Spend a few days on a beautiful and secluded private island before flying to Mahé to relax in a luxurious pool villa.
What's Included:
3 nights Denis Island full board; 7 nights Maia Resort and Spa all inclusive. Includes flights and transfers.
12 days from £8,565pp
who's been there
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On the beach - 8 days
Maia Resort & Spa
Tucked away on a secluded peninsula, Maia is a tranquil retreat offering a very personalised stay in an idyllic location. Small, understated and impossibly romantic, it is the kind of place that lingers long in the memory.
Lush trees blanket the hillsides around Maia, a gloriously indulgent escape overlooking the bay of Anse Louis on Mahé, the Seychelles' largest island. It's an intimate resort with just 30 villas where guests can unwind in total privacy with butler service. Meals can be served on the terrace of your spacious villa or secluded spots round the resort. The poolside restaurant has five chefs and specialises in Creole, Mediterranean and Asian cuisine.
In a twist typical of the personalised service here, rather than having a large menu, the chefs merely make suggestions based on whatever local, seasonal ingredients are in the kitchen that day and can cook them however you wish. The hotel overlooks a beautiful and largely undeveloped beach backed by lush vegetation and giant granite boulders. It's ideal for swimming and snorkelling, there's a choice of complimentary non-motorised water sports and diving can be arranged nearby.
There's also a spa and free yoga classes but many guests retreat to their rooms and just luxuriate in the beautiful surroundings. The thatched villas are a haven of tranquillity with understated but luxurious decor and large doors leading to a deck with daybed, sunken outdoor double bath and uninterrupted sea views. Each villa also has its own private infinity pool.
Before the beach - 4 days
Denis Island
Surrounded by soft, white sands, coral reefs and stunning turquoise ocean, Denis Island sits in beautiful seclusion in the Indian Ocean. Home to rare birds, turtles and a multitude of colourful marine life it’s a wonderful island to stroll or cycle around or simply relax in the tranquil surroundings. Visit the island’s farm, take a guided nature walk and visit the giant tortoises.
Set on its own private island, surrounded by coral reefs, Denis Island boasts a wonderfully secluded setting. Explore the island at your leisure visiting the farm that provides much of the food for guests and spot the abundant wildlife that makes the island its home. The 25 spacious cottages are set along the beachfront with private gardens and terraces.
Maia Resort & Spa
30 rooms, 1 restaurant, 1 pool
Description
Maia Luxury Resort & Spa has just 30 beautifully spacious villas set along the beach and across the lush hillside overlooking the bay of Anse Louis on Mahé. The beach is as nature intended, secluded and quiet, and the hotel offers a wonderfully understated luxury.
The small number of villas makes this a very exclusive resort where service is personal and tailor-made to each client. Even in the restaurant there is no set menu with the five chefs chatting to clients and advising them on the best dishes to suit their taste.
The expansive and elegant villas are a highlight; private and spacious they offer an intimate and peaceful escape with a choice of both outdoor and indoor space in which to relax. For those that can tear themselves away from the comfort of their villas, this boutique resort also offers a variety of water sports and a beautiful spa.
For families
The resort accept families and Signature Villas can accommodate children. There is no kids’ club but the resort can arrange activities for children.
Location
Maia Luxury Resort sits on the western coast of Mahé about 30 minutes’ drive from the airport.
The resort is set on beautiful Anse Louis beach, a gently curving bay of soft white sand framed by lush, granite hillsides at either end. As Maia is the only resort on the beach, it feels very peaceful and private.
The resort feels very secluded although there are a couple of local restaurants and shops within a short drive.
Our opinion
Maia is one of the most exclusive properties in the Seychelles. The small number of rooms make this a very intimate escape with personalised service and the villas are a wonderfully comfortable escape with luxurious details such as private pools, sunken baths and extensive outdoor living areas.
Rooms
Maia has just 30 villas nestled among the rainforest on the hillside or along the beachfront. Elegant, stylish and luxuriously spacious, with plenty of outdoor and indoor living space, the villas are a perfect place to escape with many guests spending most of their time at their villas. Screened by the rainforest and well-spaced, they are very private.
All the villas have a private pool, a spacious outdoor living area with thatched roof, an over-sized daybed, sun loungers, sunken outdoor bath and a total of 250 sq m of space.
Maia Signature Villa
Most of these spacious villas are set along the beachfront with private gardens. The lush foliage that offers these villas privacy means guests don’t get views from these villas but they are just steps from the sand. Two of these villas are set on the hillside. The designer, Bill Bensley’s favourites, they have the prime position for the best ocean views in the resort.
Ocean Panoramic Villa
Set high on the hillside at the end of the bay, these villas have fantastic views out across the ocean.
Pictures of the rooms
Activities, diving & excursions
As well as the beachfront pool, there is a range of water sports available at the hotel including kayaking, snorkelling and stand-up paddleboards while on land there is badminton, croquet, volleyball and a small but modern gym. Meditation and yoga classes are available daily at the spa.
