Featuring Sri Lanka, Seychelles Outer Islands, Madagascar, Reunion, Mozambique and the latest inspirations from popular favourites like Maldives and Mauritius.
The EliteVoyage team gives their inspirations and recommendations for the next winter season, covering eight countries and some completely off the beaten path islands and atolls.
Matyas Dlouhy
Amanwella, Sri Lanka
Among the most remote and most fascinating properties I have ever stayed. Amanwella is spread throughout a palm jungle in southern Sri Lanka, on the edge of raw beaches and wild ocean waves.
The Aman aura it’s felt throughout the resort, particularly in the design and service quality, yet there is still a sense of openness and exploration. It feels like you’re discovered a new place in the world.
I stayed in a Premium Ocean Pool Suite which is a great option, as it’s spacious, contemporary and completely within nature. Ocean View Suites are also nice and all the accommodations offer a private pool.
Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island
I recently inspected this much celebrated new resort and believe its uniqueness is good reason to give it a try.
It’s a remote and flat island on its own atoll, a great place for snorkelling, diving and other activities on the water. The landing strip in the middle of the island is an interesting feature, as are all the baby sharks and rays in the lagoon.
Overall the service was impeccable throughout my stay and the villas are comfortable. They have similar design and features, varying only really in number of bedrooms and size.
It’s a new resort and some aspects still need improvement. Abundant sea grass washes up on the beach at times and I’m sure the resort is already searching for a solution.
Overall I think families and couples will find an interesting experience at Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, especially as part of an island hopping itinerary.
Štĕpán Borovec
Lux Saint Gilles, Reunion
This recommendation is more about the idea of Reunion island rather than the hotel itself.
Consider adding three or four nights to your Mauritius holiday to experience the island. It’s also a great opportunity for a scenic helicopter flight between the islands.
Reunion is paradise for outdoor adventure, with superb hiking, canyoning, paragliding, diving, snorkelling, exploring lava tunnels and 4WD exploration.
Lux Saint Gilles is a basic five-star property and not the reason to travel, but it provides an okay base for discovering the island. It’s best to combine it with One&Only Le Saint Geran which is the most luxurious beachfront resort on Mauritius.
Soneva Secret, Maldives
The biggest new opening in the Maldives but actually one of the smallest, as it only has 14 villas.
I like its remoteness in the far north of the archipelago. In recent years there has been overdevelopment around the Malé area, including the Fari Islands, where Rosewood and Mandarin Oriental are opening properties.
While this increases the choice of top resorts, it’s taking away the feeling of being disconnected somewhere in the Indian Ocean.
Soneva Secret is completely different and it’s worth spending some extra travel time for the 75-minute seaplane flight.
I personally love Soneva’s no news no shoes philosophy and their pure attitude towards sustainability.
Soneva Secret currently offers one- and two-bedroom water and beach villas.
Soon it will add the first floating villa in the Maldives, an almost 500-square-metre space only accessible by sea, for a maximum of two adults and two children. What an amazing family holiday in complete privacy!
Katerina Ulmanová
Alphonse Island, Cosmoledo Eco Camp & Astove Coral House, Seychelles Outer Islands
This is a unique and immersive experience in one of the world’s most untouched environments, over 1000 kilometres from Mahé in the Seychelles Outer Islands.
These three remote accommodations are connected to each other and I recommend them to people who appreciate nature, sustainability and adventure.
These are world-leading destinations for fly fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling, made for remote getaway seekers who want to explore far from typical tourist destinations.
It’s where you can snorkel with manta rays and sailfish, see turtles hatching, walk with giant tortoises and be truly far from anywhere.
Alphonse Island is a one-hour flight from Mahé and has a small and comfortable resort, where I recommend a Beach Villa which has a private pool. Stay on Alphonse. Or you can take the adventure further by transferring onto two even more remote outer islands.
