Nestled on the breathtaking island of Praslin, Constance Lemuria is our pick as Barefoot Breaks’ favourite resort in the Seychelles! Sure, new and more luxurious and contemporary (and expensive!) resorts have opened in recent years on these islands, but ultimately these new arrivals lack what Lemuria boasts in spades: that old essential quality known as POSITION, POSITION, POSITION! Quite simply Lemuria occupies THE best location of any resort on the 3 main islands of the Seychelles, including featuring not just one but two of the Seychelles’ most stunning beaches, as well as a superb 18-hole championship golf course which plots a spectacular path through the estate’s 100-plus hectares. Add in stylish and luxurious accommodation, delicious dining and wonderfully friendly personal service and Lemuria is pretty tough to match, let alone beat!

As mentioned, one of the standout features of Constance Lemuria is its stunning beaches. The focal point of the resort is the gorgeous Petite Anse Kerlan beach which is overlooked by the resort’s main public areas. A picture-perfect stretch of white coral sand framed by granite boulder studded forested headlands and backed by luxuriant palm trees, it makes for an exquisite sight and provides superb swimming as well as being a great location to enjoy a paddle, whether that be in a kayak or on one of the resort’s stand-up paddle boards! Otherwise just relax in the shade of the palm trees on the comfy loungers or bean bags – there are even 3 or 4 hanging day beds suspended from trees right on the edge of the beach which are absolutely perfect for couples! We also loved some of the special little touches – for example the complimentary fruit ice lollies that were handed out to guests at the beach when we were relaxing there one morning!

Then there’s the longer and more “wild” stretch of beach that is Grand Anse Kerlan, along which the resort’s small blocks of rooms are located – whilst not usually utilised as a swimming beach on account of the currents, it’s a great spot for those dream sunset Instagram pics or for enjoying longer walks along the sand. It is also the site of numerous nesting turtles (Lemuria has an excellent environmental program by the way) and hopefully you’ll be lucky enough for your stay to coincide with seeing some come up the beach to lay their eggs or (even better) to see some newly hatched youngsters making a bolt for the sea!

Finally there’s the gorgeous Anse Georgette, reached via a regular complimentary golf buggy shuttle (or if you fancy a bit of exercise, you can walk there yourself through the breathtaking golf course). Renowned for its soft white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters, Anse Georgette is a perfect spot for swimming, sunbathing, or simply soaking in the breathtaking views, all in un-developed, completely unspoiled surroundings (note that whilst located in the resort’s grounds, outside day visitors are also allowed to access Anse Georgette).

Returning to the subject of the rooms, there are 105 in total at Lemuria - mainly found in the typical resort-style “2-up, 2-down” room blocks, they line the Grand Anse Kerlan beach and really are very much genuine “beachfront” rooms, being usually about 15 metres from the sand! Most people opt for the Junior Suites of which there are 88 in total (52 sqm in size), whilst if you need a bit more space then there are the 8 Senior Suites which add in a dedicated lounge area (115 sqm). Having being built in 1999 (and extensively renovated in 2016) the style of the rooms is classically elegant and refined rather than cutting edge contemporary, but they are extremely comfortable with that indefinable feeling of inherent quality noticeable in all the fixtures. And of course, if you’ve just won the lotto, then there’s also the option of the 8 Villas each with their own swimming pool (725 sqm) or even the spectacular Presidential Villa (1 250 sqm!)

Lemuria’s main public areas overlook Petite Anse Kerlan beach, being located on the forested hillside with 3 swimming pools built around the granite boulders and cascading down the slope towards the beach. One of the things that we really loved was how well integrated the main resort area is into the natural surroundings – when you’re swimming off the beach, all you notice when looking back towards the resort is unobtrusive thatched roofs peeping out amidst the luxuriant forest vegetation (which is home of numerous giant fruit bats and many birds too!)

The main public area is home to The Legend – Lemuria’s main buffet restaurant. At Barefoot Breaks we’ve never tried to hide that buffets are generally not our favourite, but we must confess to being seriously impressed by our experience at Lemuria! The Legend’s offerings were seriously fresh and delicious, mainly prepared on demand for you at various stations by wonderfully friendly staff. The great views and the not overbearing size of the seating areas also added to its appeal. In fact, dining in general at Constance Lemuria is definitely one of its many strengths. Of the 4 restaurants, perhaps our favourite is The Nest, poised on the headland directly above the beach, it serves up Creole inspired food in casually rustic style along with spectacular views! Then there the Takamaka restaurant which lies just off the beach where you can enjoy sushi and light meals with your feet literally in the sand! And finally there’s the showcase Diva restaurant, located above the golf course clubhouse, which offers delicious contemporary cuisine and an encyclopaedic wine-list in more elegant and chic surroundings (it’s also the only restaurant at Lemuria where guests have to observe a more elegant dress code)

In conclusion Constance Lemuria is pretty much the complete package as a resort. We’ve raved about its stunning natural beauty and with its impressive range of facilities (including a lovely Spa and on-site dive centre) it’s not just a place to relax; it’s also an activity hub for the adventurous of spirit. But what really stood out for us ultimately was the resort staff. Drawn from over 30 different nationalities, the relaxed and genuinely warm hospitality on offer is something we particularly enjoyed (especially because at other 5-star properties, staff can often be slightly more reserved and formal when interacting with guests) Hugely recommended!