Seychelles, Luxury, Lodge, Beach, Indian Ocean

Only four villas sit on this pristine desert island of sixty acres, enjoying the luxury of a perfectly preserved environment - with a few castaway luxuries thrown in - and guests know that their visits are what keeps it all going.

Cousine Island opend in April 2000 but for thirteen years prior to this it has been a private nature reserve where the aim has been to conserve the island’s endemic species and preserve it from the introduction of alien ones (visitors aside). The result is an island entirely as Mother Nature intended. Hawksbill and the rarer Green Turtles come ashore to nest, there are twelve endemic bird species and almost (the kitchen garden!) every plant is of original Cousine Island stock.

The villas and Pavillion are of French Colonial design, emphasising the desire to stop the clock in certain respects and remind guests that they are stepping out of the ‘rest of the world’. Only four villas were built, accommodating ten privileged island dwellers at an absolute maximum in - if privacy, exclusivity and natural beauty are important - absolute luxury.

The main lodge building, The Pavillion, overlooks a fresh water swimming pool and here the chef prepares his fabulous cuisine to each individual’s taste - from Creole to Eastern and European - all ingredients from just outside the back door!

Guests come in by helicopter (so that nothing else does) and so share the island only with its natural inhabitants, offering some of the closest encounters with nature in the Seychelles, possibly the world. Days are filled with bird watching, walks and snorkeling guided or otherwise and there are always conservation programs to join in with - tree planting, turtle monitoring, bird ringing, etc. Water sports, sailing, diving and fishing can be arranged, there is a spa and gymnasium and island hopping is available on request; but having worked so hard to arrive on paradise, why would one ever leave?