OCEANS APART
Travel+Leisure India|June 2022
Six resorts, nine days, countless white-sand beaches and 150 giant tortoises. On a whirlwind visit to the Seychelles, where conservation and tourism are finding a way to coexist, Marcia DeSanctis revels in what might be the world's most quintessential island paradise.
Marcia DeSanctis
OCEANS APART

THERE'S AN OLD SAYING you might hear when you arrive in the Seychelles-that if you eat the breadfruit there, a return trip is guaranteed. A few hours after I arrived, I was nibbling on a plateful in the restaurant of Le Jardin du Roi, a spice plantation on Mahé, the country's largest and most populous island. The fruit tasted like a delicately sweetened sponge. But as I ate, coming back was the last thing on my mind; I was focussing on how to stay positive. After my plane landed in Victoria, the capital, I was met with the kind of slashing wind and rain that dislodges coconuts from palm trees, flips umbrellas inside out, and dampens the heart of a writer who has just travelled 15 hours from gloomy, Omicron-ravaged Paris (a stopover on the journey from New York).

On a map, the 115 islands that comprise the Seychelles are tiny dots in the Indian Ocean, about 1,609 kilometres east of Kenya. (More than a third of them are formed from granite, indicating that the country was once part of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana, which later broke apart to form South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and parts of Asia.) This extreme remoteness means that the country remains a mystery to most American travellers. But even in a downpour, I was beginning to see why 24 hours of air travel was worthwhile.

An aura of sensuousness struck me as I checked in to my first hotel, the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, where the entrance was dominated by what appeared to be wooden sculptures of the female derriere. In fact, they were the dried fruits of the coco-de-mer, a species of palm found only in the Seychelles. The fragrance of cinnamon, frangipani, and which grow mango, wild on the property, drifted in the air.

Bu hikaye Travel+Leisure India dergisinin June 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Travel+Leisure India dergisinin June 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

TRAVEL+LEISURE INDIA DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
10 Elevated Experiences in The Lap Of Luxury
Travel+Leisure India

10 Elevated Experiences in The Lap Of Luxury

Travel in a luxury caravan, cook a meal with Michelin-starred chefs, chill in your private in-villa wine cellar and snorkel with seahorses-here is our handpicked list of 10 unique indulgences at some of the finest hotels across the world

time-read
6 dak  |
November 2024
The Sound Luxury
Travel+Leisure India

The Sound Luxury

In 2024, the sound of Kenny G has been replaced by lo-fi beats in resorts and elevators, transforming the traditional musical landscape. Ambient music has become essential for crafting the perfect atmosphere.

time-read
7 dak  |
November 2024
APPETITE for LIFE
Travel+Leisure India

APPETITE for LIFE

Dandelion roots and pea greens, truffles and wild mountain thyme: a meal in Slovenia is like a walk in a fairy-tale forest. Sierra Crane Murdoch falls under the country's spell.

time-read
10+ dak  |
November 2024
Silk Route Revival
Travel+Leisure India

Silk Route Revival

With its luxe offerings and ease of visa-free access to several countries, including India, Kazakhstan is slowly opening doors to travellers with a whole new set of handouts beyond the exotic, explores Shikha Tripathi

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
A TRANQUIL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
Travel+Leisure India

A TRANQUIL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

At Raffles Udaipur, discover the art of slowing down and connecting with history, nature, and yourself.

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
Travel, Leisure, and Everything In Between
Travel+Leisure India

Travel, Leisure, and Everything In Between

Shibani and Farhan Akhtar share their travel dynamics, love for luxury, and why Raffles Udaipur, with its serene ambiance, is the ultimate getaway.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024
Basking in Opulence
Travel+Leisure India

Basking in Opulence

Lights, camera, glam. What is it about Rajasthan, especially Udaipur, that spells luxury travel like no other?

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
Tradition in Modern Tapestry
Travel+Leisure India

Tradition in Modern Tapestry

Waris Ahluwalia's insights on sustainable practices and the power of human connection in his creative journey reflect through his words, and his work.

time-read
3 dak  |
November 2024
Design, Diversity, and Sustainability
Travel+Leisure India

Design, Diversity, and Sustainability

Roopal Patel discusses the evolving landscape of global fashion, the power of personal style, her vision for a more inclusive industry, and the future of design in an insightful exchange with Samreen Tungekar

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024
MUMBAI TO MILAN: LUXURY, CULTURE AND CULINARY DELIGHTS
Travel+Leisure India

MUMBAI TO MILAN: LUXURY, CULTURE AND CULINARY DELIGHTS

Tanya Khanijow enjoys the best of Milan with Lufthansa, from stylish shopping to tasting the city's culinary delights.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 2024