![Lush green crescent bay of Four Seasons Seychelles with sandy beach and lights on in the villas](/media/mmpjzxfm/sey_1353.jpg?rxy=0.20263691479964668,0.5376502197419561&rnd=133631840386270000)
A sleek hideaway that spills dramatically down a blissfully frangipani-scented, forested slope towards the ocean, Four Seasons has one of the island’s most swoon-worthy beach locations.
Walk along the beach in the morning and the only footsteps to walk in are the tracks of crabs and turtles. 130km south of Mahé, this remote coral island is surrounded by its own lagoon, with nothing in sight but sparkling ocean and azure skies. So, of course, sustainability is embedded in the very fibre of its being.
Built to tight conservation restrictions, Waldorf Astoria’s Platte Island resort strives to protect its surrounding island foliage and wildlife. The resort even boasts undersea surroundings consisting of about 8% of the total carbon-munching seagrass habitat in the whole of the Seychelles archipelago (absorbing about 1.3 million tonnes yearly, if you’re interested).
Running straight down the middle of the island and flanked by lush landscape, landing on Platte’s airstrip envelops guests in nature from the get-go.
The resort itself is hard to leave, with its immaculate villas and muscle-melting spa. But, thanks to its far-flung locale, those that do tear themselves away enter a wildlife-rich world that feels exclusively their own.
On land it may be quiet, but below the waves it’s more than bustling. Depending on the season, divers and snorkellers can spot anything from humpbacks and nudibranchs to multiple shark species — and the parrotfish whose coral nibbling has blessed the island with its golden beaches. With a shared passion for showcasing and conserving their ecosystem, the resort has partnered with local marine experts, Blue Safari, subsequently playing a pivotal role in turtle safeguarding. A popular haunt for breeding hawksbills and greens, time a trip just right and there’s the chance to see the tiny reptiles emerge while the team monitor their progress.
There’s no venturing out of the resort to eat while you stay here, so the chefs have had to go all out. At Moulin, Chef Jane-Therese Mulry’s ‘soil-to-soul' ethos shines in hugely creative, mainly plant-based cuisine using produce fresh from the garden. A fusion of Creole and Latin forms the menu at Maison des Epices by head chef (and Seychellois pop star) Colvin Beaudoin, served to a soundtrack of bossa nova and old-school Caribbean that complements the retro interiors. Meanwhile, La Perle delivers mouth-watering Mediterranean cuisine poolside, and the brand’s signature Peacock Terrace provides a dose of Parisian chic with its herbal teas and pastries.
Vast multi-bedroom accommodation, masses of space and the sheer splendidness of this place make it one for the multi-generational crews.
Boredom finds it hard to prevail here, but should a little extra recreation be required then the fabulous, inventively programmed kids’ club is on hand, with activities and eco-education sessions looking at sustainability filling the schedule.
Platte Island’s remoteness only heightens the sense of exclusivity that Waldorf Astoria is known for, but there’s no harm in taking it one step further. Spending as much time out here as possible immerses you in nature like nowhere else. So, island-hopping to another (or even another two) Seychelles resorts — via private charter no less — is strongly recommended.
A sleek hideaway that spills dramatically down a blissfully frangipani-scented, forested slope towards the ocean, Four Seasons has one of the island’s most swoon-worthy beach locations.
A natural playground just a short flight, yet worlds away from Mahé; seclusion reigns supreme at this private island resort and excites those with a thirst for the true castaway experience.
Untouched, lush jungles cover much of this conscious and considered private island; one that radiates supreme wellness and sustainability, and who’s on a mission to restore its natural ecology.