The Seychelles
North Island, Seychelles
North Island. For a slice of heaven, look no further. With accommodation for just a few guests, the five hundred acre island is a sanctuary of seclusion and tranquillity; so much so that you need never see another guest. Aside from its breath-taking beauty, the property offers exclusively tailored, yet utterly discreet, service. A private Villa Attendant caters to every need and a dedicated Guest Experience Host curates a bespoke stay with personal preferences discussed upon arrival with the island’s chef and meals complemented with your choice of wine from North’s (as it affectionately known) extensive cellar. Rather than a set restaurant, choose between the Island Piazza, West Beach, your villa or by moonlight at one of the many secluded beachside spots around the island. You can expect the same level of service for around the clock spa treatments.
Your Room
Hidden among palm fringed edge of East Beach the islands ten presidential villas have been designed to offer the polar opposite to the stresses and strains of everyday life. Perched on granite rocks at the far end of the beach, Villa North Island is the quintessence of seclusion and romance with 750m2 of space made for two. Fall into a haven of serenity, space and privacy and cocoon yourself in the subtly lavish confines of your villa. With fully retractable glass doors, the handcrafted villas give the sense of sleeping in the great outdoors – especially as you awaken to the sounds of jungle and lapping water as the sun rises from a sapphire horizon. Considering the private dining area, kitchen, rain-shower, plunge pool and the mere hop, skip and jump that it takes to dip your toes into the Indian Ocean, we really wouldn’t blame you if you never left. But if you do – North Island really is a beauty to behold. Check into the spa for a massage after a morning working towards your complimentary PADI qualification, before whizzing over on your personal golf buggy to Honeymoon Beach for a picnic lunch on one of the world’s most exclusive private beaches. There are a plethora of activities to choose from, on land or in water, but a day on North Island would be incomplete without a few sunset cocktails and canapés at West Beach Bar. We challenge anyone to find a more idyllic beach-side honeymoon destination.
Location
North Island truly sets a benchmark for paradise. Combine each and every one of your preconceived daydreams and you’ll start to build up a picture of this no less than perfect location. Crystal-clear waters ranging in hue from inky sapphire to turquoise, lapping upon talcum sands fringed by lazy palms swaying in the breeze – it’s sheer bliss. As if North needed a further jewel in its emerald and tanzanite studded crown, the island is also something of a conservation hotspot. Clearly much more than just a pretty face. Endangered nesting sea turtles and Giant Aldabra Tortoises abound. As one of forty granitic islands flung out in the Indian Ocean surrounding the Seychelles main islands of Mahé and Praslin, North takes seclusion and conservation to the next level; so much so that it foregoes a landing dock. The best way for guests to reach the island is via a 15-minute helicopter ride from Mahé. That’s what we call arriving in style.
Why we like it
Although North Island occupies a space straight out of paradise, there is a significant amount of brains behind this beauty. We love that its conservation credentials are so high on the agenda and that the programmes are so accessible to guests. So visit this little slice of paradise and not only will you feel all your worries simply melt away, but you’ll discover just how North has helped the Seychelles gain its reputation as ‘The Galapagos of the Indian Ocean’.
Sustainability
‘Noah’s Ark’ is a remarkable project set up by North Island with the mission to restore the native plant species that were destroyed in a vast copra (coconut kernels) plantation. Since this initiative began, the land has been transformed and indigenous wildlife, including sea turtles, have gradually been returning to the area. Speak to our Travel Experts to find out more.