Seychelles Big 5

Properties featured in this itinerary: Cousine Island, North Island, Frégate Island Private, Constance Lémuria and Maia Luxury Resort & Spa

Whilst the Big 5 has a very different meaning elders in Africa, we have put together this Seychelles Big 5 itinerary by including our pick of the 5 very best properties in the Seychelles Islands

Day 1

Arrive at Victoria Airport, Mahé. The Cousine Island Guest Relations Manager will meet you on arrival before your party is transferred to Cousine Island by either boat or helicopter. An exclusive private island that ensures the highest levels of privacy and security for their guests, Cousine Island can host up to 12 adults and 6 children at a time.   

We love the beauty and intimacy of this private island, and with the option of adding a butler, nanny and personal chef you cannot help but to sit back, relax and drink in the beauty of Seychelles. This island is only available to book exclusively for one party or family at a time, so you are assured of complete privacy as well as the focused attention of the entire (extensive) staff compliment.

Days 2 -3

Enjoy discovering the beauty of Seychelles whilst having a bevy of experts at your fingertips to arrange the most amazing experiences.

The best part of the Cousine Island concept is that you have the luxury of designing your own itinerary and that you can do whatever you like, whenever you like. As the island is only available to one party at a time, the staff is completely at your disposal and they will assist you in planning unique experiences exclusively for your party. Some of our favourite experiences are:

• Dine under the stars on the beach. There is no menu on Cousine Island, and the chefs can assist you in creating an experience suitable to your unique preferences and tastes. Some examples would be trying local flavor with a Creole evening, or barbequing island style, or a top notch fine dining experience – it’s all possible!
   
• Make use of the solar powered catamaran to cruise around the inner islands, perhaps stopping off at Praslin to visit the World Heritage Site of the Vallée de Mai, or to do some snorkeling or diving in one of the marine national parks.
   
• Scuba diving is included in the rate, so if you haven’t yet tried your hand at this, we cannot think of a better place than the unspoiled waters of Seychelles to try this. The water clarity and temperature along with the stunning marine life all combine for an astounding experience.
   
• No visit to a luxurious tropical hideaway would be complete without visiting the spa. There is, simply put, nothing like enjoying the healing properties of a massage whilst hearing the waves lap at the shore in front of the spa! For the more adventurous, a massage can even be taken outdoors under the gazebo and overlooking the turquoise ocean!
   
• Spend a day game fishing and compete to see who can pull out the biggest catch of the day! Although most fishing in Seychelles is catch-and-release, fishing for personal consumption is allowed and you can ask the chef to prepare your freshly caught tuna or wahoo for dinner.

Day 4

After having become accustomed to being waited on, hand and foot, it’s time to be whisked by helicopter to the next amazing property which we have hand-selected. North Island is fit for royalty (literally) and is a rare sanctuary for those seeking a gorgeous, unspoiled tropical haven. The natural habitats of North Island are being rehabilitated and critically endangered fauna and flora are being reintroduced. The ambitious conservation project has succeeded in restoring the island to its former glory. An exclusive luxury lodge, North Island has only 11 guest villas which offer the very best in privacy, location, accommodation, services, facilities and experiences. North Island has been exquisitely designed to celebrate nature, and this natural beauty combined with sheer luxury defines the island, allowing it to offer an authentic home-from-home ambience for those seeking a luxurious, unspoiled and exclusive haven. Extensive research has shown that in today’s overcrowded world, people are increasingly looking for privacy and their own space, and this concept has become the cornerstone of the North Island Villas to ensure that guests really enjoy spending time in their villa if they so wished. Each villa is a home, lovingly and individually handcrafted by Seychellois and African craftsmen from wood, local-hewn stone and glass. This is your haven: a warm inviting space in which to enjoy a complete sense of ease and freedom. 

Days 5 - 6

Time spent on this amazing island will be count down in experiences, rather than minutes; all blending together to form the perfect luxury escape.

• Cool forest trails explored with mountain bikes create an air of tropical exhilaration, snorkeling or diving in the warm seas reveal a world of marine wonder, sea kayaking or fishing expeditions thrill the active, while boating to other islands satisfies the adventurous.
   
• An evening cruise complete with an Indian Ocean sunset is the perfect way to finish the day.
   
• Your inner foodie will be delighted with the ‘no menu’ concept presiding over your culinary encounter, meaning the chef will develop your own daily carte du jour based on your preferences and desires. A mélange of cultural influences is combined with the abundance on offer from the Indian Ocean and the island’s organic richness to create North Island’s taste. Balanced, delectable and attractive, each meal is a feast to stimulate the senses. Your mouth-watering experience is perfectly rounded off by some of the world’s great wines and champagnes from the cellar. A choice of exotic, beautiful dining settings complement your meals, from the large dining area set against a backdrop of natural granite with superb views over the sea, to secluded beaches, the pool deck or the privacy of your villa.  
   
• Exotic and rare, the Spa on North Island is a holistic journey of visual and textural contrasts, arousing the senses and rejuvenating the mind, body and soul. The Spa is a place of exquisite natural beauty and timeless relaxation – the perfect sanctuary-within-a-sanctuary, designed to assist you in forgetting absolutely about the rest of the world.
   
