Seychelles: Where to Stay: Grand: Frégate Island, Seychelles

Frégate Island, Seychelles

On an island of outstanding natural beauty where frangipanis, banyans and wild figs trees grow, Frégate was the original eco trailblazer in the Seychelles. The whole place was built in harmony with its surroundings and offers just sixteen vast villas, all clean lines, complete with colossal thatched bedrooms, separate sitting rooms, outdoor and indoor showers, bath tubs overlooking colourful plants and brand new you-can-do-lengths private pools.

There are six completely deserted beaches. You can sleep on buckwheat spelt pillows. Food is grown on the island (try the lemongrass red snapper with organic vegetables), no pesticides are allowed and a dedicated ecology team works to protect the local wildlife—as well they should. Over a hundred roaming tortoises plod about, you can spot giant Tenebrionis beetles which live nowhere else on earth (and look positively prehistoric) and keep watch for the endangered Magpie Robin. But the hotel’s latest natural wonder is its new cliff-top Rock Spa which makes the most of a ‘Fresh is Best’ philosophy. Think rosewater mists, mashed papaya massages, breadfruit anti-aging facials, passion fruit foot-rubs and mint, cucumber and rosemary hair treatments. You can even forage for the ingredients yourself. A Tibetan yoga teacher is on his way and, if you want, you also try treatments in the splendour of the new tree house –very eco-cool.