North Island Seychelles
North Island
North Island, Seychelles
www.north-island.com
HOTEL INFORMATION
Shareholders
Privately owned
Date of Creation
1997
Hotel General Manager
Mr Ayyoub Salameh
Hotel Positioning
5-star Luxury, The Luxury Collection
Development Strategy
In tandem with creating the world’s most exclusive private island, North Island has been working hard to restore the Island to its former natural glory through its pioneering ‘Noah’sArk’ conservation programme. Once a plantation, the Island has since been transformed into a sanctuary for endangered species. Luminous white beaches and azure seas welcome travellers as well as nesting sea turtles, while verdant palm forests are home to Giant Aldabra Tortoises and rare Seychelles White-eyes.
North Island
History & Story
North Island has been uninhabitated and undiscovered for most of its history. It was the first Seychelles island on which a recorded landing was made by sea farers in 1609. From 1826 until the 1970s, North Island was owned by the Beaufond family from Réunion. During this time the Island was a plantation for growing fruit and spices, as well as producing guano, fishoil and copra. After the copra market collapsed, the plantation was sold and North Island fell into disuse. Feral animals and alien plant species out-competed the indigenous fauna and flora with distressing consequences. A new chapter in the history of North Island began in 1997 when North Island was purchased by a team including Wilderness Safaris, with a view to creating not just the world’s leading private island hideaway, but also a sustainable ecotourism destination. A unique opportunity existed to rehabilitate, preserve and study the Island’s ecosystems.
Date Renewal
• 2016– Renewed interiors including all softs decor, as well as decking and that ching throughout the resort. 2016 – 2018 ongoing structural refurbishment of the villas and main areas, new kitchen and service facilities.
• 2018 – rebuild of Sunset Bar being completed
• Interiors – Cate Simpson, Reflecting Africa
• Architecture – Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens
Date added extensions
• 2018 – New Environment Centre, plus treehouse for kids, new sunset bar
Main Strengths, Special Touch
• Unparalleled natural beauty in a pure, pristine environment.
• Complete privacy and exclusivity. With just 11 villas, you can experience your own private island.
• The highest level of personalized service and a private Villa Attendant to tend to your every need.
• A generous all-inclusive offering and diverse range of activities to spend a memorable time together.
• A bespoke dining concept catering to guests’ unique tastes, coupled with many private dining venues.
Location
North Island is a private island in the Seychelles, renowned for its exclusivity and privacy. North Island is located 20 minutes via helicopter from the main island of Mahé, Seychelles and its nearest neighbourhood is Silhouette Island.
Key sites/activities in the area
Scuba-diving, Snorkeling, Fishing, Sunset Cruises, Boat trips and Island Hopping, Kayaking, Stand-up paddle boarding, Surfing, Bodyboarding, Swimming, Yoga, Spa, Gym, Beach Picnics, Outdoor Beach Movies, Cooking classes, Hiking and GuidedWalks, Cycling, Island Buggies, Birdwatching, Turtle Nesting.
Fun Facts
• North Island is known to have the highest density of nesting Green Turtles of the inner islands of the Seychelles.
• Honeymoon Beach, one of North Island’s four private beaches can be booked off for the day to call your own.
Children’s Corner
North Island’s bespoke “Beach Buddy” children’s programme offers activities tailor-made to the preferences of each child, from treasure hunting across the Island to GPS tortoise tracking with resident Environmentalists.
Children are warmly welcome and under 17’s stay for free.
HOTEL FEATURES
Accommodation
North Island features just 11 private 2-bedroom villas, offering each guest an unparalleled sense of exclusivity and luxury.
Beachfront Villas
Villas 1 to 10 are nestled discreetly in the tree-line along East Beach, with beautiful ocean views and direct access to the beach. Each Beachfront Villa measures 450 square meters (4,890 square feet), offering total privacy, generous space, and your own exclusive tranche of the luminous white sands and turquoise waters.
Villa North Island
Villa 11 is perched on the granite boulders at the far end of East Beach and is the quintessence of honeymoon luxury, romance and seclusion. Measuring 750 square meters (8,073 square feet), the sheer volume and scale of this villa are unimaginably decadent as it spreads out across multi-tiered levels, cascading down through a takamaka forest to a private beach entry into the ocean below. The beach view from this Villa is truly spectacular from every angle.
Each Villa includes: A master bedroom suite with an oversized custom-made bed and changing area; Spa bathroom complete with massage bed and two showers (one indoor and one outdoor); Subtle Energies amenities; Private study/lounge that can be converted to a private cinema, plus second bathroom and shower; Satellite television and wireless internet; Villa lounge and dining area that leads to a kitchenette, complete with a mobile chef’s station, fridge and pantry generously stocked with guests’ preferences; Every pantry also has a blackboard menu with home-style in-villa dining suggestions and a picnic basket to use on North Island’s private beaches; Outdoor sala complete with loungers; Outdoor dining area and BBQ; Private plunge pool and direct access to the beach; Plus your own Island Buggy, bicycles, and private butler service. In addition, Villa 11 features an outdoor Reverie Lounge and multiple outdoor seating areas, including a stone fire-pit, as well as an open-air shower with incredible views.
Restaurants & Bars
Guests can choose between the sophisticated elegance of the LaidBack Restaurant overlooking East Beach or relax with sunset cocktails, canapés, freshly-baked pizzas and sumptuous beach barbecues at the Sunset Bar. For many, the meaning of true luxury means a tailor-made experience; from personalized service to a unique take on dining, North Island offers a completely bespoke approach to its menus and dining venues: guests can have whatever they fancy, anytime and anywhere on the Island. The entire Island is at guests’ disposal. From the privacy of the expansive villa where one can dine overlooking the blue of the ocean to the most romantic of isolated locations with a private picnic at Honeymoon Beach – there is a wealth of picturesque destinations that guests can choose to dine at.
All-inclusive
Wellness
• Spa
• Gym
• Yoga
• Swimming Pool
Corporate & Celebration Events
•Destination beach weddings and vow renewals, honeymoons, babymoons, mile stone anniversaries and birthdays.
Extra Notable Features
• PADI certified Dive Centre
• Library
• Boutique
• Wine Cellar
• Organic Island vegetable and herbgarden
• Indigenous Island nursery
Hotel and restaurant Awards
2020
• Conde Nast 2020 Gold List
2019
• Paradise Golden Panther Awards 2019
• Forbes Six of the Best 2019
2016
• African Responsible Tourism Awards 2018
• Love Travel Awards 2018
2015-2014
National Geographic World Legacy Award 2017, Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2017, Andrew Harper’s Top 20 Hideaways in the World, Elite Traveler Top 100 Hotels in the World 2017, Prime Traveller Award 2017, Harper’s Bazaar 2017 World’s 150 Greatest Hotels, Luxury BARED Golden Palm Award 2016, Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Award 2016, 2016 Energy Globe Award for Seychelles, No.1 in the Traveller’s World Awards Top 100 List.
Number of employees
126