The Best Luxury Resorts in the Seychelles (2025 Edition)

The Seychelles might be one of the most beautiful places on earth, with landscapes that feel cinematic and beaches that look like AI went rogue, but when it comes to high-end hospitality, it’s still punching well below its weight. Compared to its shinier cousin in the Maldives, the luxury scene often feels like an afterthought.  But that is changing.  And, fortunately, changing fast.

Here’s what makes the cut.  (I really don’t like ranking lists, so this isn’t in strict order, but I may have been feeling unusually charitable toward the end. Just the warm, generous soul that I am).

North Island

Yes, it’s still a Marriott (at the time of writing). Yes, it’s still absurdly expensive. And yes, it still feels like you’ve washed up on an island so primitive they haven’t discovered materials beyond wood.  But there is something truly special about North Island. It is one of the most special places I’ve ever been, and long may Marriott no longer have their grubby hands anywhere near it.

The villas are enormous, the privacy is next-level, and the roaming tortoises, barefoot freedom, and untouched nature make it feel like nowhere else. It’s the kind of place where people see your Instagram and can’t decide whether to be envious or assume you’ve fallen on hard times based on how rustic everything looks.

With just 11 villas, all stretching along that ridiculous beach, it’s hard to find anywhere else like it in the world.  A private island, that feels like your island, even if other guests have the audacity to exist.

Fregate

Closed for nearly five years, but worth mentioning because when (or if) Fregate reopens—hopefully sometime next year—it’s set to be nothing short of ridiculous in the best way. Private island, seven beaches, and a full redesign that’s going to make North Island look like a Best Western that was set on fire.

Cheval Blanc Seychelles

Cheval Blanc Seychelles has arrived, and like Jesus, it showed up just in time for Christmas. Or something.

It practically tastes of a Cheval Blanc property: beautifully designed villas, private pools, whitewashed minimalism, exquisite chairs you can’t sit on, and signature scents that cost more than your flight.  Dining is mostly superb, the team of ex-pats know what they’re doing and the kids club is amazing.  The attention to detail is all there.

But it’s not perfect.  There are privacy issues, beach villas lack proper living spaces and the beach is trying to murder you. It’s a visually impressive resort, but it doesn’t quite capture the magic you’d expect from the Cheval Blanc brand.

La Cigale Estate

Not technically a resort, but who cares—it’s spectacular. La Cigale is a 4.5-acre private estate set right on Praslin’s Côte d’Or beach, designed for exclusive use by up to 18 guests. The main house is colonial in style (but mercifully well-executed), with five grand suites, while four additional garden suites each come with their own plunge pool. Wraparound verandas, tropical gardens, and direct beach access make it like your own private compound.

The ocean is swimmable, the pool is heated, and the beach is stunning.  It’s ideal for groups who want the luxury of a five-star resort without someone else’s child screaming through their aperitif.

There’s a Technogym-equipped fitness center, a floodlit tennis court, an outdoor spa offering 24-hour treatments, plus a cinema room, basement bar, and a wine cellar you can dine in. Food leans Creole and international, and it’s served wherever you want—because when you’ve booked the whole estate, you call the shots.

Waldorf Astoria Platte Island

Waldorf Astoria Platte Island is one of the newest kids on the block, but it actually delivers.  The villas are spacious, modern and thoughtfully designed, each with a private pool and direct beach access. It strikes a nice balance between full-on resort without feeling soulless. Well, apart from the concrete pool area.  Bonus points for their genuinely impressive sustainability work.  Dining options are diverse and impressive, with highlights including plant-based dishes sourced from the island’s own garden. Don’t worry, they’ll throw in some wagyu too.  The island and beaches don’t have the grandeur of Desroches or other options on this list, but nowhere’s perfect. And in the Seychelles, something usually has to give.

Four Seasons Seychelles Mahé

A very Four Seasons sort of place: good enough and pretty unoriginal—but that’s exactly what some people want. At Four Seasons Mahe, villas cling to the hillside with private pools and big ocean views.  The beach is stunning but public, so you’ll occasionally spot a rogue selfie stick between your sun lounger and the Indian Ocean.

Service is good, the food was superb the spa does what it’s meant to do, and if you’re traveling with kids or just want a hassle-free base on Mahé, it delivers. But it’s not particularly exciting, and it’s definitely not why you fly halfway across the world to the Seychelles. It’s no longer even the safe choice.

Four Seasons Desroches Island

A private island resort that promises seclusion and luxury, but doesn’t quite deliver on all fronts. The villas are spacious and well-appointed, offering direct beach access and private pools. However, the overall design feels dated, and the main beach is underwhelming. Dining options are limited, with food quality that fails to impress. The kids’ club is lackluster, and the facilities don’t match the high expectations set by the brand. While the island’s natural beauty is undeniable, the resort itself feels like a missed opportunity.  But what an island it is.

Erm, yeah, I guess I should say something positive about Four Seasons Desroches too?  It’s got a nice name, I guess.

Six Senses Zil Pasyon

It’s very pretty in photos: lots of smooth granite, turquoise water, and dramatic angles. The villas are chic, and the spa is wedged into boulders in a way that makes you feel like you’re about to be sacrificed.

But it’s all surface. The service is inconsistent, the food is forgettable, and the whole place has the warmth of a leaflet converting you to mass murder. Worst of all, there’s barely a beach, which is a bold choice in a country famed for having some of the best in the world. It’s like taking a tour of Cadbury’s and getting handed a sack of potatoes at the end.