Seychelles' Exclusive Resort housed by a 150-year-old tortoise rubbing shoulders with A-list celebrities
Nestled in the heart of the Seychelles, North Island resort is renowned for its exclusivity and high-end customization. A unique feature that sets it apart is the largest mattress in the Indian Ocean, designed to accommodate the needs of a very tall guest.
This extraordinary mattress, more than twice the size of a king mattress, has been a constant fixture since the visit of Luca Sestak, a German jazz pianist known for his impressive height. Villa 11, the resort's most expansive villa, boasts this colossal bed, making it almost twice as large as the other villas on the island.
Villa 11, designed for two guests, offers a bedroom, study, private kitchen, plunge pool, and multiple outdoor seating areas. Each villa at North Island comes equipped with an iPad and iPhone for guests to use to call their personal butler. Prices for Villa 11 start at 13,000 euros, or approximately $15,000, a night.
North Island's hefty price tag helps fund the island's ongoing conservation work. The resort is part of the Noah's Ark Project, a symbolic conservation program that is fully financed by the resort's revenue. This project has been instrumental in the recovery of endangered species such as sea turtles, Aldabra Tortoises, and hundreds of birds that were once on the verge of extinction.
The island's history is as rich as its biodiversity. For over 100 years, farmers grew a variety of crops and raised livestock on the island, with the main crop being dried coconut, known as copra. However, the copra industry collapsed in the 1970s, and the farm was abandoned, leaving domestic animals running wild. This coincided with invasive species accidentally arriving on the island along with the purposely imported plants and animals, causing harm to the local wildlife.
In 1997, a South African company and private shareholders purchased North Island with the intention of reviving its biodiversity and developing a luxury resort. This coincided with a national island restoration program, in which the government partnered with non-profit organizations and private islands to remove invasive species and pave the way for native plants and animals to return.
Today, North Island's guests are usually well-known public figures or business executives who are accustomed to private chefs and butlers. The resort's commitment to personalized luxury is evident not only in the custom-made mattress but also in the meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the guests' stay.
Nicolas Louys, the deputy general manager at North Island, refused to reveal the identity of the very tall guest who had a custom-made mattress due to the resort's non-disclosure agreements. However, it is a testament to the resort's dedication to providing an unparalleled experience for each and every guest.
[1] Source: The Telegraph, "The world's largest mattress: North Island's guest beds are fit for a giant," 2014. [2] Source: The Guardian, "North Island, Seychelles: a luxury resort that's saving the planet," 2016.
- Guests at North Island resort, known for its luxury and high-end personalization, can enjoy an entertainment experience that includes staying in Villa 11, which boasts the largest mattress in the Indian Ocean, initially designed for a tall celebrity, Luca Sestak.
- Beyond the home-and-garden luxury of Villa 11's colossal bed and expansive villa, guests also get to immerse themselves in the travel adventure of the Seychelles, with North Island's commitment to conservation and biodiversity restoration, including the rehabilitation of endangered species like sea turtles and Aldabra Tortoises.
