Please note our writers visited the following hotels prior to the coronavirus pandemic
Where is social distancing a pleasure rather than a pain? When you are at a private island resort in the Seychelles. An ancient archipelago of 115 islands, the Seychelles is a treasure map of miniature worlds where evolutionary isolation has resulted in a unique patchwork of biomes, many protected by the government’s far-sighted one island, one resort policy. Celebrities and royalty consider an island-hopping itinerary here one of the world’s ultimate eco-adventures. Here’s our pick of the best hotels for private island holidays in the Seychelles.
Bird Island
Seychelles
A haven for thousands of fair terns and frigate birds, Bird is nature’s own island. There are few frills here – no spa, no air-conditioning, no golf buggies – just a rustic safari-style lodge and memorable guided walking tours with the resident island conservationist. Bird’s 24 detached chalets are large, with shady terraces and simple furnishings. Four-poster beds are protected by mosquito nets, and louvred window shutters on all sides allow the Indian Ocean breeze to do the cooling, assisted by ceiling fans. Food is served only at set meal times, and eaten in the communal lodge house restaurant.
From
£
356
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Six Senses Zil Pasyon
Félicité, Seychelles
Perfectly positioned within easy reach of 10 other islands, this is the ultimate sybaritic retreat with a world-class spa moulded around centuries-old granite inselbergs and 30 super stylish villas that look out on Zen-inducing views. The villas’ light-filled, lateral design pays tribute to the pristine environment in which they sit, and extra touches such as a swing seat in the bathroom gazing out to sea and a submerged sun-lounger in the infinity pool add a playful element. Though the resort is extensive, it occupies just one third of the 652-acre island, the rest of which has been left wild.
From
£
1,397
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa
Silhouette Island, Seychelles
Set on Silhouette Island, the third largest in Seychelles, this 111-room resort sits on a long palm-fringed beach with a marine park. Up above the tropical mist forest that surrounds Mont Dauban hides the world’s only colony of sheath-tailed bats. The rooms are sparsely decorated in ‘island chic’ elegant style with a few nods to the local vernacular such as Creole-style roofs and wicker furniture. Each is generously sized, with modern and elegant furnishings, spacious bathrooms and comfy, king-sized beds. The Deluxe Beachfront and Deluxe Hillside Villas come with oversized plunge pools.
From
£
292
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
North Island Seychelles
Seychelles
The honeymoon destination of choice for the Clooneys and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, this pioneering barefoot luxury lodge consists of just 11 villas and sits on a beautiful 201-hectare forested island with three deep beaches that attract dozens of nesting turtles. The island itself is about the same size as Monaco, but is still large enough for weeks of adventure. Instead of infantilising guests with overly assiduous service, the real gift here is giving guests the run of the place – it feels like you’ve been entrusted with the keys to Eden, which is both a privilege and a pleasure.
From
£
5,747
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island
Desroches, Seychelles
Seventy-one vast beachside villas dot a castaway island with an eight-mile circumference of fine white sand beaches. WiseOceans leads superb guided dives and snorkels around the encircling reef. A sympathetic blend of contemporary and traditional Creole architecture characterises the beachfront villas while a glamorous open-sided restaurant, bar and deli wrap around a mirror-like infinity pool. The easy elegance of the interiors, which mix African artefacts and natural textures in a relaxed Colonial style, invites guests to take a deep breath and relax into island life.
From
£
702
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Fregate Island Private
Seychelles
Sixteen swish villas sit on this half-wild island where turtles nest in daylight hours and 4,000 giant Aldabra tortoises make you wonder if you haven’t travelled back in time. Things are not private-island pristine, but that makes it all the more special. Inside the villas, there is evidence of more conventional luxury, with private infinity pools, rainforest showers and all mod-cons. Each villa is assigned a butler who will pander to guests if they wish, or leave them be should they prefer to disappear from the world for a week or so. You are unlikely to see many other guests: this is a place to come for seclusion.
From
£
3,529
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Denis Private Island
Seychelles
A Seychellois family-owned resort with 25 stylish chalets that open on to bone-white beaches, Denis is set at the edge of the Seychelles plateau. The property retains a welcoming atmosphere, with an open-sided central lobby and restaurant at the heart of the lodge. There’s a real emphasis on sustainability, and guests are constantly immersed in the natural sights and sounds of the local wildlife. Unique for the Seychelles, Denis sources its poultry and pork from its own small organic farm, and they make their own cheese. This is as close to living on our own desert island as most of us will get.
From
£
1,060
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
JA Enchanted Island Resort
Round Island, Seychelles
This miniature island is set in the midst of the Sainte Anne Marine Park surrounded by coral reefs. The resort’s small scale (24 guests) and romantic atmosphere make it a natural honeymoon destination. The bijoux resort is set against a deep green tropical canvas dotted with the fiery red flowers of the flamboyant trees. A narrow path meanders up from the jetty to the delightful open-sided bar and restaurant and then snakes around the island to the 10 seaview villas and quiet hilltop spa. The villas, styled in the Creole vernacular, sit naturally within the vegetation looking out over the mesmerizing turquoise water.
From
£
533
per night
Rates provided by
Booking.com
Contributions by Tim Ecott & Lizzie Porter
This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.