Welcome to Seychelles
Located off the coast of East Africa, Seychelles is a nation of 115 islands scattered like pearls across the Indian Ocean. With its serene pace of life, dazzling white beaches and warm azure waters, Seychelles is the stuff of dreams – and our Island Travel Designer Birgit has recently returned from a trip intended to see if the reality matches the romance. Spoiler alert: it does, and then some!
Regularly going to Seychelles and other private ocean islands is one of the most important ways that we ensure our knowledge of these destinations stays up to date and that we have the expertise necessary to create your perfect curated tropical beach vacation.
Living the experience
One of the outer islands of Seychelles, Platte Island is home to the gorgeous Waldorf Astoria which prides itself on attention to detail and personalized, anticipatory service delivered by the personal concierge or butler attached to each villa. With activity options ranging from watching turtles lay their eggs on the beach (in season) to the rather more energetic padel, this private island resort lets you do as much or as little as you wish.
With no fewer than six bars and restaurants, it is renowned for its gastronomy (including the opportunity to take cooking lessons from the chefs). As Birgit discovered during her stay, “every course is an experience”.
Spending time at resorts like this is a vital part of what Birgit does – as she explains, it’s vital to truly get a feel for each island and the uniqueness of each property. Only in this way can she and her colleagues share insights about the type of island (coral reef or granitic boulders), the prevailing direction of the ocean breezes and currents, and the intangible – yet essential – “feel” or “vibe” of each property (family or honeymoon, chilled or active).
Greener than ever
Birgit was particularly impressed by the increased focus on eco-friendly initiatives since her last visit to Seychelles – proof that luxury and sustainability can walk hand-in-hand along the same beach. These included collecting and recycling ocean plastic, and – at Raffles Seychelles on Praslin Island – a reef rehabilitation project that is restoring underwater habitats for fish and other species.
Several resorts now also have organic vegetable and herb gardens, making the food offering at luxury Seychelles resorts even more delicious.
Equally wonderful – but each island is distinct
Each island in the Seychelles has its own unique focus, from the cultural opportunities (including exploring traditional markets) on the main island, Mahé, to the emphasis on fishing activities on the outer island of Alphonse (where ringing the bell to signify landing a fish is a traditional highlight).
Then there’s the remarkable Six Senses Zil Pasyon on Félicité Island which breaks the mold in terms of architecture and design, using the island’s giant granite boulders as a framework for remarkable contemporary villas that both contrast with and complement their surroundings.
Choosing your island(s)
Of course, Seychelles is not the only private ocean island destination in the Indian Ocean – the Maldives and Mauritius are also beguiling options. Birgit’s advice when thinking about a Seychelles vacation is to consider not just the undoubted beauty of the islands, but also more practical aspects like how much time you have, and how many different islands you wish to visit.
You then need to look at connections (by charter aircraft or boat) and whether minimum stay rules apply at specific resorts. Of course, the best way to understand all of these different points is simply to ask someone who’s passionate and knowledgeable about Seychelles – like Birgit.
Because she’s ben visiting Seychelles on behalf of Private Ocean Islands for many years, Birgit has seen how this dream destination has evolved to have more of a focus on families and children, while at the same time offering more adventurous and active honeymoon options.
In short, Seychelles has “something for everyone”. To turn your Seychelles vacation from a bucket list item into a reality, contact the journey specialists at Private Ocean Islands today.