Cosmoledo Eco Camp is the only accommodation in the Cosmoledo Atoll, offering eight eco pods which are comfortable and equipped, but not super luxury. The emphasis is firmly on sustainability and a complete connection with nature.
Astove Coral House is a vintage plantation home turned rustic lodge with only six bedrooms, the only accommodation on an island with an incredible lagoon and coral reef ecosystem.
Don’t even consider these places for a resort holiday, modern luxury or a wide range of amenities. They’re very serene and escapist places for a rustic adventure in remarkable Indian Ocean nature.
These Outer Islands lodges are operated by Blue Safari Seychelles, who specialise in sustainability and marine activities. They also operate the dive centre at the new Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, for example.
By providing minimal impact accommodation they’re making new atolls and islands accessible to adventurous travellers. And they can be easily combined with a few days at a more luxurious resort on Mahé to end a trip.
Filip Pačes
Patina Maldives
I’ve visited many resorts in the Maldives and Patina always has a special place in my heart.
I love the minimalist villa design and the art installations around the island. Also the concept that “we don’t aim to please everyone.”
They are not trying to be the resort for every type of client but they are ideal for certain families and couples, especially people who appreciate great design and architecture.
I also like the Fari Marina with its beach club, food trucks, berths for yachts, which feels a little French Riviera in the Indian Ocean.
Constance Lemuria,Seychelles
For many years, Constance Lemuria has been a consistently good choice for my clients, especially holidays for parents, children and grandparents together.
Their one and only Presidential Villa is proven to be very good for larger families and provides absolute privacy.
Lemuria has a nice secluded location on Praslin island, with white sandy beaches and lush vegetation. It’s much superior to the more basic and worn out Constance Ephelia on Mahé, Golfers appreciate the superb 18-hole course, notably the jaw-dropping 15th hole.
It’s easily reachable by helicopter or even domestic flight, with nice options to make the resort part of a two- or three-island holiday.
Petr Udavský
Miavana Private Island, Madagascar
For me, Miavana combines the advantages of many different Indian ocean island destinations into one.
It offers real privacy and space, that’s why celebrities are staying there.
There’s nature and wildlife, like lemurs and all the great activities in the water. It’s tranquil and informal, yet also a place for a very active holiday.
It’s really not for everyone, but for some of our clients, both couples and families, it could be the ultimate destination. I had a fantastic experience during my visit earlier this year.
Luxury at Miavana is about emotions, the feeling of remoteness and a completely new perception of time.
Kristyna Hurská
andBeyond Mnemba Island, Zanzibar
This little barefoot oasis is only a 15-minute speedboat ride from Zanzibar but it feels like another world.
andBeyond Mnemba Island only has 12 suites, all with a rustic design and instant access to the beach.
This is an intimate and romantic hideaway that’s perfect for doing nothing at all. Except I highly recommend snorkelling, Mnemba atoll is a legendary spot for marine life!
Mnemba is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment that includes updating all the villas, building a new spa and installing solar power throughout the lodge. It reopens on October 1st and I look forward to checking it out.
Clients going on safari to Tanzania or Kenya really benefit from ending their trip with a few days doing absolutely nothing on the beach. It’s an important counterpoint after an adventure that involves early morning starts and a lot of moving around.
Ritz-Carlton Maldives
This stylish resort opened in 2021 and I really recommend it for families. I’ve had great feedback from people staying there with their young kids.
It’s a resort where everybody has their own private space. The staff really know how to entertain children and provide extra services and amenities, like changing tables, diaper bins, ideas for older kids to go explore.
The kids club is superb and very modern, with no plastic toys (all are made from wood), a kids pool, a climbing wall and lots of interesting activities.
Another key point is that the sea is shallow and is easy to enter for young kids. Ritz-Carlton Maldives is a 45-minute transfer from Malé on the resort’s new, virtually silent and well air-conditioned speedboat.
I really like how the resort offers an ideal family stay and is also very elegant and stylish. The two are definitely compatible!
