Anse source d´argent, Sand beach on La Digue Island, Seychelles

Anse Source d'Argent is a sand beach on La Digue with white sand and massive granite boulders rising from the water. The shallow water shimmers in turquoise shades and benefits from a coral reef zone that shields the shore from strong currents.

The Seychelles archipelago, including La Digue, formed about 65 million years ago when Gondwana split into the Indian and African plates, with the inner islands made of granite that cooled deep underground roughly 750 to 800 million years ago. The beach lies at the south-west of La Digue and is reached only by sea or by a trail through L'Union Estate Farm, an old coconut and vanilla plantation that keeps Seychelles giant tortoises.

The beach lies within L'Union Estate Farm, a former coconut and vanilla plantation that also keeps Seychelles giant tortoises. Visitors reach the sand on foot through this estate, passing the plantation grounds before the granite boulders come into view.

The beach is reached through L'Union Estate, a historic property on the island where you obtain entry beforehand. It is best to arrive early in the day when fewer people are present and the light is best for photos.

The granite boulders are around 750 to 800 million years old, formed as cooled magma beneath the crust before Gondwana split. Unlike most Seychelles beaches, a coral reef and lagoon here calm the water, and at high tide the rocks become encircled by water, giving a floating sensation.