Checked into Banyan Tree – Seychelles
by Jodie Weeks
Could the Seychelles be the most beautiful and intriguing islands on Earth? Journey with me to this island nation to find out.
These unique granitic and coral islands, around 1,770 kilometres from the Tanzanian coast, are wilder and less pristine than some of their luxury island competitors in the Indian Ocean. They offer an authentic creole style of living, with surreal rock formations, lush forests and some of the world’s most spectacular stretches of white sandy beaches.
The Seychelles beckons discerning travellers to its shores, by offering adventure, romance and luxury resorts in unspoilt tropical surrounds.
Let’s take a look at where to stay, what tours to book and why these islands are so popular with discerning luxury travellers.
WHERE TO STAY
The first thing to choose is mainland or outer island. The main island of Mahe is the largest of the archipelago islands that make up the Seychelles. It’s almost home to Seychelles International Airport and resorts of all levels, making it the easiest and most versatile location to base a holiday.
The outer islands should not however be ignored and contain both lush tropical natural settings along with surreal rock formations not seen anywhere else in the world.
Seychelles travel tip #1: if this is your first trip to the Seychelles, base yourself on the mainland of Mahe and take one of the many day trips to see outer islands. And by that I mean La Digue. You’ve already travelled far enough and you’ll fall in love with Mahe. La Digue is incredible however (more on that below) so don’t miss out.
If this is your second (or more) trip to the Seychelles, then you’ll definitely want to get more intrepid and explore Seychelles outer regions.
This isn’t Fiji…. rock stars stay on the mainland as well.
Checked into Banyan Tree- Seychelles
The Banyan Tree Seychelles was at the top of my list when choosing where to stay in the Seychelles.
It was the first 5 star resort built on the main island of Mahe, built on the original beachfront colonial house owned by actor Peter Sellers (Pink Panther fame) and Beatles member George Harrison. Its most attractive feature is its fabulous location along the Indian Ocean at beautiful Intendance Bay. In terms of location, this is one of my favourite in regards to absolute beachfront locations and luxury.
Lets take day one at Banyan Tree and this was my highlight.
There aren’t many places in the world where Hawksbill turtles feel so unthreatened that they come ashore in broad daylight to lay their eggs. The Seychelles is one place where they do and on our very first day on the beach we encountered a beautiful big Hawksbill turtle right out the front of our villa. Turtle season begins in October and ends in February, during the season you can join the Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Centre officers on their daily beach patrol and learn more about the turtle species.
The main swimming pool overlooks the beach and ocean and it’s a photographer’s delight. It has featured on the cover of many luxury travel magazines it has also been voted one of the 10 best infinity pools in the world by Condé Nast travellers. I would have to say its one of best features of the resort other than the beach location.
The design of the main hotel building is a distinct white colonial homestead. It feels very homely yet chic and upscale with that fresh “beachy” feel.
The hardest choice to make is what villa to book. Why not try a few to mix up the stay.. that’s what we did. All 6 styles of villas are luxurious and spacious and spread along the direct beachfront and scattered amongst the tropical jungle hillside. There are 60 creole style, colonial pool villas that have been renovated to their former glory. But, I believe this year the Banyan Tree Seychelles will start renovations on all villas giving the luxury villas a modernised touch. When you are looking for complete luxury, Banyan Tree Seychelles does tick one of the major boxes, which is that they all come with a private pool.
The real standouts are the 5 Intendance pool villas, located on a rocky outcrop at the northern end of the resort. Besides the advantage of the surreal view, these villas also come with an outdoor jacuzzi. The wow factor here is the space and privacy. Skinny-dip in your villa’s pool or jacuzzi and shower on the outdoor deck.
I would highly recommend you indulge with a pamper experience as the spa is a serene experience, pairing incomparable views with soothing Asian-influenced treatments. At the spa, paths wind around palm trees and huge granite boulders then up to the breezy open-sided pavilions, designed so that as you gaze over the tree canopy there’s not a soul to be seen. The treatments rooms are more traditional in style and the treatments are indulgent.
As you would expect from the high-end Banyan Tree brand, the service is fantastic. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. They confidently offer an incredible level of customer service with butler/buggy service or for a more athletic way to get away the resort, you could use the resort beach rider bikes to get from your villa to the restaurants and main areas.
THINGS TO KNOW
The resort offers magnificent views of the Indian Ocean. But while the sea was swimmable during our stay in January, but it can get quite rough at different times during the year.
Let‘s chat about the dining experience. With three restaurants and three bars, this Seychelles resort is a paradise for the food lover. I must say the Thai specialty restaurant was incredible. This is a “Must Dine” experience during your stay at Banyan Tree Seychelles. The modern Thai cuisine was delectable, and the wine selection was impeccable. Offering a very romantic setting recreating the setting of a traditional rice paddy field with fire lanterns and traditional Thai style décor.
I am being honest and it’s a need to know fact. The food pricing is high, but that’s the case with the other high-end resorts in the Seychelles so just keep that in mind when budgeting for your stay.
The highlight of my stay was the Banyan Tree’s quaint and rustic “Rum Shack” beach bar. It was our ritual every afternoon to watch the sunset in the relaxing day beds while sipping our rum infused cocktails. It was the cutest and quietest beach bar on the island with the most memorable setting that photos cannot do justice.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Seychelles is often sold as a year-round destination. However, there is more chance of rainy days, from November to March. The transitional months of October and April are excellent for a visit as the oceans are very calm and perfect sunny and lazy beach days.
HOW TO GET THERE
For Australian travellers we are used to longer flights so the best airline carriers to get to the Seychelles are Emirates via Dubai or Etihad Airlines via Abu Dhabi
Banyan Tree Seychelles resort is located a 40-minute drive from Seychelles International Airport (SEZ)
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DAY TRIPS AND EXCURSION
Experiencing more than one island during your stay is a must and will add a whole other level to your holiday experience that you will never forget. Whatever your choice, ift it’s a private helicopter tour or domestic flights, and there are ferries operating regularly out of Victoria (the city capital of the island).
Mahe, Praslin and La Digue are the main islands that you need to put on your itinerary when traveling to the Seychelles.
You can explore Mahe main island with a self-drive. We hired a car and had it delivered to the resort. Mahe is the largest island in size and population, with a dramatic mountainous interior, thick Jurassic rainforest, and plenty of bays, coves to explore and even a hidden waterfall.
Take the day to experience the outer island. Start the day with Praslin, its known for its exquisite white-sand beaches and clear waters, Praslin is the Seychelles’ second largest island, with only a few villages and luxury resorts.
On the famous La Digue island you can easily get around on a bike and explore this island in only a few hours or take an ox cart tour to see the sights. It features the most iconic beaches and known for Seychelles most beautiful UNESCO site the world-famous Anse Source D’Argent).
I feel complete now I have crossed off the Seychelles islands from my list of exotic island beach destination’s.
I hope this has inspired you to grab a few good books, a bikini and get your next beach vacation in the diary.
Stay tuned for my epic vacay snaps and new and exciting destinations on the “luxperiencewithjodie” journey.
Happy Travels!
LWJ xx
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