DESTINATIONS INDIAN OCEAN | NATURE
BEST OF THE REST 7
Bazaruto National Park, Mozambique: For clients wanting to get off the tourist trail, suggest Mozambique’s Bazaruto archipelago, a protected marine reserve with beauty spots such as andBeyond Benguerra Island, whose deserted, ultramarine lagoon offers exceptional snorkelling and swimming.
Sainte Anne, the Seychelles: Club Med will be opening an eco-resort on this private island – set a 15-minute speedboat ride from Mahé – later in the year, bringing its lush hills and turquoise waters to families seeking a slice of exclusivity.
NOSY BE, MADAGASCAR
Remarkable flora and fauna are pretty much Madagascar’s raison d’être, and you’ll see them everywhere, from the aptly named Avenue of the Baobabs – where silhouettes of these oddly shaped trees line a dusty dirt track – to its plethora of rainforests. But for a spot that still feels like something of a secret, suggest Nosy Be, says John Parker, product manager for Madagascar at Premier Holidays. “This small island just off the mainland has glorious beaches, warm seas and world-class dive sites,” he says. “But it still remains low-key and relatively undiscovered to tourists.” Suggest Ravintsara Wellness Hotel on the west coast for a peaceful, secluded base with only 20 bungalows. Book it: A week at Ravintsara Wellness Hotel costs from £1,599, including flights and private transfers in October.
trade.premierholidays.co.uk
Ile des deux Cocos, Mauritius: Off the southeast coast of Mauritius in Blue Bay Marine Park, this secluded island is paradise personified, home to white-sand beaches, towering palms and an opulent, Moorish-style villa built by British governor Sir Henry Hesketh Bell and once used for extravagant parties. Day trips are available from all Lux resorts with a barbecue on the beach and optional overnight stays.
8 LONUBO, THE MALDIVES
Robinson Crusoe-style experiences might sound like a cliché, but it’s arguably the only way to describe this far-flung, uninhabited isle, set on a lagoon so blue it looks like it’s been through a Photoshop filter, and accessible by boat from sister island Maafushivaru. Snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing are all equally acceptable on its sugar-white shores, while couples wanting to push the boat out can arrange a candlelit dinner or overnight stay in a beach villa. Only one couple can visit at a time, meaning no battling for sunbeds, and no fighting over the views. Book it: Kuoni offers seven nights’ half-board at Maafushivaru in a Beach Villa, including Emirates flights from Gatwick and transfers. Departures in September and October cost from £2,299.
kuoni.co.uk
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19 MARCH 2020
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Dook Photography
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