Garden of Eden

In amongst the verdant palms of the Vallée de Mai dwells another precious being, which guests at Raffles are most likely to lay eyes on. The black parrot is endemic to the Seychelles, and is one of the rarest species in the world. The resort’s excursions don’t begin and end on Praslin, though. A short boat ride will take you to the quiet, idyllic island of La Digue where the preferred mode of transport is a traditional bicycle and where another rare bird, the black paradise flycatcher, resides. It’s also home to the Anse Source d’Argent beach, which, with its arresting granite boulders reminiscent of a prehistoric film set, is one of the most photographed shores in the world.

Take a longer taxi boat from Raffles to the Aride Island Nature Reserve, where the only inhabitants are the guardians of the land. The Seychelles’ northernmost isle is considered an accurate insight into how the rest of the archipelago looked 250 years ago, before it was inhabited. The hotel’s favourite boat trip for families however, is to Curieuse Island, where around 500 Aldabra giant tortoises roam freely across the dusty red earth.

The land isn’t the only element that this sublime destination is concerned with; it’s also a leading force in marine conservation. The archipelago is a decade ahead of the United Nations’ deadline for the Life Below Water goal, which lists 14 aims including preventing and reducing marine pollution of all kinds. Carrier has introduced a pioneering new style of distinctive lodging and experiential travel with Blue Safari to the Outer Islands, a onehour flight south-west of Mahé, where you can immerse yourself in the conservation efforts of this pristine region. Each of the four atolls has it’s own character and story; divers can contribute by clearing the ocean of any waste and by photographing the coral reefs and the sleek, serene manta rays as they swim alongside them. Those who prefer to remain on ground level can join the Island Conservation Society (ICS) team as they track the movements of the turtles that nest on the beaches of these more remote atolls.

The main lodge on Alphonse Island is at the heart of the experience, with simple yet sophisticated suites complete with a restaurant, bar and spa – the other accommodations offer desert island-esque seclusion. The Cosmoledo atoll, for example, is made up of 21 islands, however there are only eight eco pods for adventurous guests to stay in. You’ll have your own private chef and eat and drink communally on an evening, after a day spent spotting endemic land-birds such as the souimanga sunbird, the Madagascar turtle dove and the Madagascar white-eye, or discovering new dive sites.

It has only taken half a century for the rewards of Seychelles’ conservation efforts to be reaped, which is around half a lifetime of one of the archipelago’s most famous stalwart residents, the Aldabra giant tortoise, and a fleeting few years in the lifespan of the coco de mer palm, which can bloom for up to eight centuries. There’s still plenty that can be done, but hope for the rest of the world radiates from this five-star eco sanctuary. The coat of arms of the country puts it succinctly: ‘Finis coronat opus’, or, ‘The end crowns the work’.