North Island in the Seychelles is an island paradise, a rare sanctuary for those seeking a gorgeous, unspoiled tropical haven. More importantly, it is a Noah's Ark: a sanctuary where natural habitats are being rehabilitated and where critically endangered Seychelles fauna and flora are being reintroduced and given a place to regenerate.
The island as a whole comprises one of the most ambitious conservation projects ever undertaken by a private company. It is very seldom that the opportunity arises to make such a significant and positive impact on a region, a specific area, its wildlife and surrounding environment.
On this beautiful island, an exclusive luxury lodge has been built, unashamedly airned at providing the very best in privacy, location, accommodation, services, facilities and experiences.
The island has only 11 guest Villas, each exquisitely designed to celebrate nature and offers an authentic home-from-home ambience.
The natural focal point of the island, the Island Piazza, is the center where elegant buildings cluster around a magnificent Indian almond tree. This large tree is the central pivot around which the other public areas are placed. Here, the sunken lounges, open on all sides, offer the sumptuous comfort with a 360-degree view of the small bay and lush vegetation-covered mountains.
The dining area is roofed by upside-down casuarina trees, and set against the granitic rock into the vegetation with a backdrop of a "dining pond" and steppin...
The memorable culinary experience is complimented by an impressive wine cellar filled with some of the world's great wines and champagnes. One is enticed across the pond under the upside-down takarnakas to the cave-like cellar, made of rock walling with bottle racks executed in chunky oversized raw timber.
The perfect place to end the day: West Beach Bar faces the sun as it disappears into the ink-blue ocean. The building is made of coconut uprights, a palm leaf roof and beach sand for the floor. The barman will pour you exotic drinks to sip while lying comfortably on bright red cushions looking up at the darkening sky. A wood-burning oven in the small kitchen means that simple outdoor dinners can be enjoyed here as the stars and moon turn through the sky.
The spa and gym is situated further up the mountain, above the main swimming poo, thus providing outstanding views over the Indian Ocean while enjoying your fitness routine or being pampered. The gym is air-conditioned and has state-of-the-art equipment.
Enjoy personalised holistic treatments to rejuvenate the body, mind and soul. On arrival at North Island, once you have settled into your villa, the spa therapists will be available for an individual consultation.
A short walk to the side of the public area and along the granitic outcrop is the main swimming pool, a 45-metre long vanishing edge pool of blue in the forest. The pool looks back along the kilometre of beach and out to the ocean's horizon-views of heart-stopping splendour from its pockets of private decks.
The pool is the private meandering experience with white marble-stone plaster that is the same colour as the beach while the colour of the water matches the sea.
Next to the lounges and placed well forward on the beach is the library. Built of coral blocks, it is undoubtedly one of the most exquisite examples of historic architecture on the island.
It is the custodian of the history of the island, housing a collection of books on topics on interest, various relics and artefacts. An ideal place for a quiet and relaxing read.
Adjacent to the library and located on the beachfront, the Dive and Activity Centre houses both indoor and outdoor tuition areas, changing rooms and interesting displays; it is where many of the island's land and marine arctivities are coordinated.
Honeymoon Beach, an extension of West Beach, is so named thanks to its private curve into the rock.
Between Honeymoon Beach and West Beach Bar is the Spot, a sala complete with beach beds, an umbrella and beach blankets - all perfect for picnics on the beach.
On the North Island you will find the Boutique, which offers a selection of clothing, gifts, jewellery and its wide variety of designer swimsuits.
Villa 11 (known as Villa North Island) is perched on a rock, uniquely situated to accommodate the incline along the extreme northern side of Anse d'est (East Beach) and just right to watch the sunrise. Secretely tucked away in the takarnaka forest, the vistas from this Villa are truly spectacular from every angle and it is this, together with the unique manipulation of the design, which seperates this remarkable Villa from the rest.
The Villa begins with a magnificent surprise entrance, picturesque palms forming a natural frame and overlooking the beach. The bridge, made from the trunks of two long casuarinas, leads into the bedroom suite, with its exceptional view.
The bathroom offers a panoramic view across Anse d'est to Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. The leadwood trees that form the posts are hoisted high in the sky and frame the turquoise-blue sea. The bath has sloped ends (great for couples) to enable sitting and lying at leisure.
To the side of the bathroom and down a hand-crafted staircase is a sunken deck, with a "hanging" outdoor shower set into a large granitic boulder, the turquoise sea peeping through palm leaves.
A few steps beyond the outdoor shower and around the granitic boulder is the surpise "spa al fresco". This is an outdoor deck made of chunky timber with massage beds and no roof, overlooking the expanse of the Indian Ocean.
There are other ten exclusive and spacious villas that measure 450 sqm.
Each Villa has been individually handcrafted by Seychellois and African craftsmen on the island. The principal materials used were wood, local stone, glass and thatch. All this combines to create a warm and inviting space that offers guests that rare opportunity to relax completely. Each Villa is self-contained and is raised over a metre off the ground to catch the cooling island breezes.
Each Villa has a master bedroom and a second room that functions as a study, lounge and theatre. Whilst the Villa is primarily occupied by one or two guests, this second room can be converted into a second bedroom for children 19 years and younger, available at an additional coast.
The luxuriously proportioned master bedroom with change-room and writing area leads onto a large en-suite bathroom with marble bath and two showers, one indoor and one outdoor. The bedrooms are air-conditioned and all rooms have overhead "punkah punkah" fans. The fully retracting sliding doors allow for uninterrupted views onto the lawns and the turquoise seas in front of each Villa. There is satellite television, a DVD/CD system and Internet access. The kitchen leads off the lounge/dining area. A private plungle pool and sala are the finishing touches in this private sanctuary.
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