The One&Only Le Saint Géran  is a haven of exquisite taste, catering for the discerning traveller. Originally opened in 1975 and totally renovated in 1999, the resort boasts an impeccable reputation and a unique, elegantly informal yet always pampered lifestyle. It offers Junior and Ocean suites and a sumptuous Villa. All feature beds covered with Egyptian cotton sheets, mini-bar, safe, air-conditioning, dressing room, in-room multimedia/entertainment systems, satellite flat screen TV, DVD/CD player, Internet/ADSL, Nespresso machine, iPod docking station and private decks offering vistas of the deep blue of the Indian Ocean.

There is a Givenchy Spa offers eight treatment rooms with comprehensive services, including facial and body treatments, massages, hydrotherapy, sauna and herbal wraps. Under the calm sway of thousands of coconut palms, immaculate gardens run down to the edge of the coral-sand beach, which seamlessly wraps the peninsula for over a mile. The sheltered lagoon provides calm waters for an array of water sports accessible within steps. Le Saint Geran and watersports are a natural partnership. You can choose from snorkelling, kayaking, water-skiing, windsurfing, deep sea fishing, plain sailing aboard a Hobie Cat or a Laser or heading off on a sea urchin expedition.

Set in around 20 acres of beautiful tropical gardens, The Oberoi Hotel Mauritius offers everything you need for an idyllic island break – palm-thatched villas with Indian Ocean views, a gloriously expansive golden sand beach and a host of water sports. Overlooking Turtle Bay on the gorgeous coast of Mauritius northwest, this elegant ‘boutique’ property blends a Mauritian warmth with the distinctive Oberoi ‘cachet’ of exclusivity and style.
 

All accommodation features a romantic four-poster bed and sunken marble bath, plus sea-facing views of the wonderful azure-blue seas. The décor is restful in neutral tones and the sunken bath in the bathroom overlooks a walled garden. Crafted from a harmonious blend of wood, stone and thatch, it has an exotic hint of African style and Asian serenity that captures a special magic. All 73 thatched Terrace Pavilion Rooms feature DVD players, televisions with satellite channels, air conditioning and state of the art technology, should you wish to remain in touch.

 
Leisure activities at Oberoi Hotel Mauritius include: poolside bar, snorkeling, boating, fishing, fitness centre, health club offers massages, aromatherapy, sauna, spa and beauty facilities. Thai therapists are on hand to massage and sooth, drawing on holistic treatments from Ayurveda, aromatherapy and Eastern techniques. Set against a backdrop any artist would struggle to recreate, you can also enjoy yoga and meditation sessions with trained and inspiring teachers.
 

The Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita has 60 Lagoon Pool villas and a two-bedroom Presidential Suite on Ile aux Chats. Each villa is decorated in a neutral decor and has been constructed using a number of local materials like natural woods and volcanic stones which complement the resort’s surrounding. The villas boast 37 inch LCD televisions, DVD players, iPod docking stations, tea/coffee making facilities and Wi-Fi, as well as a private, landscaped terrace with plunge pool, a spacious bathroom with deep-soaking bath and private garden shower.

 
The Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita features a beautiful secluded spa with 12 over-water pavilions, including 8 for couples and four individual pavilions. Try the steam room, the sauna or the wet treatment for a complete relaxation. In addition, the property offers a public infinity pool on the private island, well-equipped gym and the private beaches are great family fun and golfers will enjoy the oceanfront finish of the hotel’s golf course. The resort’s main restaurant serves contemporary Italian cuisine with an emphasis on seafood. Another restaurant also located on this private island focuses on Pan-Asian cuisine, and features both a sushi bar and teppanyaki grill.

Opened in January 2009, this Four Seasons Hotel Resort is located in the beautiful South West coast of Mahe, about thirty minutes from the Seychelles International Airport. Guests of the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles will be surrounded by natural beauty in a landscape that includes white beaches, forested hilltops, and rocky cliffs. Situated amongst the swaying palms and the giant granite boulders, this luxury resort offers tranquility and world class service and facilities as you would expect from a Four Seasons Resort.

The Four Seasons Resort Seychelles Mahe offers 67 separated treehouse villas surrounded by natural botanic gardens with the most magnificent views over the ocean. Each features a 300 sq ft infinity-edge pool with sundeck, outdoor rain shower and spacious outdoor living area. Inside, the air-conditioned villas include flat-screen TV, wireless internet access, CD/DVD player, beautiful bathrooms and dressing area.

