The best hotels in the Seychelles
The otherworldly beauty of the Seychelles has long attracted curious travellers and fanned its reputation for both exoticism and elitism. Thanks to the islands' remoteness – 1,600km off the east coast of Africa – they have never been cheap to visit, or, for that matter, on any cruise-ship itineraries. A great number of the islands have never been sullied by human habitation and remain splendid reminders of how things were a million years ago, like miniature versions of the Galápagos or Madagascar, worlds suspended in time. Some are protected nature reserves, and the Seychelles has two UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The main island of Mahé – just 26km long – and its neighbours in the Inner Islands are stupendously forested and encircled with preternaturally beautiful beaches; some of those further afield are no more than windswept specks of coral, scattered like shotgun pellets over vast distances, or huddled together in tiny atolls as if taking comfort in each other's company in the face of such terrible isolation. Unassuming guesthouses and small, locally owned hotels remained the order of the day until the 1990s, when the government adopted a more pragmatic approach to foreign investment. Which is when international hotel brands started to open on the main islands. These are our favourites of the bunch.
How we choose the best hotels in the Seychelles
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve.
hotelWaldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island
Platte Island (meaning ‘flat’ in French) lies 130 km south of Mahé, the Seychelles' biggest island, and is surrounded by animal-rich sea reefs and lagoons. This sand cay was originally an uninhabited coconut plantation until Waldorf Astoria’s parent company, Hilton Worldwide, replaced some of the trees with gardenias, octopus bushes and numerous other plants, before building 50 villas while respecting the natural surroundings as much as possible. The result is the new Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, a secluded marine Eden that is drawing honeymooners and families wanting magical, immersive nature experiences while still never straying too far from modern comforts.
Villas here line the western and southern sides of the island and range from one to three bedrooms to the King Deluxe Villa, which has five bedrooms and extensive gardens. The fan-shaped interiors exude modern, understated elegance, with wooden floors, palm-tree pattern cushions, and earthy-toned bathrooms with white standalone bathtubs and speckled floor tiles. Some villas, such as No. 29, have turtle nests directly behind them (they are marked), so expect some thrilling sightings when the turtle returns to lay more eggs. The villas on the northwest corner are close to Sand Bank Beach where clear, shallow waters make for fun reef walks and sightings of baby reef sharks and juvenile sting rays. Shark Point Beach at the southern end has deeper water that’s more suitable for swimming. Noo Saro-Wiwa
Six Senses Zil Pasyon
One of the finest private islands in the Indian Ocean, certainly one of the most dramatic, run by the sure-handed spa specialist group, with rewilded nature that’s been given the time and space to make a comeback. Up in the trees, or secluded amid rocks and pristine forest, the villas are the closest thing to super-smart, minimalist tree-houses. They are floored in local Balau wood, fronted in glass that allows the surroundings to take centre stage, and decked out in soothing ocean hues. The area feels both very primitive – and, thanks to eco-initiatives, very advanced. This is the place that, when you are having a bad day back at home, you dream about. Lisa Grainger
Etched SpaceNorth Island
This astonishing retreat – potentially the most famous in the Seychelles – first opened in 2003. Almost 20 years later, it has gone through refurbishments and ownership changes, introducing super-smart elements such as soft silk rugs and hand-beaten brass headboards. But the whole place has weathered beautifully and now sits happily in its setting; the laid-back spirit is still very much the same as it ever was. North Island employs full-time environmentalists and landscapers, and takes on volunteers, to improve the luxurious forests, making it an eco-thinking space in a country where the climate crisis is ever on people's minds. And in 2011, it was the honeymoon destination of a certain Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Four Seasons resort at Desroches Island
Desroches is a coral cay of great beauty in the remote Amirantes archipelago, laced with white-sand beaches and surrounded by a warm, shallow lagoon. There has been a lodge here for many years, but the new owners decided to tear it down and rebuild from scratch, calling in Four Seasons to manage it (the Canadian company also runs their property on the main island of Mahé). The result is a serious international player with a commitment to service rarely seen in these far-flung parts. The hotel itself is restricted to the south of the island, where a lighthouse has been built at its furthest point as the setting for a smart, dinner-only restaurant. There are 40 guest villas, quietly and immaculately done out and set in big, lawned gardens with private pools, from which secret walkways lead to wide beaches where turtles nest. In addition, the island is home to private villas, some of which have been added to the Four Seasons inventory. Everyone gets a bicycle to explore the grounds and beyond, where there is a small Creole village with a chapel and a dense forest traversed by sandy paths.
Read more about Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island
Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels and Resorts
Mango House Seychelles is the former family home of Milanese fashion photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri, now operating as a 41-key boutique resort under LXR Hotels & Resorts. Its ultra-scenic seclusion on Mahé is the epitome of a laid-back yet luxurious Seychelles getaway: one can honestly gaze at the stunning bay views – from the beach, the two pools, or one’s own balcony – for hours and feel revitalised. And the championing of local artisans and suppliers makes one feel particularly connected to the location. The interiors inside each room read contemporary sea-breeze luxury, but you will be venturing out often for the resort's lauded upscale food and drink venues. Rooms from £740. Travis Levius
Denis Island
This private island is everything the Seychelles should be. Its 375 acres are beautifully isolated and unspoilt, with palm trees and white, sugar-soft sand. 25 ocean-facing, open-plan cottages are all within easy reach of the main building and its restaurant, bar and freshwater outdoor pool. This island is just half an hour by plane from Mahé, but has a wealth of wildlife lingering among its crescent of palm-fringed beaches – think turtles, rays and clownfish.
DAVID ROGERSAlphonse Island, Outer Islands
In terms of far-flung, this speck 250 miles to the south-west of Mahé is about as Robinson Crusoe-adventurous as most probably want to get. Nature is allowed to run riot, with countless bird species, lumbering giant tortoises, and nesting hawksbill and green turtles, whose secret lives can be explored on nature walks with the conservation team. This is where to come to kick off your shoes, pedal a bicycle through palm groves and properly disconnect from the world. The atmosphere has the cheery informality of a house party – owner Murray Collins and his family often bob among guests gathering in the bar for a rum cocktail before candlelit suppers. Bed down in one of 22 simple, raised A-frame bungalows; for more space, choose the beach suites or the new villas, designed by Lisa Rorich in thatched Creole style, all barely a stone’s throw from the lapping water of the Indian Ocean. And what water.