Life’s a beach

There are beaches which do nothing to inspire the castaway in you simply because you’re sharing one square metre of sand with half a screaming village celebrating their xalata. True, the sea is beautiful, but that sudden gush of warmth is very suspicious. And you can’t get a decent drink – and even if you could, you don’t have the money as you’ve spent all your savings on booking a tattered umbrella.

Then there are other beaches, where the sand is as fine and sweet as caster sugar, where the fish are so colourful that they look like bursting underwater fireworks (without the earth-shattering boom), where the service ratio is three to one, you being the one, and where the only other being in sight is your soul splashing happily in joyful waves.

The first kind are the local beaches. The heavenly ones are not a dreamy sand castle – they are, in fact, real. The only issue is that they are in Mauritius, the Maldives and the Seychelles. Well, it’s not an issue really, as we get to sample the best of them on these pages.

North Island, Seychelles

North Island, a private island in the Seychelles, is an upgraded Robinson Crusoe hideout. It’s an ecological paradise where you arrive by helicopter, just like a star. Barefoot luxury is the order of the sunny day. And you don’t even have to do anything – after all, that’s why every villa comes with its own butler. To wind down, head to the Sunset Bar and enjoy the beauty of the sun dipping behind the rim of your frilly drink.

With just 11 luxury villas, privacy is guaranteed – no wonder that Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge spent their honeymoon here.

Sugar Beach Resort, Mauritius

Located on the west coast of Mauritius, Sugar Beach Resort is set on 30 acres of tropical gardens. The villas are private and all enjoy breathtaking views. The resort also boasts half a kilometre of sandy beach and the full beauty of the Indian Ocean lapping at your feet.

Owned by the Sun Resorts Group, Sugar Beach offers the best of water and land sports – but if you cannot be bothered to lose a drop of sweat, just lie down on the beach, order a seafood-based picnic, and look up at the big sky.

Soneva Fushi, Maldives

In the late 1980s, Swedish top model Eva travelled to the Maldives and was enthralled with the beautiful life. A few years later, she met Sonu, fell in love and got married. The couple made it their mission to create luxury resorts in the most beautiful locations.

This is how Six Senses Resorts & Spas came to be created. Soneva Fushi is an idyllic resort where every day is a honeymoon. The villas look like they have been designed by nature, the food is glorious and the details are amazing – the resort even has its own outdoors private cinema, called Cinema Paradiso, where you can watch Hollywood glamour under the stars. It doesn’t get more romantic than this.

Quilalea Private Island

Located in the undiscovered north of Mozambique, Quilalea, run by Azura, is a hidden gem. With just nine villas, privacy is guaranteed, as are spectacular views, thrilling snorkelling, and the beauty of the Quirimbas Archipelago marine sanctuary.

The island is dotted with quiet spots – a solitary chair here, a lounger or a hammock there, waiting just for you and your siesta dreams. The attention to detail extends to the service and the food – every day, you get to choose where to dine, from a romantic dinner on the beach to the privacy of your own villa. An unforgettable stay.

Coco Palm, Maldives

From your seat on the seaplane, Coco Palm in the Maldives looks like a jewel, a lush, tropical island glittering in the sun. And once you’ve landed, you realise that indeed, this is a jewel, hidden away in the natural wonders of the Baa Atoll.

The thatched villas on Coco Palm are either dotted among the palm trees or on stilts over the lagoon – both enjoy spectacular views of the ocean and the nearby desert islands.

A unique experience – from fish that you’ve never seen before to the kind of service that makes you feel, well, unique.