Private islands are many people’s idea of paradise. Their tropical climates and isolated atmospheres promise the utmost in rest and relaxation, as well as a chance to really disconnect from the struggles of daily life. One new resort in the Seychelles gives its guests all that and more, including some of the most incredible views on Earth and an exquisite design that adds a new level of contemporary class and sophistication to the East African coast.
A few people kayaking along the rocky coast of Félicité Island. A small Six Senses Zil Pasyon villa hidden along the rocky coast of Félicité Island. Woman floats in the private pool outside her Six Senses Zil Pasyon villa.
Upon approaching the island from the sea or sky, visitors would be hard pressed to make out any of the structures that comprise the Six Senses Zil Pasyon, so thorough is its integration into the surrounding landscape of rocky granite bluffs and boulders that peek out from lush vegetation. Below lie pristine white beaches and the glittering blue ocean beyond. Designed by Studio RHE and completed in 2017, each one of the 30 villas that occupies Félicité Island’s northern shore is equipped with two bedrooms, a private pool overlooking the ocean, and an external deck from which to enjoy the view. There are also a number of three and four-bedroom residences on site to accommodate bigger groups and families.
The designs of the villas range from modest and domestic in scale to almost futuristic. The two-bedroom units are perched in among the greenery, and they’re topped with typical pitched roofs covered exclusively in locally-sourced materials. Bleached wooden decks lead out from the decks onto private pools, the surfaces of which blend seamlessly into the distant blue ocean for a fully immersive natural experience.
Aerial shot of a Six Senses Zil Pasyon private pool. One of the bedrooms inside the small villas at Six Senses Zil Pasyon. One of the bedrooms inside the small villas at Six Senses Zil Pasyon. Exterior shot of one of Six Senses Zil Pasyon's sleek large villas.
The larger residences are decidedly more terraced, with sleek geometric walls shooting out over the hills where they are sited for an almost spaceship-like appearance when viewed from above. Still, because the materials used in their construction are practically the same color as the surrounding granite rocks and boulders, their unique form fits seamlessly into its tropical setting. The resort likes to pride itself on promoting sustainable tourism and local wildlife protection, as further evidenced through its reliance on solar panels for generating electricity.
The communal swimming pool area at Six Senses Zil Pasyon, with the resort's beach bar visible in the background. Side view of a Six Senses Zil Pasyon private pool. Couple watches the sunset from their private deck at Six Senses Zil Pasyon.

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The common areas are no less stunning than the private ones, and if you feel like socializing, you can always head over to the public pool area, which is situated right on the coast and benefits from a beautiful thatched beach bar. Zil Pasyon has also cultivated an organic garden area to supplement its kitchen, consisting of an herb garden, vegetable patches, and even a picnic area where guests can enjoy food fresh from the grounds. There will also be experiences and workshops run in the garden for younger guests, giving them a chance to hone their green thumbs while they soak up the sun.