Praslin Island, Seychelles
Raffles Seychelles: All-pool-villa hillside sanctuary on Praslin Island overlooking Anse Takamaka with private infinity pools and Raffles Spa
Cascading down a lush granite hillside covered in endemic palm trees directly into the turquoise waters of Anse Takamaka on the northeastern coast of Praslin Island in the Seychelles, Raffles Seychelles opened in February 2011 as an all-pool-villa tropical masterwork. Spanning 30 hectares of tropical hillside, the 86-villa sanctuary is situated near the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Vallée de Mai (home to the legendary Coco de Mer palm) and the iconic white sands of Anse Lazio. Private plunge pools in every villa, open-air dining at Curieuse, and the ocean-view pavilions of Raffles Spa establish Raffles Seychelles as the crown of Praslin.
Arrival introduces travelers to unhurried Seychellois island elegance: personal hosts welcome guests in the open-air hillside pavilion with chilled lemongrass infusions and panoramic vistas of Curieuse Island across the azure bay. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating bespoke Seychelles nautical, botanical, and island pursuits: swimming in your private plunge pool on the hillside, taking the hotel’s private boat charter to Curieuse Island to walk among giant Aldabra tortoises roaming freely in the wild (10 minutes by boat), visiting the prehistoric palm forest of Vallée de Mai to see the Coco de Mer (15 minutes away), swimming and snorkeling the world-famous granite boulder cove of Anse Lazio (5 minutes away), relaxing on the white sands of Anse Takamaka, and reserving dinner at Curieuse.
Island living balances Indian Ocean leisure with tranquil wellness: the Raffles Spa features 13 open-air treatment pavilions perched atop giant granite boulders with panoramic sea views, sauna, steam room, and therapies utilizing local coconut and pearl powders. Dining spans refined pan-Asian gastronomy at Curieuse, Mediterranean seafood at Losean, fresh sushi at the Sushi Room, and sunset cocktails at the Danzil Lounge.
Accommodations comprise 86 private standalone hillside and beachfront villas (ranging from 125 to 275 square metres). Each villa features a private outdoor infinity plunge pool, open-air covered dining sala, outdoor rain shower, king bed, and marble bathroom with a deep soaking tub facing the sea.
Romance seekers, honeymooners, and luxury nature purists seeking all-pool-villa exclusivity, private infinity pools, and direct proximity to Anse Lazio and giant tortoises in the Seychelles should book Raffles Seychelles without hesitation. Travelers seeking crowded urban resort hotels should look elsewhere. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.8 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 2,400 reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 on Google across 2,100 reviews.
First day
- Arrive on Praslin Island, drive along the scenic coast, and reach Raffles on Anse Takamaka.
- Check into your Panoramic Villa, step onto your terrace, and dive into your private infinity plunge pool.
- Dine on pan-Asian cuisine at Curieuse surrounded by tropical palms.
What guests say
Hotel Flock Score
Exceptional
Based on 4.5k published ratings
Category breakdown
Guests Love
All-Pool-Villa Praslin Island Paradise
Guests revere the private infinity plunge pools, ocean panoramas, proximity to Anse Lazio, and giant tortoises.
Curieuse Dining & Granite Boulder Spa
Reviewers consistently praise the delicious pan-Asian dining at Curieuse, open-air spa pavilions, and buggy service.
Guests Warn
Tropical Hillside Nature
Visitors love the lush palm canopy and peaceful birdsong.
Spacious Standalone Luxury
Travelers celebrate the large outdoor salas and ocean-view bathtubs.
The overall score is a review-count-weighted average of named public platforms, normalized to /10. Category scores — including cleanliness and location — are Hotel Flock editorial readings of those reviews, not a platform's private formula. Hotel Flock is not affiliated with Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Trivago, or any other review site.
Awards & Recognition
Praslin Island All-Pool-Villa Landmark
Raffles Hotels
Forbes Four-Star Indian Ocean Luxury
Forbes Travel Guide
In the stay
- Full access to two beachside swimming pools, fitness center, and non-motorized water sports
- Complimentary use of snorkeling equipment, sea kayaks, and paddleboards on Anse Takamaka
- Full cooked-to-order gourmet tropical breakfast buffet daily and high-speed Wi-Fi throughout
Usually extra
- –Curieuse multi-course chef tasting dinners and sommelier wine pairings
- –Raffles Spa open-air granite pavilion treatments and private boat charters to Curieuse and La Digue
Good to Know
- The all-pool-villa tropical resort features 86 villas on Praslin Island, Seychelles, near Anse Lazio.
- Includes private infinity pools for every villa, Curieuse restaurant, Raffles Spa on granite boulders, and giant tortoise tours.
- Located in Anse Takamaka, a 25-minute drive from Praslin Airport (PRI) or 15-minute helicopter flight from Mahé (SEZ).
Editor's Note
Book a Panoramic Pool Villa perched on the highest crest of the hillside for 180-degree views of Curieuse Island and the turquoise Indian Ocean, and take a morning boat excursion to feed the giant tortoises on Curieuse Island.
Reviewed by Hotel Flock · Last updated September 2026