Dominika Huttnerová
One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius
For me, Mauritius is all about an active itinerary rather than just relaxing by the pool and beach. I loved hiking at Le Morne Brabant and exploring Grand Baie market. I will definitely return!
One&Only Le Saint Géran is the best and most luxurious option on the island. It offers exclusivity away from the typical tourist spots. And the price point is very attractive, especially in comparison to resorts in the Maldives.
It’s rare in being both family friendly, with lots of things to do for kids, and also providing a quiet, romantic atmosphere for couples.
The resort is currently undergoing a soft renovation and will reopen in October with a completely new spa.
Six Senses Laamu
Six Senses resonates a lot with me as a brand, their principle that luxury travel should be aligned with ecological responsibility and support for local communities. I like how they can deliver this in very remote places.
Six Senses Laamu is located in the far south of the Maldives and the extra journey time is worth it. It’s a 65-minute seaplane transfer from Malé, or a 45-minute domestic flight followed by a 15-minute speedboat.
I like designing island hopping itineraries that include a more remote island, so clients get that Robinson Crusoe, disconnected feeling, with access to nearby uninhabited islands, excellent diving and snorkelling.
This is a contemporary resort that really appeals to millennial couples. It’s very private and also very Instagrammable.
I recommend an Ocean Water Villa. You can snorkel straight from the villa onto the reef, there’s a private pool, a glass overwater bathtub and outdoor rain shower.
Matous Grund
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles
I often recommend Four Seasons Resort Seychelles because it has everything clients look for in the Seychelles.
It’s nestled into the hillside with beautiful ocean views. Iconic granite rocks are all around and there’s a long sandy beach, one of the best I’ve seen in the Seychelles.
They have a great kids club and many experiences for all ages. The spa comes with a view and KOI is an amazing Japanese restaurant.
I recommend the Serenity Villa, which is up on the hill (there is a buggy service to get around). Or the three-bedroom Royal Suite nearer to the beach.
Joali Maldives
We write about Joali a lot and it’s been our most requested Indian Ocean resort over the last 12 months.
Beautifully designed villas, great restaurants, nice staff and always top feedback from our clients who stay there.
I can recommend Joali Maldives for somebody who is visiting the Maldives for the first time, or for a tenth time. Here’s my resort inspection from earlier this year.
Michal Patek
Kisawa Sanctuary, Mozambique
Mozambique’s Indian Ocean coastline is massive, around 2600 kilometres! Wild beaches stretch for hundreds of kilometres and huge sand-bank islands lie just off the shore.
Kisawa Sanctuary is now established as the premium beach resort option in the country, a quiet sanctuary of forest, beach and reef on the tip of Benguerra Island. The level of luxury is very impressive considering the wild location.
I like the design style, but mostly I like the sense of freedom and space out here, in a part of the Indian Ocean that sees only a few hundred visitors a year.
This is a great add on to a safari in South Africa, as there is good flight access from Johannesburg.
Le Campement, Zannier Private Estates, Mauritius
Historic architecture meets Zannier design at this exclusive-use villa in southern Mauritius.
It’s completely cut off from other people, located on the cliffs, with its own little beach and waterfall, in a landscape of coconut, mango and banana palms.
I love Zannier’s youthful approach to service, sustainability and style. They’ve created hotels and private estates in places where tourism never existed before.
Le Campement is a three-bedroom, barefoot sanctuary, on a huge natural plot. Arnaud Zannier personally told us that it’s already popular with A-listers who don’t want to be seen or named.
Your Indian Ocean Holiday in 2024-2025
The Indian Ocean offers so much choice and we love to explore the less known places, where tourism is less developed and there’s that genuine feeling of space.
We’re also continually visiting islands in the best known destinations, like Maldives and Seychelles, to see what’s new and what’s really worth it for the next travel season.
Which Indian Ocean resort most inspires you for the next winter season?
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