Sunshine and simple pleasures on an eco-island paradise
Set on 375-acre private coral islet in the outer Seychelles, Denis Island is circled by flawless white sand and surrounded by the gently lapping Indian Ocean. An island resort with a conservation conscience, it’s a true back to nature experience where you can swim with turtles, dine under coconut trees and forget the world.
The lowdown
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Getting there
Direct flights from London to Mahé take just 10 hours. Then it’s a 30-minute flight or helicopter ride onto Denis Private Island.
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When to go
Spring and autumn, during the transition between the humid northwest and cooler southeast trade winds.
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Need to know
Denis is a place to unplug, so don’t expect phone signal, TVs or Wi-Fi in your cottage.
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Combine With
Sister property Carana Beach, a beachfront boutique on Mahé also owned by the Mason family, is ideal for a pre-Denis stay.
Privately owned by the Mason family, who live here, barefoot-chic Denis is far more than just a luxury place to stay. Yes, those secluded sea-view cottages and villas scattered along the beach constitute pure barefoot bliss. But this escapist island’s chief charm lies in its fauna and flora.
Take the navy-coloured Seychelles paradise flycatchers, which you’ll hear singing from the island’s forested interior throughout. Visitors can learn from rangers about monitoring and tagging conservation efforts for rare tropical birds like these, and for the turtles who come ashore to hatch eggs on pristine beaches.
Very carefully-preserved, the fragile coral-island environment suits ecologically-conscious guests, too – especially those into snorkelling and scuba-diving.
That same eco-mindset is also espoused by how Denis’s full-scale farm produces most of the ingredients used in its superlative cuisine. These can be devoured wherever you wish: amid the sea-facing restaurant, on the beach or inside your cottage or villa.
Above all, Denis is a place to stop and take stock; a place where the worries of the world will suddenly vanish.
“There is a sense both of falling off the planet, and falling in love with it, while staying on Denis. It’s wonderfully exclusive and indulgent, yet also rustic and rewarding.”
