Seychelles

Isolated in the Indian Ocean 1,000 miles off the coast of Kenya, the Seychelles archipelago contains some of the most pristine and spectacular tropical islands on earth. Even the enticing travel posters don’t do them justice. On the Inner Islands, glorious white beaches and crystalline turquoise water are backdropped by dramatic cloud-wreathed peaks. To the south, a chain of tiny atolls extends for hundreds of miles. The main island of Mahé contains the international airport, a majority of the hotels and more than 85 percent of the country’s 90,000 people. Most of our recommended hideaways, however, are tucked away on more-secluded islands, which can be reached from Mahé (or one from another) via plane or helicopter transfers of 15 to 20 minutes.