With Madagascar to the North, Zanzibar to the west and Mauritius to the south, the Seychelles have some resplendent competition in their midst. The 115 islands, however, are enough to inspire anyone's imagination. After all, it was here that Ian Fleming conjured up man of mystery, 007, as he penned the Bond books.

For those looking to keep it as mysterious as possible, your boat or chopper awaits to whisk you off to Silhouette Island - a little wild (the old pirate hideaway has one of the densest rainforests in the Indian Ocean), but oh-so luxurious.

These days, treasure hunters stay at Labriz Silhouette, and the gems aren't buried as you dive the crystal waters and, come nightfall, watch as the top of the mountain shines like a pyramid in the moonlit Indian Ocean. Being a castaway suddenly seems terribly tempting.

While you're there...
Hide away
With the spectacular Mount Dauban as its backdrop, wild adventures and Creole-influenced pampering goes hand in hand at Labriz Silhouette.

Set sail
A day trip to Mahe Island - the tiniest capital in the world - will have you stocking up on local Creole crafts. History unfolds on La Digue Island, as you travel by ox cart in the place where Crusoe carved the number of days he was here on a tree. Then it's on to Praslin in search of the Valee de Mai, home to the indiginous Coco-de-Mer.

Go wild
Spent enough time snorkelling with the fish? Take the time to meet Silhouette's oldest inhabitants - some 120 years old! - at the Giant Tortoise sanctuary.