conservation, local culture and experiential tourism, and precisely that combination is becoming increasingly important in global tourism. The Seychelles have been known for decades for beaches and luxury holidays, but Seychelles Nature Trail shows that the archipelago is simultaneously building the identity of a destination for adventure, wellness and environmentally conscious tourism.
The third edition confirmed the international character of the race
According to official information from Tourism Seychelles, the 2026 edition continued the growth of an event that in only a few years has become an important point in the sporting and tourism calendar of the Seychelles. The race is 22 kilometers long and takes runners through more than 1,200 meters of elevation gain, from coastal areas to the forested and mountainous parts of Mahé. The route passes through Port Glaud, Cap Ternay, Anse Major, Mare aux Cochons, Cassedent and Tomassin, before the finish in Grand Anse. Such a trail profile requires endurance, good preparation and the ability to move across technically demanding terrain, but the organizers emphasize that the event is designed to attract a broad range of trail runners, from experienced competitors to those who want to experience the nature of the Seychelles in a different way.
Tourism Seychelles states that the event has now, in its third edition, outgrown its initial ambition and gained international recognition. Tourism Minister Amanda Bernstein said in the official announcement that the organizers are receiving extremely positive feedback from participants and that runners recognize in the Seychelles a rare combination of technical challenge and natural beauty. According to her, participants leave after the race with impressions that encourage them to return, which is as important for the country’s tourism strategy as the sporting result itself. For a destination that relies on sustainable development and the quality of experience, such events have a broader role than a one-day competition.
A trail through the forest, mountains and coast of Mahé
One of the main special features of Seychelles Nature Trail is the fact that the race takes place through a landscape that differs significantly from the usual image of the Seychelles as an exclusively beach destination. Runners pass through the dense forested parts of Morne Seychellois National Park, along granite trails, mountain climbs and coastal viewpoints overlooking the Indian Ocean. According to the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, Morne Seychellois National Park is located on the island of Mahé, covers approximately 3,045 hectares and occupies more than 20 percent of the island’s area. The park includes mangroves, tropical forests and mountainous terrain, making it one of the most important natural areas in the country.
It is precisely such an environment that gives the race a character that is difficult to compare with classic road competitions. The trail is not only a physical challenge, but also a kind of movement through a natural cross-section of Mahé. During the race, participants alternate between climbs, technical descents, narrow forest passages and open points overlooking the sea. According to Tourism Seychelles, this very diversity of terrain was one of the reasons why international athletes described the 2026 edition as particularly impressive. French trail runner Sylvaine Cussot, who finished second in the women’s category, reportedly described the race as one of the most special trail experiences, while British participant Charly Pauly highlighted the diversity of the terrain and landscape.
Results in 2026 and a new confirmation of the event’s sporting profile
In the competitive part, according to the official announcement by Tourism Seychelles, Pakistani runner Wiqar Ahmad Nasir defended his title for the second year in a row and finished the race in 2:11:39. Second place was won by South African Daniël Classen with a time of 2:13:00, while Jonathan Quatre took third place and became the first Seychellois athlete to finish the race in that category. In the women’s category, South African Emily Djock won with a result of 2:55:05, ahead of Sylvaine Cussot with a time of 3:02:05 and Seychellois athlete Aishe Radwan, who finished in 3:14:05.
These results show that Seychelles Nature Trail is developing as a serious sporting competition, and not only as a tourist attraction. The race attracts competitors who can master a demanding trail profile and at the same time cope with the climatic and technical conditions of a tropical island. For local athletes, the event has additional value because it enables them to compete alongside international competitors, without the need to travel to major trail competitions in Europe, Africa or Asia. For the organizers, it is important that the sporting results build on the tourism story: strong competition increases the credibility of the event, while the attractive location contributes to its media and promotional reach.
From sport to sustainable tourism
From the beginning, Seychelles Nature Trail has not been presented only as a race, but as a project connected with sustainable tourism and the local community. In earlier announcements, Tourism Seychelles stated that the event promotes sports tourism, well-being, sustainability and community inclusion. The second edition, held on August 23, 2025, gathered 169 runners from 16 countries, and was organized with the support of Ilop Sports and in cooperation with partners such as Seychelles National Parks and Gardens Authority, National Sports Council, Seychelles Defence Forces and Grand Anse Mahé District Administration. Such a structure shows that the event depends on the coordination of the tourism sector, sporting institutions, security services, local administration and volunteers.
The sustainable aspect is especially important because the race takes place in a sensitive natural area. According to earlier information reported by VoyagesAfriq, in preparations for the 2025 edition the organizers emphasized environmentally friendly hydration points, waste separation zones and messages about environmental conservation along the trail. Such an approach corresponds to the position of the Seychelles as a small island state whose tourism is directly linked to the conservation of natural resources. In this sense, the trail race is not only a means of attracting visitors, but also a way of presenting nature as an active space that requires responsible behavior, impact control and the involvement of the local community.
