La Cigale Estate

You stay at La Cigale Estate, a private plantation property a short walk from Cote d'Or Beach on Praslin Island. The main house has five bedrooms with views of the Indian Ocean or tropical gardens, and four additional garden suites with plunge pools. A staff of twenty-five — including butlers, chefs, and a spa therapist — arrange meals, activities, and excursions.

The kitchen works with ingredients from the estate's spice garden and local fishermen, serving meals wherever you choose: on the veranda, by the pool, or on the beach. The wine cellar holds selections from Old and New World vineyards. A floodlit tennis court, gym, and swimming pool are on the grounds.

Guides can take you to the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Coco de Mer palms, or to nearby islands like Curieuse to see giant tortoises. The estate provides kayaks and snorkeling gear for the lagoons and reefs off Praslin.

The colonial-style house has wrap-around verandas and high ceilings. Bedrooms open onto the gardens or the ocean, and the garden suites are set apart for privacy.