Few places in the world are as beautiful as the Seychelles. In fact the second largest island in the archipelago is a contender for the Garden of Eden, its unique coco-de-mer tree considered the original ‘tree of knowledge of good and evil’ - you only have to take a trip to the Vallée de Mai on Praslin to see why! Yet the Seychelles actually consist of about a hundred different islands, some of them granite and mountainous, others coral and flat, but most of them ringed by breathtaking beaches and crystal clear waters.

Probably because of these stunning natural surroundings hotels here have been eco-conscious long before it became fashionable. They made a virtue out of their rusticity, seclusion and lack of pretension, relying upon their giant tortoises, paradise flycatchers and technicolour marine life to attract their laid-back undemanding visitors. Yet great strides forward have been made in recent years when it comes to standards and our featured hideaways now truly deserve the label five-star. They are still natural and escapist, of course, but the guest rooms have become chic, the service is more switched on and massages and golf are now more than wishful thinking.

You might want to begin your stay on the main island of Mahé, although paradisiacal Praslin lies only a 15 minute flight away. Then there’s the smaller outer islands like Desroches, Denis, Frégate and North, where you can birdwatch, beachcomb and scuba-dive to your heart’s content. Butwho could possibly blame you if you simply do nothing but kick back and behave like modern day Adam and Eves!

WHEN TO VISIT: TEMPERATURES VARY VERY LITTLE HERE BUT THE RAINFALL DOES! MAY TO SEPTEMBER USUALLY HAS THE LEAST RAINFALL, WITH JUNE TO AUGUST TRADITIONALLY THE DRIEST MONTHS. YOU MIGHT WANT TO AVOID NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH AS USUALLY THIS IS THE
WETTEST TIME, ALTHOUGH DEMAND TENDS TO KEEP DECEMBER TO JANUARY PRETTY BUSY.

HOW TO VISIT: AIR SEYCHELLES OFFER FLIGHTS FROM HEATHROW, THE JOURNEY TIME ABOUT 10 HOURS. YOU CAN ALSO FLY THERE WITH QATAR AIRWAYS VIA DOHA FROM MANCHESTER AND HEATHROW, WHILST EMIRATES OPERATE FLIGHTS FROM VARIOUS UK AIRPORTS VIA DUBAI.