A Couples Guide to the Seychelles

This collection of luxurious private pool villas – each with a private outdoor pavilion, plunge pool and balcony – is found on the island of Praslin, which is known for palm-fringed beaches and the jungly Praslin National Park at the interior. If you book for five nights or longer, you’re eligible for the Signature Offer, which includes a complimentary one-way private helicopter transfer from Mahé and a three-course romantic dinner. Curieuse Restaurant is an island-chic setting offering a menu with influences from India, China and Southeast Asia. Think fresh Thai salads, Indian curries and traditional Chinese stir-fries.

French Creole bungalows nestled in tropical gardens open out to timber decks overlooking St Pierre Island on the horizon at this idyllic hotel on Praslin. While it might be tempting to relax poolside or spend the day at the white-sand beach bordered by granite boulders, there are also plenty of activities to enjoy. Visit the traditional Creole House, which is crafted from palm leaves and other traditional materials, and learn how the Seychellois Creole cooked in the past. Make a palm leaf broom, or enjoy traditional Moutya and Sega dance performances every Friday around a fire on the beach.

Go back to where it all began at this legendary resort on Mahé – one of the first hotels to open in Seychelles back in 1943. Located at Beau Vallon Beach, a pretty bay with 3km (1.8mi) of white sand known as one of the island’s best swimming spots, the historic resort features a variety of rooms and suites overlooking the ocean or tropical gardens, including a family suite that can sleep up to five guests. Make sure to book a romantic dinner at the Paris Seychelles Restaurant, set on the hotel’s pontoon. The menu combines French and Creole cuisine, with dishes such as octopus ceviche and seared red snapper with crispy okra fingers or broccoli in chorizo-bacon butter.

If you’re looking for a spot to truly unwind in Seychelles, look no further than Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas. Each of the 30 secluded private villas has a dedicated, round-the-clock Villa Host to look after anything you need. The Beyond All-Inclusive concept includes all meals and drinks and unlimited scuba diving and yoga. The luxurious villas are designed by Bill Bensley, the founder of renowned Bangkok and Bali-based design studio BENSLEY. Each one features a rustic palette of raw timber and hammered copper softened by plush furnishings and boasts a private pool surrounded by tropical gardens.

A romantic getaway doesn’t mean you have to leave the kids at home. This family-friendly resort is set on 120ha (300 acres) spanning across two beaches on Mahé and overlooking the marine national park of Port Launay – and it’s set up to cater for adults and kids alike. Parents can enjoy a traditional massage in the largest spa of the Indian Ocean while kids hang out at the Constance Kids Club, which offers island exploration, local crafts workshops, culinary activities, and scavenger hunts. For adventurous family fun, there’s the opportunity to organise zip lining, mangrove kayaking, and fishing excursions.

Live out your island dreams at this ultra-luxurious resort on a private island in the middle of the Saint-Anne Marine Park, just a 15-minute boat ride from Mahé. There are ten one-bedroom villas, each with a private infinity pool and a design inspired by Creole-Seychellois traditions, with excellent white linens, floor-to-ceiling windows framing ocean views, and raw timber details. Planning the ultimate destination wedding? Rent out the entire island for up to 24 people, and enjoy snorkelling, kayaking and tropical beaches in complete seclusion.

Set in over 80ha (200 acres) of tropical forest on the edge of the Indian Ocean, this four-star hotel takes relaxing on the beach or by the pool to new levels. Surrounded by several small, private, white-sand beaches in the large bay at Anse Bois de Rose, Coco de Mer offers couples the opportunity for ultimate seclusion, with hammocks strung between swaying palm trees. Or, relax poolside at one of the resort’s two pools, one of which is in the shape of a Coco de Mer and the other which is perched on a granite outcrop with a 270-degree ocean view.

Situated at the Saint-Anne National Marine Park entrance, 4km (2.4mi) from the northeast coast of Mahé, Cerf Island offers a quieter, more secluded getaway than some of the larger islands. The entire island is less than 1.6km (1mi) long yet is home to numerous sandy beaches, while the absence of any roads allows for a leisurely exploration of the island by foot. Cerf Island Resort features just 24 spacious villas designed to blend into the surroundings with Seychellois design elements. Lucky guests get large outdoor baths, secluded sun terraces and large windows to let in the ocean breeze.

Seychelles is known for its lush tropical vegetation, but there’s perhaps no spot like the award-winning garden at Le Duc de Praslin on Praslin island’s Cote D’Or Beach. The garden features over 100 varieties of orchids, colourful hibiscus flowers, tropical palm trees and two fish ponds. The grounds are also home to three Magna Pools, which feature water with natural ocean minerals which revitalise your skin as you swim. For even more indulgence, book a treatment at the rooftop Elodia Spa Pavillion, which offers treatments using products from luxury Italian brand Parma.

If you’re in search of complete privacy for your romantic retreat, head to North Island, 30km (18.6mi) north of Mahé. This private island has just 11 ocean-view villas dotted amidst 201ha (500 acres) of tropical wilderness. Each 450sqm (4,843 sq ft) villa boasts a private plunge pool and direct access to the beach, where you can snorkel, dive, kayak and paddleboard. Celebrating a special occasion? The resort can organise a private picnic at the exclusive ‘Picnic Spot’ on West Beach, with a tailor-made picnic basket overflowing with cheeses, freshly baked ciabatta, fruit skewers, chocolate-covered strawberries and, of course, champagne.