The Four Seasons Resort Seychelles Mahe surrounds guests with luxury and offers amenities like two restaurants and a spa that offers plenty of beauty treatment options. And the private beach offers some great water sports ranging from snorkelling, trimaran sailing, scuba-diving and boat excursions to deep-sea fishing, or to explore the archipelago and the largest population of giant sea turtles. With a charming hilltop spa and yoga pavilion be sure to take relaxation seriously. 

This Sofitel Hotel is an oasis of decoration union the unequaled architecture of Lek Bunnag and the involvement of Kenzo Tadaka. Sofitel So Mauritius Bel Ombre is situated in Bel Ombre, southwestern of State and 45 proceedings from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Supranational Aerodrome. Regional points of relate countenance Chamarel Falls and Ganga Talao.

Close garden or swim lake, like an knowledgeable and comfortable current environs of the 92 suites and villas. All  rooms at Sofitel So Mauritius Bel Ombre have air conditioning, satellite TV and a minibar, Free Wi-Fi Internet Access Included.

At the So SPA and So FIT, achieve tot operation and well-being through techniques inspired by permanent traditions from all over the domain. Cascades Charamel is 20 km forth, and the nighest sport teaching is righteous 2 km off.

This Bel Ombre offers has a restaurant and a bar/lounge. Seafood, tapas, lobster and local specialities revisited, thanks to the talent of Frederic Anton,  a French chef. Room service is available.

Opened last August, Alila Villas Hadahaa is the first luxury resort on the atoll of Huvadhoo. One of the largest and deepest natural atolls in the world – Huvadhoo, promises guests the original tranquillity and unspoilt beauty of the Maldives. Set on the tropical island, ten kilometres away from its nearest neighbour, Alila Villas Hadahaa offers turquoise-azure waters and fine white beaches. Built to the highest environmental standards, here, no boundaries exist between you and the ocean.

Adhering to set standards during the design and construction stage through to resort operations, the Alila Villas Hadahaa is the first resort in the Maldives to receive Green Globe certification. This prestigious development features 50 high-style villas, designed by award-winning SCDA Architects. Panoramic windows and direct Indian Ocean access are highlights. Each room features an open-air wood deck, an LCD flat panel TV, Wi-Fi internet access, a CD/DVD player, a tea/espresso machine and a mini-bar.

Resort’ facilities include two swimming pools, a fully-equipped spa and gym, a floating yoga pavilion, a Maldivian speciality restaurant and a diving school. Guests at Hadahaa can snorkel and scuba dive in the ocean, pamper yourself at the spa retreat, an oasis of indulgence and rejuvenation. The resort’s Spa offers steam showers, an extensive range of rejuvenation treatments, outdoor gazebos, tubs and rain showers.

Official site: www.alilahotels.com/hadahaa, For more photos: click here

A sandbar, palm trees, a blue lagoon—this is it. Cocoa Island is everybody’s dream, but even better. Located in the Maldive Islands, the Cocoa Islands are a prime example of a private island paradise. Small, private island resort designed for those seeking an easygoing, foot-in-the-sand experience. The rich, warm waters and bountiful coral also promise some of the world’s best beaches, snorkelling and diving. It is well known all over the world as a tropical destination for some of the world’s best beaches.

An idyllic retreat of just 33 over-water Dhoni suites, only 40 minutes by speedboat from Male. Architecture by Cheong Yew Kuan. The design is simple and stylish combining clean-lined interiors with influences from South India and Sri-Lanka.

The island lies just on the east side of the famous dive site Kandooma Channel, considered to be one of the best dive sites in the Maldives. Cocoa Island has a wide range of facilities available. They is a water sports center which offers diving, island hopping, deep sea fishing, windsurfing, and catamaran sailing among others. Cocoa Island also offers yoga, a gym, massage, a hydrotherapy pool, a library, and a hotel boutique.

Official site http://www.cocoaisland.como.bz/

Olhuveli is a resort and spa, completely re-built after the tsunami. Today this holiday spot is in first class condition. The new beach bungalows are all wooden and very attractive. The water bungalows are superbly designed with many unusual features. The 8 beach villas are facing the beach front. Each suite features large sala for an afternoon siesta and double glass doors lead out to an own porch, which overlooks the beautiful beach and lagoon. The rooms are luxuriously furnished with custom made teak furniture and amenities.

