Is North Island Seychelles Still the Ultimate Private Island Retreat?

North Island Seychelles has never been loud about its luxury. With just eleven villas set along four pristine beaches, it became famous not through marketing, but through myth—most famously as the honeymoon destination of royalty, and quietly favored by billionaires seeking anonymity. For years, it stood at the pinnacle of castaway-style seclusion: barefoot, bespoke, and utterly private.

But time changes what luxury means. As other resorts match its privacy and exceed its polish, North Island Seychelles now faces a quiet question: does it still offer something no one else does—or is it simply the original in a field that’s moved on?

In this review, we revisit what remains of North Island Seychelles’ mystique—how it feels to arrive, what the villas promise, and whether the island’s storied silence still holds weight in today’s world of curated escapes.

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Arrival and First Impressions

Guests arrive by helicopter from Mahé, skimming above turquoise shallows before landing directly on the island’s helipad. There’s no formal welcome—just the soft breeze, a cold towel, and an introduction from your private attendant. It's understated, bordering on anticlimactic.

But that’s the point. The transition from flight to barefoot feels intentional, as though the island resists performance. Whether this comes across as elegant or overly reserved depends on your expectations of what a grand entrance should entail.

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The Setting: Wild, Sculpted, and Solely Yours

North Island Seychelles is lush, untamed in parts, and remarkably undeveloped given its reputation. Granite peaks, thick palms, and pale beaches wrap around each other in a way that feels organic rather than designed. There are no visible boundaries, no reminders that this is a resort.

But that freedom comes with a certain ruggedness.

The island feels more like a preserved habitat than a manicured retreat.

If you seek clean lines and curated views, you might find the environment too raw. For others, that untouched quality is exactly the draw.

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Architecture and Design: Intentional Imperfection

Each of the eleven villas is vast—crafted from reclaimed wood, granite, and thatch, with oversized decks and sea-facing plunge pools. The aesthetic leans into imperfection, favoring texture over polish. It feels personal, even primal.

Yet there’s a lack of refinement in some details: uneven finishes, aging surfaces, and design choices that feel more thematic than timeless. It's a style that doesn’t suit every taste.

If you value craftsmanship over concept, the villas may feel better in theory than in touch.

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Villas: Spacious, Secluded, and Emotionally Quiet

Privacy here is absolute. You’ll rarely see other guests, and each villa has its own path to the beach, dining can be in-villa by default, and staff rarely intrude. The feeling is one of space—not just physical, but emotional.

Still, the interiors feel more lived-in than luxurious. The experience is immersive, but also dated in places. It’s a villa you inhabit rather than admire, and whether that feels freeing or flat depends on your relationship to luxury as either environment or event.

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Service: Personal, Flexible, and Highly Human

North Island Seychelles doesn’t operate with rigid structure. Attendants respond to rhythm rather than schedule, learning preferences quietly and adjusting in real time. It’s human-scale luxury—predictable only in its flexibility.

That freedom can also feel inconsistent. With no strict systems, service quality can vary depending on your assigned host. When it works, it’s deeply intuitive. When it doesn’t, moments slip.

This is service without polish—charming for some, imperfect for others.

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Dining: Private, Simple, and Generous

All meals are tailored daily and served where and when you choose—on your villa deck, at the beach, or by the pool. The menus are adjusted to preference, with ingredients often sourced from the island’s garden or nearby waters.

It’s generous, but not especially adventurous. Dishes are clean, comforting, and occasionally inventive, but culinary excellence isn’t the focus. You’re nourished rather than impressed.

If food is central to your luxury experience, you may find it quietly competent, not compelling.

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The Cost of Escape: Seclusion at a Premium

Rates for the full island run well into six figures, while individual villas start high and climb quickly. There’s no public booking system—everything is arranged through private agents or referrals.

You’re not paying for décor or dining.

You’re paying to be alone on an island few others have stepped foot on.

For some, that level of seclusion is priceless. For others, the cost may feel less about value than about access to a specific myth.

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Verdict: A Luxury Meant to Disappear Into

North Island Seychelles doesn’t try to impress—it tries to dissolve.

It’s luxury without framing, service without hierarchy, and isolation without pretense. For the right guest, it’s near perfect: a place where the noise of the world goes completely quiet.But the experience hinges on what you bring with you.

If you're looking for style, precision, or narrative, this may not be your island. If you're looking to be left alone—truly, unconditionally—it may still be the one place that delivers exactly that.