Grand Anse as the finish of sport and local culture
The finish of the race in Grand Anse is not conceived only as a finish line, but also as a meeting place for athletes, residents, visitors and local producers. After the second edition, Tourism Seychelles reported that the finish area had been transformed into a lively local event offering Seychellois products, food, drinks, music and art. The performance of Moutye, a traditional Seychellois expression through rhythm, dance and storytelling, was especially highlighted, giving international participants, alongside sport, an insight into the cultural identity of the island. Such a combination of competition and local program helps ensure that the economic effects of the event do not remain limited only to entry fees and sports logistics.
For local communities, sporting events of this kind can bring additional demand for transport, hospitality, accommodation, guide services and local products. Visitors who come for the race often stay for several days, and some of them also look for accommodation on Mahé near the event venue, excursions and activities before and after the competition. This is especially important for destinations that want to reduce dependence on passive beach tourism and develop content that encourages longer stays, dispersion of spending and greater involvement of the local community. In the case of Seychelles Nature Trail, the sporting event becomes a reason to get to know the interior of the island, the national park and communities located outside the best-known tourist zones.
The broader tourism context of the Seychelles
The Seychelles are a small island state whose international recognition is strongly linked to tourism. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics Seychelles, by May 10, 2026, 127,655 visitors had arrived in the country in 2026, which is 13.8 percent fewer than in the same period in 2025, when 148,143 arrivals were recorded. Such data show why the destination is trying to develop different niches and additional motives for travel. Sports, nature-based and experiential tourism can help diversify the offer, especially when events attract participants from multiple regions and create additional media visibility.
In this context, Seychelles Nature Trail has value that goes beyond the number of participants. The event shows that the Seychelles can offer content for active travelers, athletes and audiences looking for a more authentic encounter with nature. At the same time, the race fits into the global trend of growth in trail running, outdoor activities and travel that combines recreation, health and the natural environment. For tourism authorities, this means the possibility of presenting the destination beyond the dominant images of beaches, resorts and luxury packages. For local stakeholders, it opens space for the development of content that is less seasonal, more connected with the place and more strongly based on natural and cultural heritage.
Why the event is important for the destination’s image
The tourism image of the Seychelles has long been built on natural beauty, exclusivity and seaside holidays, but the contemporary market increasingly seeks more complex stories. Travelers do not want only a postcard, but an experience they can connect with a personal challenge, health, learning and local culture. That is precisely why Seychelles Nature Trail has the potential to become one of the recognizable symbols of a new phase in the country’s tourism positioning. The race uses the natural advantage of Mahé, but does not reduce it to a backdrop; the landscape becomes the central part of the experience, and participants experience it physically, directly and with a certain level of effort.
Such a form of tourism also carries the obligation of careful management. If the number of participants continues to grow, the organizers will have to continue aligning sporting ambitions, safety, trail protection, waste management and the impact on protected areas. That is exactly why cooperation with institutions such as the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority is important for long-term sustainability. Events in natural parks can bring a strong promotional effect, but only if they are carried out with clear rules, access control and participant education. According to available information, the organizers are aware of this balance because in their communication they constantly emphasize sustainability, community and nature conservation.
An event that connects sport, nature and community
After its third edition, Seychelles Nature Trail is profiling itself as an event that connects several goals: sporting competition, promotion of natural heritage, strengthening the international visibility of the Seychelles and creating benefits for the local community. The 22-kilometer race with more than 1,200 meters of elevation gain is demanding enough to attract serious trail runners, but at the same time attractive enough to become strong tourism content. According to Tourism Seychelles announcements, it is precisely the blend of technical challenge, granite landscape, tropical forest, coast and Creole hospitality that sets this event apart from many other races.
If it continues to grow with controlled management and preservation of the natural area, Seychelles Nature Trail could become a permanent point on the international trail calendar. For Mahé and the wider Seychelles, this means an additional opportunity to present the destination as a place for active holidays, and not only holidays by the sea. For runners, meanwhile, the event offers a rare combination of physical effort and movement through one of the most recognizable island landscapes of the Indian Ocean. It is precisely in that combination that the reason lies why Seychelles Nature Trail is increasingly described as one of the most exciting trail-running events in the region.
Sources:
- Tourism Seychelles – official announcement about the third edition of Seychelles Nature Trail 2026, participants, route and results (link)
- Tourism Seychelles – announcement of the 2026 edition with data on the date, route and race profile (link)
- Tourism Seychelles – report on the second edition in 2025, organizers, participants and local program (link)
- Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority – official data on Morne Seychellois National Park (link)
- National Bureau of Statistics Seychelles – current data on visitor arrivals in the Seychelles in 2026 (link)
- VoyagesAfriq – context on sustainability, the route and organizational highlights of the 2025 edition (link)