There are 2 excellent swimming pools, one connected to a bar and one with the gymnasium and health centre. The mandatory spa is good and the recreation centre, pool and gym are especially good. The Japanese restaurant is quite famous with 2 top class Japanese chefs in residence. The main public areas are on a wooden deck over the ocean and are very attractively designed. The magnificent spa has holistic approach to your health, providing natural treatments for your body, mind and spirit. Based on the concepts of the Five Elements theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water and Healing practices of Ayurveda, each spa experience takes you on a journey through the cycle of nature.

Water Sports World has every year the latest windsurfing & kite boarding models available for the guests. There are also professional & certified multilingual instructors to teach you. Location: South Male’ Atoll, Maldives.

Lily Beach is located at the South East Ari – Atoll and offers an excellent value for your all inclusive holiday. The resort offers 4 Sunset Water Suites, 36 Deluxe Water Villas, 16 Lagoon Villas, 57 Beach Villas, 6 Beach Family Villas, gymnasium, flood-lit tennis courts, table tennis, darts, carom, billiards/pool and beach volleyball area.

The Water Suites are individually designed, sited on the sunset side of the island, offering spectacular views of the ocean with private deck, and direct access to the lagoon from villa. These suites have a separate sitting area along with 4-poster King Size beds and LCD flat screen TV. The Deluxe Villas are at a distance of 15-feet between each villa, containing hand-crafted standalone bathtub with Jacuzzi and an additional medium-sized Jacuzzi pool on the deck offering a fantastic view of the entire lagoon.

As a dinning option, the main restaurant at Lily Beach, with sand floors and views of the lagoon serves world cuisine’, and offering expansive buffets. On the other hand The Tamarind, a la carte restaurant offering fine dining experiences with signature dishes, specially created by the Executive Chef with a large selection of wines. The Spirit, with sandy floors, vibrant colour-schemes, day loungers, and selected lounge music is a quite relaxed place for your evening walks.

The sport centre offers all non-motorized activities including canoeing, windsurfing, surf bikes, wake boarding, catamaran sailing, and banana-boat. Location: Maldives, Indian Ocean.

Fregate Island is one of the privatest islands in the world. Pirates are nowhere to be seen on this idyllic Indian Ocean paradise. From the tropical forest, white-sand beaches to crystal clear waters and abundant marine life. With no more than forty guests on the island, this tiny granite world is one of the area’s most secluded and desirable destinations.

There are sixteen spacious villas, all of which blend in with the surrounding landscape. Fourteen of them nestled atop the cliffs and afford spectacular views of the ocean; the remaining two lie in their own private tropical gardens. The interior decors combines colonial and Seychellois design influences and the furniture is reminiscent of artifacts gathered by Indian Ocean traders on their travels.

All of the villas have their own private swimming pool, whirlpool tub, and dining pavilion, plus sliding glass walls and French doors, which are often left open to place the visitors firmly within the tropical paradise. The paradise can be further explored with the resident ecologist, who lead regular hikes along the coast and into the jungle. The reef-protected lagoon offers safe diving, swimming, and snorkeling, and for experienced divers boats are available to find dramatic dive sites.

The Rock Spa reached through a canyon of waterfalls and freshwater pools provides holistic treatments and the Castaway Kids Club takes good care of children while you work out in the gym, head off to Parslin Island for a round of golf, or just lie back and think about how those lucky pirates must have felt to wash up at a place like this.

Location: Fregate Island, Seychelles.

Denis Island encapsulates every desert island dream rolled into one. A mere dot in the western Indian Ocean, it is the emitome of unpretentious simplicity. The lush island is named after a French explorer, Denis de Trobriant, who first sighted it in 1773. He landed on fertile island and found it to be a heaven for a diversity for a diversity of wildlife, as it remains today. Now bedfellows will find twenty-five cottages nestled close to the shore, filled with huge beds and plump armchair. They have chic romantic bathrooms with alfresco showers, private verandas and courtyards dotted with coconut trees. Photo by: blinky_

There are no television, radios, or anything else to disturb your peace, except perhaps for the islands endearing inhabitants – some rather large turtles. Active guests can always venture into the turquoise waters and take advantage of the snorkeling and diving – turtles sharks, and rays abound and year round fishing. Photo by: harry p

