When it opened its doors in 2002 the Banyan Tree, Seychelles made Mahé a fashionable destination again. Not only does this beachfront getaway boast the high standards synonymous with this Singapore-based hotel company, but its talcum powder beach ranks amongst the finest on the island and its plantation-style décor goes perfectly with its
rainforest backdrop.

Certainly its secluded setting is conducive to relaxation, lazy days largely devoted to the spa and the beach, evenings decidedly muted and focused upon fine dining in suitably exotic settings. And as private pools await in all guest quarters, you don’t even have to emerge from your room to enjoy your lush tropical surroundings.

The sixty one or two-bedroom villas are either perched on the hillside or set right down on the beach, each one beautifully designed to incorporate contemporary Seychellois décor with colonial Victorian-style architecture. Browns, creams and golds establish a restful ambience, whilst local artwork and ethnic weaves inject a strong sense of place. If you like the idea of an elevated position and panoramic ocean views, there’s the Hillside Pool Villas with their small
private swimming pools. Down by the beach there are spa villas with their own massage pavilions, as well as multilevel villas with separate sundecks and jet pools. A stunning new Double Pool Villa stands just ten steps away from the sands and comes with a second bedroom, its own 24-hour in-villa host and chef services, as well as two private
pools.

The 800 metres of beach awaits for morning or evening strolls, although you may prefer to make for the main infinity-edge pool than the surf-pounded bay when it comes to swimming. If you do feel like doing something a littlemore physical there’s tennis and fitness facilities, the soothing beauty and body treatments of the Banyan Tree Spa always there for when you’ve overdone it. And whilst dining à deux in the privacy of one’s villa is a particularly romantic option after dark, sundowners in the colonial-style bar followed by a Creole or Thai dinner in one of the
two restaurants is the perfect way to round-off the day.

ACCOMMODATION: 60 ONE OR TWO-BEDROOM VILLAS, ALL WITH PRIVATE POOLS.
ACCESS: 30 MINUTES DRIVE FROM MAHÉ
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ALSO HELICOPTER TRANSFERS AVAILABLE.
CHILDREN: ACCEPTED YEAR-ROUND. RESTRICTIONS APPLY.
7 NIGHTS: FROM £3,160 P.P. IN THE HIGH-SEASON (£325 P.P.P.N.) & £2,350 P.P. IN THE LOW-SEASON (£250 P.P.P.N.).
MEAL PLAN: BREAKFAST INCLUDED. OPTIONAL HALF-BOARD.
SPECIAL OFFERS: FREE NIGHTS, HONEYMOON.