Luxurious tropical magic in the Seychelles

A tiny thing: about twelve kilometers long and five kilometers wide. But the landscape is a superlative with snow-white paradise beaches that are among the most beautiful in the world and a palm tree jungle that is millions of years old. Praslin, the second largest island in the Inner Seychelles, is a tropical mini-paradise with a wonderfully dreamy atmosphere. In contrast to the busy main island of Mahé, hustle and bustle are foreign words for the approximately 8,000 islanders.

No wonder that one of the most luxurious hotel resorts in the entire archipelago is located on this magical island. The 86 detached villas at Raffles Seychelles are nestled on the hillside above the picturesque bay of Anse Takamaka on the north coast, overlooking the uninhabited, much smaller island of Curieuse.

Anyone traveling to Raffles Seychelles will be picked up at the island airport after a 15-minute flight with a small propeller plane from Mahé or will land directly at the resort by helicopter. The longer option is the one-hour boat crossing from Mahé, 40 kilometers away.

There is no pomp and circumstance at Raffles Seychelles, but there is plenty of privacy in the large, tastefully furnished one or two-bedroom villas or the new residences with up to four bedrooms and almost all of them have their own pool. The villas on the green hilltop have the most beautiful view: even from your bed you can look out over the glass, sliding patio door to the pool and the shimmering turquoise Indian Ocean - there's no better way to greet the day. The villas also have everything else that discerning travelers could want: walk-in dressing room, Bluetooth speakers, coffee machine, tea and cold drinks, snacks, yoga mat, deep bathtubs with a view of the outside and a perfectly equipped terrace with rain shower, sun loungers and a covered one Part with dining table. If you like, you can have food brought to you.

Otherwise, you can walk or take a golf cart to the restaurants that focus on Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine with fine curries, sushi and freshly caught fish such as sea bream or bonito. But international classics such as pizza, pasta, burgers and light salads are also served. Tip: Book a cooking class with the chef in the open-air kitchen with a view of the ocean and let yourself be introduced to the finer points of island cuisine with fragrant spices and exotic ingredients such as breadfruit, hearts of palm, passion fruit or flying fox. Raffles Seychelles attaches great importance to sustainability and fish, vegetables, fruit and even chicken come from the islands.

Afterwards, you can take a relaxing break at one of the two 45-meter-long pools or jump into the Indian Ocean on the hotel's own beach with sand as fine as baby powder and framed by mighty granite rocks - a postcard-perfect paradise. If you need more variety, there is a wide range of water activities such as stand-up paddling, fishing, snorkeling or wonderful boat trips to the neighboring islands of Curieuse or La Digue. Or you can pay a visit to the hotel's own, some of them ancient, Aldabra giant tortoises or let yourself be pampered in the spa area. You shouldn't miss excursions on Praslin, for example to the famous Vallée de Mai, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or to the lesser-known Ford Ferdinand Nature Reserve. In both cases, easy hikes lead through a million-year-old jungle with gigantic Coco de Mer palms and the black parrot, which only occurs here - a backdrop like the gateway to Jurassic Park.

At sunset, Raffles Seychelles offers guided excursions to the island's highest peak, Mount Zimbabwe, or to Anse Lazio on the western tip of Praslin. Thanks to the fantastic hotel service, you can enjoy the evening glow with appetizers and champagne on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world - unforgettable.

When you arrive back at your villa after a dream day, you will not only find your bed turned down, but also artistic bedtime treats such as chocolate turtles and a sunken bath. The butler service keeps you at such a comfortable temperature that all you have to do is slide in and when you look out over Takamaka Bay from the tub you realize that you could stay at Raffles Seychelles forever.

Info:

www.raffles.com/seychelles

praslin@raffles.com