The Seychelles Islands are set to host their first-ever nature trail half-marathon on 13 May 2023. The event, which will take place on the beautiful island of Mahé, is expected to attract runners from all over the world to experience the natural beauty of this tropical paradise.
Organised by ILOP Sport (Reunion) & Tourism Seychelles, the half-marathon will showcase the island’s unique landscape, with runners following a 22-kilometre route across lush forests, mountainous terrain, mangroves and stunning coastal scenery on the west coast of the main island of Mahé.
“We are thrilled to be hosting our first-ever nature trail event,” says Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary of Tourism Seychelles. “This event will be held annually as a celebration of the incredible natural beauty of our islands. It is a unique opportunity for runners to experience the biodiversity of Seychelles in an engaging and exciting way.”
Starting in Port Glaud and looping around the island’s northernmost tip to end at Grand Anse, participants will traverse challenging terrain with a vertical ascent of 1210 metres and where abundant vegetation can make the trails difficult to manage. However, the natural beauty of the surroundings will make this trail an unforgettable experience.
“Our focus has been to preserve the authenticity of the natural surroundings and not to disturb the fauna and flora of the nature reserves. Going back to the origins of trail running, it is the runner who needs to adapt to the natural surroundings and not nature that needs to adapt to the runners,” says Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, Director General for Marketing at Tourism Seychelles.
Registration for the Nature Trail Marathon is now open, and runners can sign up at the official event website on trailpei.run and follow the instructions to complete their online registration. There are also exciting holiday packages including the nature trail entry fee. For more information contact Thompsons Holidays on +2711 770 7700 or visit www.thompsons.co.za
