"Start us off with an overview.One of the finest private islands in the Indian Ocean, certainly one of the most dramatic, run by the sure-handed spa specialist group, with re-wilded nature that’s been given the time and space to make a comeback. Everything island-lovers dream of, Felicité is dotted with primeval-looking, ocean-smoothed granite boulders. And it’s thick with jungle: As you approach, you can hear the squawk of birds—and in the evening see fruit bats swirling in the orange-streaked clouds. The Beach meets Jurassic Park. Okay, so what's this hotel all about?Before it became a resort, this was home of a king—in the 18th century, the Malaysian sultan, Abdullah of Perak, who was exiled by the British—and then a coconut farmer. Development began only in 2013, when contemporary eco-designer Richard Hywel Evans of Studio RHE in London was flown in to create what are possibly the sleekest contemporary rooms in the Seychelles. Perfect—so tell us about those rooms.Up in the trees, or secluded amid rocks and pristine forest. The villas are the closest thing to super-smart, minimalist tree-houses: floored in local Balau wood, fronted in glass that allow the surroundings to take center stage, and decked out in soothing ocean hues. There’s nothing flouncy here: the style is as contemporary as possible, from the simple four-poster bed and the egg-shaped tub to the sculptural rattan chairs—and the string hammock that hangs just outside the shower, so you can dry naked in the sun. Jars of cookies and nuts, jugs of fresh juice. The ultimate places to stay are the 17 multi-room residences, with glass-bottomed pools, cavernous living quarters and private staff. How's the food on site?Sensational breakfast: platters of delicious fruits, home-made, honey-drizzled muesli, baskets of just-made pastries, as well as the best smashed avocado with chili-butter and poached eggs on rye. The main dining spot is Island Café for Creole lobster, curries, grilled seafood. The place you could hang out all day, though, is by Koko Bar on an oversized hammock above the sea, being passed passionfruit cocktails or coconut mojitos. How's the service?Nothing happens fast in the Seychelles. The concierge can arrange fishing, diving, and snorkeling trips, plus nature trails to the top of the hill (take hiking boots; it’s steep), and treasure hunts for kids—as well as excursions to La Digue, Praslin, and Aride Island—and helicopter tours. What's the crowd like here?Kaftans and Heidi Klein baskets, listening to feel-good tracks. If they’re bankers or tech billionaires in their real lives, here they’re into fruit, into birds, into hanging out with gardeners, learning about the five kinds of mango that grow, how fruit bats sleep upside down. They’re fishermen, who just caught their first tuna. How integrated is the hotel into its natural surroundings?It feels both very primitive—and, thanks to eco-initiatives, very advanced. It’s for those who want their world to be a microcosm of the most natural and the most high-tech: where heat is generated by solar and water is desalinated, and all bulbs are LEDs. If you could change anything about this place, what would it be?The time it takes to get there from the rest of the world. So why is this place worth the trip?The cutting edge of eco-friendly hideaways that don’t compromise on style."
