An archipelago of beaches, boulders, bays and beautiful views, the Seychelles is an escape like no other. Ruggedly handsome and heaving with history, nature and culture appear around every corner. Hilton properties stretch the length and breadth of main island, Mahé, and creep over the crystalline waters to Silhouette Island, creating four luxury hidden havens where you can experience it all and castaway all your cares. Disconnect or reconnect, do much or do little, explore or stay put, rest or be reawakened, your Seychelles story starts here with Hilton
WHAT’S YOUR STORY?
Perched just metres above sea level, Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts, is a cut above the rest. Once the home of celebrated Italian photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri, this intimate and exclusive house of art and culture is the perfect year-round South Mahé island oasis. Enriched by its locale, the cultural canvas of the hotel soaks up the surrounding nature – all rugged rocks, emerald forest, pure white sands – to create a contemporary resting place with authenticity and creative ingenuity at its heart. Built as a family home, Mango House is centred around a handcrafted hospitality that offers an enduring sense of belonging – at once inviting and curated, intuitive and personal. With views over Anse Poules Bleues Bay, and home to 41 guest rooms, three restaurants and two bars, a wellness sanctuary with two dedicated treatment rooms and tailor-made non-motorised watersport activites, the private estate is rich in immersive experiences, where guests can paint their own picture to imprint in their memory.
A pillow menu promises sweet dreams wherever you lay your head, while light-filled spaces, sun-kissed balconies, earthy tones, ocean views, natural materials, and crisp white linen await in the Cliff House, a beautiful cluster of guest rooms nestled in the hills, and the ultimate pocket of privacy. Or for tailor-made service and serenity, the three-bedroom Bay House With Plunge Pool is a roomy retreat for large families seeking space to hide away in, with private butler attention on tap. With ‘enriching human experiences’ as its modus operandi, Mango House’s immersions are deeply authentic and personalised, taking guests on a journey from South Indian-Creole cocktails at Kokoye and seafood and spice at Moutya, to forest hikes, waterfall walks and sunset cruises, letting the island’s culture, beauty and topography stir up some Seychellois magic, whilst giving each guest a natural sense of belonging.
THE SECRET OF SILHOUETTE ISLAND
The third largest island in the Seychelles, Silhouette Island is a land of legends and jungle-covered landscapes. With over 93 per cent of it a dedicated National Park, it’s nature on another level, where forested mountains meet bright white beaches. Accessed only by boat or helicopter, it makes a stay a Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa all the more exclusive – a secluded oasis you’ll want to shout about and keep secret all at once. Its villas are the epitome of serenity, laced with natural woods and thatching, with private patios, gardens and terraces all wrapped in foliage, with the Seychelles’ signature boulders standing on sentry duty by villa pools. The tropical experience continues with outdoor rain showers and bathtubs, and the kind of views that will fill your photo gallery. Time passes slowly here, filled with nothing more or less than your heart desires. Searching for an adventure? Then wake up early for a guided wildlife walk or an underwater immersion with diving or snorkelling to discover the magical marine life of Silhouette Island.
Want to feel at one with nature? Then set sail on a sunset cruise to the western side of the island, or chill with some of Silhouette Island’s oldest residents – the Giant Tortoises – on Grand Barbe. Or is a quest for relaxation more your thing? Then rest, recharge and reward yourself at eforea spa, a jungle-wrapped wellness space that uses Elemis products in its island-inspired treatments. It’s not all about the adults at Labriz, as little travellers are treated like VIPs too, with tailored adventures and exploration at Island Academy, all sorts of entertainment at Jungle Fun Kids Club, a Campcation progam every August, and nature-filled activities that include hiking, scavenger hunts and PADI Junior Scuba Diver courses. To sate hungry appetites, there’s Creole cuisine, poolside bites, Mediterranean fare, fine dining, sommelier picks from the wine cellar and sundowners sipped as you soak up views of the deep-green forest-covered slopes of Mount Dauban in the distance.
VIEW TO A THRILL
If the thought of a peaceful villa with a private pool that sits suspended over the jungle floor, with nothing but magnificent ocean views playing out before you sounds appealing, then head to Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa in the Northwest of Mahe. Here, every stay is in a private villa, so exclusivity reigns supreme, from a perfectly-sized King Ocean-view Villas perched high amongst the lush tropical forest, to a Grand Ocean-view Villa With Infinity Pool and sweeping views of Beau Vallon Bay. There are several places to eat and unwind across the resort: tuck into contemporary Creole cuisine with a backdrop of Seychelles nature in all its bounty, at Mahe Restaurant; Sip cocktails and fresh tropical juices at Ocean View Bar, whilst enjoying a touch of culture with live music performed by renowned Seychellois musicians; enjoy international cuisine amidst a warm ambience and tranquillity at Wave; Then pull up a chair at the only pop-up gin bar in the Seychelles at The Lower Deck – the perfect spot for soaking up the sun set.
The luxurious eforea spa at Hilton Seychelles Northolme is well attuned to your other senses, using locally-sourced products, alongside aloe vera and Elemis, to enrich, enliven and invigorate your mind, body and soul. Try a vitamin-enriched body wrap to hydrate, detoxify and energise your skin, or perhaps a facial with a hydrating, clarifying and age-defying treatment tailored to your needs. While away the rest of your days in your infinity pool, strolling the white sandy beach, or exploring the surrounding ocean with a snorkelling or kayaking excursion. This tropical retreat will work hard so you don’t have to.
A PLACE BEYOND THE BEACH
Enveloped by greenery, with access to a beautiful and tranquil private beachfront, DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles - Allamanda Resort and Spa is an idyllic escape near Anse Royale and just 10 minutes from South Mahé’s famous Anse Intendance waterfront. With ocean views everywhere you look, and an outdoor infinity pool to enjoy them all from, nothing strenuous will be required of you here, letting you truly switch off and embrace island time. Unpack in a King Premium Room With Ocean View for panoramic vistas from your private balcony, with natural woods and nature-inspired art and soft furnishings bringing the outside in. The light-filled bathroom’s copper bathtub promises a soak unlike any other, while the outdoor whirlpool is the epitome of lazy-day luxury.
To continue your journey to serenity, try the Essentials and Escape Journeys at eforea spa, which include body scrubs, body wraps, massages and facials. Before you head out to explore the island – Le Jardin du Roi (Spice Garden) and Craft Market are just a short drive away – or to reward your return, you can eat, drink and be merry at the resort’s two restaurants. Les Palms Restaurant is warm and charming, with ocean views from its terrace. Here you can feast on locally-sourced ingredients and international cuisine. Or, for something more relaxed, unwind at Ocean View Bar, where you can toast your day with creative cocktails, set to splendid sunsets and starlit night skies.