Food & drink
Maia has just one restaurant but five chefs, specialising in Japanese, Thai, Indian, Mediterranean and Creole cuisine. Dishes are created using the best ingredients, many of which are sourced on the islands.
In keeping with the personalised service of the resort, rather than a set menu guests are encouraged to chat to the chefs who will suggest dishes for that meal based on each guest’s personal tastes and the fresh catch.
Spa Facilities
The Balinese-style spa has a beautiful setting in the midst of the rainforest near a waterfall. Although there are only three treatment rooms, each is very large with a thatched roof and open sides with curtains that can be pulled across if you prefer more privacy.
Denis Island
Location: Denis Island
Denis Island is a small coral island, 95 kilometres (and a 30-minute flight) north of Mahé. The island is privately owned and sits on the edge of the Seychelles Bank, encircled by white sandy beaches. Offshore, a ring of coral reefs protect the island, creating good swimming conditions from the beaches, as well as superb snorkelling opportunities. On the reefs, you can expect to see parrotfish, Moorish idols, boxfish, rays and even turtles.
About two kilometres long by 1.5 kilometres wide, the island is totally flat and covered in lush vegetation, with palm trees, takamakas and casuarinas providing shade. Walking along the paths that weave around the island, you’ll see a small church, a sailors’ cemetery, a pretty village and a farm. There’s also a lighthouse on the northern edge of the island that dates back to 1910.
The island is a haven for birds, and you can hear their constant chattering in the background throughout the day, but especially at dawn and dusk. Looking up into the blue sky, you’ll see white fairy terns and white-tailed tropicbirds flying overhead. In addition, giant tortoises are found on the island, and while they no longer roam free for their own safety you can visit their colony on guided tours.
Denis Private Island
Accommodation: Denis Private Island
Denis Private Island lies just 30 minutes by light aircraft from Mahé. The island's main building is situated on the northwest of the island, while there are 25 cottages nestled in the lush vegetation. Sandy paths lead between bougainvillea, frangipani, palm and casuarina trees to the villas, some of which look directly onto the beach whilst others are tucked further back.
The look of the place is rustic island chic, with the buildings designed to blend into the foliage. As you'd expect from an extremely beautiful private island with only a handful of other guests, the service is relaxed and friendly, and tailored to the individual. The atmosphere is also laid-back, Denis Private Island being the kind of place you can say goodbye to shoes for the duration of your stay. There's no mobile reception, internet in rooms or TVs, meaning that guests engage with the natural surroundings and forget about the stress of everyday life. The recommended dress is light tropical wear, although the evenings are more elegant and men are requested to wear long trousers in the bar and restaurant. Shoes are definitely not required!
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1
Board your overnight flight to the Seychelles.
Day 2
On arrival in Mahé you will be met by our representative who will escort you to check in for the 30-minute flight to Denis Island.
There are beautiful views over the islands as you fly to Denis so make sure you have your camera ready. Arriving early afternoon you'll have plenty of time to settle in and relax. Stroll along the soft white sands of the peaceful beach overlooking incredibly turquoise water or wander along the sandy paths of the resort spotting some of the endemic birdlife.
Day 3
If you want to simply relax in beautiful surroundings, you're in the right place but it's also easy to explore the island on foot or on one of the complimentary bicycles. Visit the giant tortoise colony on the way through the forest to the opposite coast where you can wander along a deserted beach.
Day 4
Denis Island offers fantastic snorkelling and diving opportunities and is also one of the best deep sea fishing spots in the Seychelles.
Day 5
Today you have the morning to relax and enjoy the last few hours on the beautiful island of Denis before your flight back to Mahé.
Once you arrive in Mahé you will be met by our representative and transferred to the Maia Resort and Spa by private vehicle. The journey only takes half an hour leaving you most of the afternoon to settle into your villa.
Day 6
Overlooking beautiful Anse Louis beach, with just 30 villas set along the beach and across the hillside, Maia is a tranquil spot for relaxation. The luxurious villas are very private with plenty of space indoors and outdoors as well as a private pool.
Day 7
There are plenty of water sports options at the resort including kayaking, snorkelling and stand-up paddleboards. If you're looking for something more sedate, there is a beautiful spa set among the jungle.
Day 8
If you would like to get out and explore, a boat trip out to some of the other islands is a great way to spend the day while you're in the Seychelles. Or perhaps you'd prefer to head over to Victoria, the capital city.
Days 9-11
At leisure.
Day 12
Today you will be transferred by private vehicle back to the airport for your flight home.
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Tailoring your trip
This itinerary is designed to give you a flavour of what is possible.
We can tailor this trip to suit your specific requirements
Any aspect of the itinerary can be altered, from excursions to accommodation
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