Category: Cover Story

位于马埃岛美丽的西海岸的康斯丹艾菲莉亚度假村，地处两个绝美海滩之间，紧邻洛奈港(Port Launay)的国家海洋公园。整个酒店被120公顷的繁茂植被所围绕，仿若海边的森林公园，漫步其中满眼郁郁葱葱，繁花似锦，树林茂密。喜欢户外的人，还能在此体验丛林索道、红树林徒步、划独木舟穿梭丛林的乐趣。

酒店共有313间房间，除了可俯瞰繁茂花园或海洋美景的园景房和套房外，还有各种不同房型的别墅可选。家庭别墅适合带老人或孩子的客人，以明亮的色彩打造出活泼的氛围，自带私人泳池和花园，玩乐起来很方便。隐秘在林间的半山别墅，享有洛奈港国家海洋公园的海岸风景，将私密性与创造性发挥到极致。5间不同风味的餐厅及6间风格迥异的酒吧，被贴心的设置于酒店不同客房区域附近，可就近满足客人需求。

面积5000平的康斯丹水疗中心，是很多客人的最爱。这间印度洋上最大的水疗中心，旨在呈现以人为本的体验。藏匿于一片茂密的热带花园之中，18间用石木搭建、茅草盖顶的水疗房质朴温馨，提供包含肌肤护理、身体按摩在内的一系列身心疗愈的疗程，疗程中所使用的均是以印度洋当地植物为灵感调制的天然芳疗产品，旨在复原客人们的康养之态。此外，客人们还可以体验桑拿室、蒸汽浴室、恒温泳池、按摩浴池、冷泡池、水疗步行小径和反射池，以及瑜伽课程与量身定制的健身计划。

用当地有机椰子按摩油结合深层按摩技艺的康斯丹水疗艾菲莉亚特色按摩很受客人欢迎。这是款量身定制的疗愈性按摩不仅能减缓身体紧绷、缓解疼痛，亦能帮助舒缓情绪、重拾身心平衡。

康斯丹艾菲莉亚的特色护理中，无论是设计还是使用的产品，都可以见到许多塞舌尔的本土元素，例如柠檬草做成的精油，草药包，椰子油等。水疗中心的欢迎饮品也是由肉桂叶、生姜和塞舌尔香草茶所制成。

度假村为客人进行户外锻炼特意打造了一条“North to South”(从北部到南)活动路径，沿路设置了独特的“运动站”，客人们可以沿着这条路径，通过步行或跑步进行探索，提升健身的幸福感。

The untouched splendor of Félicité features massive granite boulders fringing the shoreline to create an air of drama and beauty juxtaposed with white sandy beaches. Six Senses Zil Pasyon occupies one-third of its total land area. Within the picturesque landscape of untouched beauty nestle just 28 one-bedroom pool villas and 2 two-bedroom pool villas plus several private multi-bedroom residences, as well as 2 restaurants and 2 bars. Villa exteriors feature subtle grains of Balau timber with wooden shingle roofs. Every villa is embraced by tropical vegetation to ensure privacy, except for the panoramic views out to majestic rock formations and the Indian Ocean. Exposed wooden beams feature in the living area’s vaulted ceiling in each villa, while sliding glass doors immerse guests into nature or, when closed, create a personal climate-controlled environment.

Dining and drinks at Six Senses Zil Pasyon run the gambit of relaxed sophistication and memorable experiences. The Village is the setting for Island Café, an all-day dining locale. The cuisine is a mixture of Eastern and Western fare, with influences from the local spices and produce. This is also the home of the Chef’s Kitchen, where guests can learn the secrets of the local cuisine with Creole cooking classes upon booking. The upper floor of Island Café, Lakanbiz, presents a selection of flavored and aged rums, while The Wine Cellar features an impressive collection of labels from the old and new worlds. Beside the water’s edge is the Ocean Kitchen, an oceanside restaurant offering fresh cuisine from the local waters and a daily special theme night dinner. Located next to the pool is Koko Bar, which serves a variety of freshly made local juices and inspired cocktails.

The resort welcomes a mix of travelers, from honeymooners to families seeking luxury. Guests enjoy various activities, with water sports like snorkeling, diving, fishing, and sailing sunset cruises being particularly popular. Other activities such as hiking and birdwatching are also enjoyed by many.

Six Senses Spa is placed in and atop majestic rock formations close to the ocean, with energy from nature being a significant force. The Spa features five double treatment villas, with a selection of locally inspired specialty treatments together with an extensive menu of signature therapies. Facilities include a yoga and meditation pavilion, sauna and steam, a gymnasium with inspiring 180-degree ocean views and an oceanfront infinity pool. The pool is set at the water’s edge with the ocean’s waves breaking over the rock wall, like a dazzling blue jewel in the middle of the ocean. The pool is available on a paid reservation basis to ensure absolute privacy.

