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Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island

EXPLORE Each guest gets their own bike (which is very sweetly emblazoned with your initials) to get around — and there is plenty of getting around to be done. The resort takes up a decent chunk of the island and there is a small local community, but much is left wild with palm tree fringed paths — the journey is a fun one, with a crossing over the Desroches airstrip along theway. A must on Desroches is a visit to the tortoise sanctuary. You’re almost guaranteed to run into a few of the older residents (they can purportedly live to be nearly 200 years old) roaming freely around the island, but before they go it alone, they are raised in the sanctuary under the watchful eyes of the dedicated team. Drop in on the island’s conservationist Nasreen to see the tiny little hatchlings and to feed the teenagers — they are surprisingly partial to attention and will charge over to you for a head scratch. By Kim Ayling From $784 per night. Contact reservations.sdi@ fourseasons.com, +248 439 3333, fourseasons.com

natural materials; there’s nothing gauche or fl ashy about Desroches. It’s all about relaxing here, so expect plenty of places to while away a quiet hour or two, from the beach-facing hammocks and the pool-side pagoda to the hidden mezzanine terrace. It is, however, worth noting that while your bedroom and much of your outdoor area are completely shielded from view, there are a few sections of the gardens that overlook your neighbors (and vice versa). If you’re with the family or a larger group, consider one of the multi-bedroom villas (there’s a presidential villa with seven bedrooms), or for longer stays, look into one of the villa residences, which sit further away from the main resort hub and come fully sta ff ed. DINE The main restaurant, Claudine, overlooks the ocean and serves an internationally inspired menu all day — from dim sum, American pancakes and shakshuka at breakfast to Kreole fi sh curries and Lebanese grilled meats in the evening. The Deli is a chilled-out Japanese-style izakaya — don’t miss the chicken karaage nor the OTT ‘Desroches Coconut’ dessert. For a special occasion, make the journey to the far southwest of the island to The Lighthouse. Begin with a drink on the terrace before heading down to the main restaurant; if possible, snag a seat outside so you can bury your feet in the sand while chowing down on grilled seafood and dry-aged meats. The resort makes the absolute most out of its myriad scenic spots with plenty of destination dining options, from beachfront picnics and sunset-bathed dinners on the old jetty to private dining on the top of the lighthouse. In true Four Seasons style, in-room dining is top-notch, too.

FOUR SEASONS RESORT SEYCHELLES AT DESROCHES ISLAND SEYCHELLES Given that it o ffi cially opened in spring 2018, we couldn’t call Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island (which sits about a half-hour tiny-plane journey away from Mahe’s international airport) ‘new’ — and yet, something about this intimate, castaway-style resort feels, well, fresh. Maybe it’s the timeless, earthy-inspired fl air that runs through the interior spaces, or maybe it was the years’ worth of Covid-19 restrictions that stopped the resort from getting into its full stride, but something has rendered Four Seasons’ second Seychellois hotel something of a hidden paradise. STAY Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island has just 71 accommodations. Most are one bedroom villas, with enormous four-poster beds looking directly out on private gardens (complete with their own pool) and showstopping bathrooms with his-and-hers sinks, a circular stone bathtub and an outdoor shower. And there are welcome treats aplenty, from chilled ginger tea to handmade turtle-shaped chocolates. Like the rest of the resort, the interiors fi rmly fi t into the laid-back luxury category, with a stone-and black color palette accentuated by local artwork and

Ocean-view Pool Villa

Photos Etched Space