North Island

North Island, private island and natural sanctuary in the Seychelles

North Island is a private island located among the inner granitic islands of the Seychelles archipelago, in the north of the Indian Ocean. It presents itself as a secluded retreat with outstanding flora and fauna and as a pioneer of the barefoot luxury concept. The island combines exclusive accommodation, land and water activities, wellness and an active conservation programme.

Accommodation: beachfront villas and Villa North

Accommodation is arranged in eleven private villas immersed in tropical vegetation. According to the site's description, they are built with organic natural materials harvested from the island itself and seek to integrate natural elements with refined comfort, with vast open spaces. The offering is completed by Villa North, designed for exclusive use, and by the possibility of booking the island exclusively.

Dining and leisure spaces

The culinary offering includes The Piazza, Sunset Bar and destination dining experiences. The resort also offers a wellness concept called La Vie spa, located on a hill with views of the Indian Ocean, based on mind and body rituals and natural locally sourced ingredients.

Island activities

Activities are grouped into three environments: on land, on water and under water. The site mentions granite trails to the summit, as well as experiences designed for families, couples and wedding celebrations on the island.

Conservation and environmental projects

The island runs the Noah's Ark Programme, focused on the reforestation of endemic plants and trees, the reintroduction of local endangered birds and the repopulation of sea and land turtles. The North Island Forest Restoration Project works to restore forest cover and create an ecologically sustainable landscape by planting native trees and species selected for their insular biodiversity.

As for wildlife, North Island records the highest density of nesting Green Turtle on the inner islands of Seychelles, with monitoring of nesting activity in place since 1998. The island is home to over 130 Aldabra tortoises, a species endemic to Seychelles; among them stands out Brutus, believed to be at least 200 years old and weighing approximately 200 kg (450 lb), whose story dates back to the coconut plantation era. It is also a sanctuary for the Seychelles White-Eye, a critically endangered bird: 25 individuals were relocated in 2007 as part of the rehabilitation programme and today the island is home to over 100.

Island history

The historical account on the site includes the 1783 shipwreck of a Portuguese ship under the command of Sgr. Anacleto Gomez, which after a storm and 50 days adrift was left out of control off North Island; the survivors endured a month of hardship until they were rescued. In 1826, the Beaufond family received the first official concession of the island, granted to Madam Celerine Beaufond, and established a plantation that took advantage of the guano deposits and fertile soil to grow vanilla, spices and fruits, as well as participating in the spice trade and later moving to copra production. The family kept the property until 1976, when it was sold to a German developer, Mr. Ruster, after the collapse of the copra industry in the 1970s; the farm was abandoned and overgrown, with domestic animals running wild. In 1997, Norisco acquired North Island with plans for restoration, with the aim of restoring the ecosystem and creating a sanctuary for endangered plants and wildlife. The current owners continue that work of restoring the ecosystem and biodiversity.

Team and contact

Mark Sterner is listed as General Manager. The island has a conservation team dedicated to rehabilitation and species monitoring projects.

Location and contact

PO Box 1176, Victoria, Mahé Seychelles · Phone: +248 429 3100 · Email: reservations@north-island.com · Hours: Mo,Tu,We,Th,Fr,Sa,Su 09:00-17:00