• North Island is a fertile paradise – the ideal setting for the Noah’s Ark conservation program. Thanks to thousands of indigenous plant species grown in the nursery and then transplanted throughout the island, its habitat has been restored to become a place where fauna and flora endemic to the Seychelles can flourish. Alien rodents have been successfully eradicated and excitingly, species such as Seychelles blue pigeons and breeding populations of wedge-tailed shearwaters and white-tailed tropicbirds have returned of their own accord. Hawksbill and green turtles nest on the beaches once more. The next phase has involved introducing more indigenous life. A founder population of 25 Seychelles white-eyes, of which a mere 400 remain on Earth, was introduced in 2007 and gratifyingly settled down to nest and produce the next generation in a place of safety and plenty. The population on the Island currently exceeds 60 birds, with North now responsible for a significant proportion of the world population of the species: a responsibility they have taken on with enthusiasm and pride. The introduction of the Seychelles black mud terrapin has been similarly successful. Spending time with the Environmental Team will allow you to marvel at the full scope of what has been done in order to create a true Noah’s Ark in the Indian Ocean.

Day 7

Time to move on! You will be transferred by helicopter to Frégate Island where you will be staying for the next three nights in a Private Pool Residence. Frégate Island Private is as magnificent as North Island, yet very different. Completely committed to conservation, their efforts are shown through sensitively developed luxury accommodation that allows guests to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the island. The island is home to approximately 2,000 free-roaming Giant Aldabra Tortoises, the nests of hundreds of endangered Hawksbill Turtles, as well as the Seychelles Magpie Robin, which has recently been removed from the endangered species list. Your 55-minute welcome head & shoulders massage will induce a state of tranquil relaxation – perfect for Frégate Island Private!

Days 8 - 9

Start off your stay at Frégate Island Private with your complimentary introductory yoga session at the Rock Spa, followed by a romantic breakfast on Anse Victorin whilst enjoying the early morning on the beach. Your time is on your own on Frégate Island Private. Make this time educational and go on a nature walk with one of the resident conservationists, who will tell you more about the local ecosystem and their conservation efforts to make this the pristine wilderness as it once was.

Other activities include biking around the island, sailing, surfing, and kayaking, as well as a half-day deep sea fishing excursion. Experience a night sky unlike any other with the Stargazing program, and allow the Rock Spa’s own range of products which are made in the Seychelles and grown on Frégate, to transport you into complete bliss. One of the best things about Frégate is that you can enjoy a meal anywhere, anytime on the island, so make a special occasion of it every time! 

Day 10

Your helicopter transfer will this time take you to Praslin Island. Constance Lémuria Seychelles enjoys an idyllic location on the northwest coast of the island. Surrounded by luxuriant vegetation, washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, the hotel lies directly on 3 beautiful sandy beaches. The suites lie scattered along two pristine beaches, to both the southwest and northwest. Each suite is positioned just 15 meters from the shore, discreetly nestled among the natural Seychellois gardens. The swimming pool has three levels, flowing from the hotel to the sea. The entire property is designed in complete harmony with its natural surroundings to provide an ambiance of total tranquillity and refined elegance. Your Junior Suite places an emphasis on privacy and blends beautifully with the natural surroundings whilst extending stunning ocean views from your own terrace or balcony.  This property has been completely refurbished in 2016, and now showcases a modern approach to design.

Offering the only 18 hole golf course in all of Seychelles, this Par 70 course covers a total of 5,580 m² and was beautifully designed by Marc Antoine Farry and Rodney Wright. With stunning terraced greens, including the jaw dropping signature 15th hole, golfers are in for a beautiful challenge. Watch out for the par 5 18th – it is destined to become one of the great finishing holes with a dogleg right, wrapped around a large lake.

Day 11

After a morning round of golf (watching the entire valley below you unfold along with the rising sun from the 15th hole is an absolute MUST!), spend some time exploring Praslin, with the World Heritage Site of the Vallée de Mai not to be missed. Constance Lémuria Seychelles offers 3 different restaurants and an additional 2 bars around the property, with each offering a different atmosphere and menu, so be sure to experience it all! 

Day 12

Depart back to Mahé, where you will be transferred to Maia, a beautiful and exclusive resort on the slopes of the granitic hills of Mahé. You will be staying here for four nights. Sumptuous elegance is at the order of the day at Maia, and you will be blown away by the views over the Indian Ocean below whilst frolicking in your private pool. Your Ocean Panoramic Villa also has its own 24 hour butler who will do all of your menu planning for you during your stay whilst still ensuring your privacy at all times. Your 20 minute jetlag massage per person on arrival, followed by a bottle of bubbly in your villa, will leave you feeling refreshed and put you in the right frame of mind to fully enjoy the tranquillity that Maia exudes.

Days 13 - 14

Spend your days snorkelling or kayaking, attending one of the yoga or Qi Gong classes, eating the amazing local seafood and enjoying one of their soul-soothing spa treatments in the outdoor pavilions. Wander off to the dive centre to start your introductory dive course and explore the magical underwater world of the Seychelles, and make arrangements with your butler for your private cooking class, followed by lunch in your villa. If none of that appeals, why not laze around either your private pool or the beach whilst enjoying some tropical cocktails?

Day 15

Whilst we’re sure you aren’t nearly ready to return to the hassles of everyday life, we cannot think of any other 5 properties that could have spoiled you more and have left you wanting more, as these did. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!