North Island
Where Luxury and Nature Unite
Although the Seychelles islands are often world-class in terms of beauty and luxury, North Island sets the bar even higher.
Combining a Robinson Crusoe feeling of solitude with five-star ambience, this resort is so luxurious that, in 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton spent ten days of their honeymoon here, at a reported rate of £442,000 (€488,000) for the entire island, along with all 100 employees of the resort. Eleven stylish villas, integrated into nature and built using environmentally-friendly materials, in combination with a comprehensive regeneration programme, ensure that luxury and conservation are indeed compatible. This combination has rendered North island a handmade natural paradise.
Guests will arrive on North Island via helicopter, a journey that takes twenty minutes from Mahé. The owners of North Island insist on this method of arrival to prevent rats or other pests from entering the island, jeopardising the elaborate style and conservation efforts of the island.
There was once an unprofitable coconut plantation on the island, leading the people residing on North to leave the island. Unfortunately, however, they left behind all kinds of plant and animal species, making it impossible for the island's original ecosystem to regenerate. When the resort was opened in 2002, many far-reaching nature and animal conservation projects were carried out, which have in turn been funded by the profits from hotel operations, and which have resorted the ecological balance of the island with incredible success.
One such example was the hiring of a biologist, who reintroduced turtles to the island. You can even participate actively in various projects during your stay, if you wish to. Besides that, walks, bicycle tours, fishing, diving, and kayaking getaways are all on the list of possible activities. You can also swim and snorkel all around the island, depending on the season, while two splendid beaches offer more sheltered beauty for you to enjoy.
North Island is two square kilometres in size, and can be found five kilometres north of Silhouette and thirty kilometres north-west of Mahé. The island is of volcanic origin, and these days is extremely lush in terms of vegetation. The island's highest peak, Grand Paloss, rises 180 metres above the ocean in the north of the island. The small plateau that forms here catches water during rainier weeks, creating small lakes that provide the islanders and hotel guests with fresh water.
In 1609, North Island was explored by Europeans - one of the first Seychelles Islands to be discovered. Alexander Sharpeigh is credited with landing there, and saw much potential in the island's provisions. Anyone looking for more information about the island can look in the Seychelles Tourist Office.
Information about North Island