Mealtimes are refreshingly casual, incorporating an array of fresh produce from the island’s own very well-stocked farm, which includes chickens, pigs, cows and quail, as well as native vanilla, herbs and vegetables. Days revolve lazily around long, lavish breakfasts, lunches and relaxed dinners are served in the restaurant or on the beach, underneath a starry canopy. Photo by: harry p

The island is a favorite among those looking for a romantic escape. Photo by: dannyw. Locations: Seychelles

The Lemuria Resort is 5-star De-luxe Resort, situated only 5 minutes away from Praslin airport. With an idyllic location the spa and golf resort provides its guests the highest standard of luxury and comfort. The lush vegetation and the sandy beaches make for a beautiful holiday destination.

The hotel offers 104 suites blend into the surrounding the outstanding beauty of the Seychelles. The architecture and interior design were created with natural materials such as wood, stone, pink granite and thatch. Each stylish designed suite has a wide veranda and every facility including air-conditioning, TV, CD players and bath, shower and luxurious lotions in the en-suite bathrooms.

 
Resort’ Activities
The beaches are sheltered and water calm and it is ideal for water sports, such as: snorkeling, sailing, boat excursions, scuba-diving and deep-sea fishing. For golf lovers, the resort offers the Seychelles only 18-hole Championship golf course. Also there is two tennis courts, two restaurants and spa.

Cocos Islands are discovered in 1609, they were settled and owned by a single family from 1872 until the Australian Government acquired them in 1978. A pristine white beach is so typical of the beautiful Cocos Islands. The 27 coral islands are formed into two large, heavily vegetated atolls. They are the only atolls that Darwin ever visited but the coral ecosystem remains intact – and you can still see in their pristine conditions, exactly why they played such an important part in his theory of evolution.

North Keeling, set apart from the other islands, isn’t even inhabited, but you can come across extreme rarities like the Cocos buff-banded rail, robber land crabs, and both green and hawksbill turtles among other wonders, under its protection as Pulu Keeling National Park.

The Cocos islanders live on Home and West Islands, both given over to copra and coconut plantations that only add to their tropical glamour. There is no tourist industry at all. Wild place populated with divers and kite-surfers. However there are facilities for visitors, sponsored by the islanders who take in personal interest everyone who come. If you happen to be there, you are welcome to participate in the school fete, sports day or concert night. The tradition of hospitality is both, Australian and Malay.

The islanders, as much as the islands themselves, have retained a form of unpolluted innocence, and share a mutual respect that visitors immediately respond to. These islands are a dreamscape worthy to travel for.
When to go: Year-round. The winds last from April to September. But between that period the islands is second home for professional kite maniacs. Rain is most intense between March and July and usually falls in the evening after long sunny day. Population: 446. Getting there: By air, from Perth, to West Island, Cocos Islands. Photos by: Christian Bartens

Africa‘s least-populous sovereign state is the Republic of Seychelles, another of the Indian Ocean’s fairly numerous island nations. Officially there are over 150 islands in the Seychelles, comprising of a mix of granite and coral islands located 1,500 km to the north east of Madagascar. Other neighbours include Mauritius, Reunion, Zanzibar, Comoros, Mayotte and the Maldives. The Seychellian people are often described as the world’s friendliest people. Photo by: rokbeat

Mahe is the largest island, in the north of the archipelago. It has the capital city of Victoria and has 90 per cent of the country’s population. Settlements are concentrated in the north and east, while the south and west are occupied by the Baie Ternay Marine National Park and Port Launay Marine National Park. Some visitors who pass through Mahe on the way to resorts are missing something – the place is breathtaking, with towering mountains, abundant tropical vegetation and empty awesome beaches. Photo by: mojo621

Victoria is the world’s smallest capital city, and its quaint streets and old harbour can easily be explored on foot. The market is often six days a week and local crafts are on sale alongside a wide range of fruit, vegetables and fish. It is possible to take a boat tour of the St Anne Marine Park from Victoria Harbour, covering six offshore islands that features an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles. Photo by: bodji

When to go: All year round – the climate is evenly hot and humid. Even during the rainy season (January and February) there is plenty of sunshine. Population: 72,000. How to get there: Various international carriers fly to Mahe. Photo by: angrydentist