Six Senses focuses on reconnecting with yourself, others, and the world around them. The philosophy evolves around nutrition, sleep, movement, holistic and alternative therapies; and advanced technology that allows wellness experts to tailor programs. Six Senses works closely with most respected doctors and wellness professionals on developing an approach to wellness that addresses some of the most common issues people face as a result of their stressed daily lives.

For example, sleep disorder is one of the most obvious problems for modern city dwellers suffering from stress, and for this reason, Six Senses Spa launches Sleep with Six Senses, a program to improve your sleep that combines data from your sleep tracker with a personal consultation, yoga nidra and meditation, relaxing treatments and amenities, wellness therapies, nutrition advice and low intensity training.

Six Senses also incorporates many local elements into the wellness experience. Wellness Journeys by Terres D’Afrique are popular here, especially the 150-minute Floating Journey. It includes African rituals, a Smudging ceremony, a relaxing Tropical Dusk Massage with oils like ylang-ylang, a stress-relieving Facial treatment, and ends with a calming sound journey using African instruments and Tibetan singing bowls.

Additionally, at Alchemy Bar workshop, guests tour the hotel’s organic garden, choosing herbs like basil, lemongrass, aloe vera, local mint, and banana to create their own body scrubs, face masks, face scrubs, and foot scrubs. It’s an interactive workshop where guests learn to connect with nature the local way.

As you step off the plane, you begin a trail of footprints in a hotspot of oceanic biodiversity and geographic uniqueness. It is no mystery that a biodiverse ecosystem of this kind will attract visitors from all over the world and thus makes tourism the economic pillar of Seychelles. This brings us to our vital role as travellers and visitors to help preserve this nation’s natural and cultural heritage for generations to come. The Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation (SSTF) presents a few ways and tips how you can make a difference:

Say no to plastic water bottles and be conscious about plastics

As you are getting yourself ready to start the day, filling up your reusable water bottle should be part of the routine. The quality of tap water varies depending on the island you are visiting and where you are located. To be on the safe side, bring a water bottle with an integrated filter so that you can fill up your bottle with any tap water, where ever you are! Please note that as a small tropical island, Seychelles has very limited landfill space and very few recycling initiatives. Please carry around a reusable spoon for the typical local take-aways and become part of the local campaign, “The Last Straw Seychelles”, to reduce the use of plastic straws in the country. Bring along your own reusable straw or buy one locally through The Ocean Project! 

Show off your beautiful reusable bags

Seychelles announced exciting news in July 2017: a national ban on plastic bags! This is all the more reason to bring your own reusable bag to carry your groceries and souvenir shopping. This can even be part of one of your souvenir gifts to friends and family, as Seychelles has its own reusable bags for sale!

Tour wisely

Most cars are run on petroleum-based fuels in Seychelles, making them a significant contributor to greenhouse gases. TATA buses are the main mode of public transport and have become part of the Seychelles experience. Make sure to enjoy this affordable, typical ride!

Buy local, discover locals

There are so many reasons why we should all buy local products, some more obvious than others: Buying locally usually means fresher and healthier food and leads to lower transport emissions, reducing the product’s carbon footprint and supporting less food packaging. All imported food needs to be well conserved, which means that most are wrapped in layers of plastic. Buying locally means supporting the local economy as well. This is money that Seychellois are directly benefiting from. Through this, jobs are also created. Buying locally invites you to meet more Seychellois and discover the Creole life.

Visit cultural heritage sites

By visiting important cultural sites, money is generated to help maintain and preserve them. The act of visiting gives locals the initiative to preserve these sites.

Choose sustainable seafood

This is very important, as fish supply is the main source of local food in the country. Choosing sustainable seafood means choosing one that was fished from a healthy population, with minimal impacts on the marine environment and in a zone that is effectively and responsibly managed. It is hard to know whether a type of seafood respects that criteria, but it is good to at least know which are the most vulnerable and overfished. For example, in Seychelles, you should avoid yellowfin tuna, certain groupers (black saddled coral grouper, brown-marbled coral grouper, camouflage grouper, roving coral grouper) and small-sized parrotfish. Also, the SSTF recommends refraining from eating sharks.

Be responsible sea explorers

Coral reefs are one of Seychelles’ most important tourist attractions, but also one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world. To become responsible snorkelers and divers, you need to remember never to touch anything underwater so as to not disturb wildlife and stir up sediment that could smother corals. Remember to use eco-friendly sunscreen or cover up with a rash guard!

Keep an eye out for sustainable labels

When looking to book accommodation, find out whether they are certified with a sustainable label. In Seychelles, 18 hotels are now certified with the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Label (SSTL). Pick an establishment that takes environmental responsibilities seriously and ask the staff if they can tell you about some ongoing initiatives!