Carana Beach Hotel, Seychelles

There are only 40 chalets at Carana Beach, all of which have mesmerising ocean views. Inside, every chalet is extremely generous in size and the light woods, whites and ocean colours like cool blues contribute to the beach house feel. Bathrooms are also huge, with modern decor, wet room-style showers and they also have the added flexibility of either being able to be integrated into the bedroom or screened off for added privacy. Thick vegetation between each chalet allows you to enjoy the prviacy of your spacious furnished terrace, where you can admire epic views of the glittering Indian Ocean. The larger chalets have the addition of a private pool, too!

Carana Beach's cuisine continues the local theme. With the hotel owned by local travel agency Mason's Travel, the boutique hotel's only restaurant, Lorizon, is supplied by the organic farm at its sister property, Denis Island. This guarantees super-fresh eggs at breakfast, while dinner is full of farm-to-table food inspired by local Seychellois cooking and the sea. Themed evenings occur throughout the week, including Creole and Asian nights, as well as a barbecue on the terrace. The hotel's bar next to the main swimming pool offers all-day dining in the form of tasty tapas, light bites and expertly blended cocktails.

The aquamarine lagoon which lies in front of Carana Beach is both pretty to look at and offers scope for adventure. You can borrow snorkelling equipment and kayaks from the hotel to get out onto the water. However, being owned by one of the Seychelles' largest travel agencies, Mason's Travel, means this little boutique can punch well above its weight in the activities it offers. There seems to be no limit to the activities its staff can organise for you during your stay, from diving day trips to guided hikes through some of Mahé's most magnificent nature reserves and wandering the Victoria's buzzing local markets. You can even hop over to Mason's Travel's other property, Denis Island, for a day trip filled with seclusion.

Carana Beach's main swimming pool offers a prime beachfront pool and is a great alternative to your chalet for chilling during the day. The on-site Sens Spa is small but intimate, with a number of soothing treatments that exclusively use natural, locally sourced ingredients. Each of the scrubs, masks and wraps use a base of cold-pressed virgin coconut oil that is produced in the Seychelles, while local herbs, plants and spices like vanilla, cinnamon and eucalyptus are key ingredients which add to the tranquil aroma. You can enjoy any of the treatments either in the spa itself or on the terrace of your chalet.