IWC JOURNAL: The Adventures of Us “Escape to the Tropics”

“A grateful loving heart carries with it, under every parallel of latitude, the warmth and light of the tropics.”

For the first of our 2022 Adventures with IWC, we set off on a thrilling adventure to the tropics, jetting to the mesmerising islands of the Seychelles.

Sprinkled amid the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is a 115-island archipelago just northeast of Madagascar, and a place like no other. With entire islands preserved as nature reserves, it is the only place in the world where the gigantic endemic coco de mer palm grows and where giant tortoises roam wild outside the Galapagos. The Seychelles draws you in with its everchanging landscapes, rich vegetation, crystal clear waters, culture, and soul.

We began our adventure on the island of Mahe, making our way to the iconic Four Seasons Resort Seychelles. Set amongst vast vegetation on a cliffside overlooking the ocean, the hotel doesn’t dominate the landscape, but rather emerges from it, sitting harmoniously. The entrance was nothing short of mesmerising, a palm tree lined driveway crafted into the cliff side, what a welcome.

The Adventures of Us – enjoying the IWC Ingenieur in the Seychelles

Crystal clear waters in the Seychelles

—The Four Season Resort in Mahe Island, Seychelles

Secluded and decadently luxurious, Four Seasons Mahe is set on a steep hillside embracing the horseshoe-shaped bay of Petite Anse. The treehouse style villas are hidden amongst the lush vegetation and decorated with nods to Creole culture, each with its own infinity pool and views out across the sapphire waters below. Each and every element at the resort is tailored towards relaxation, adventure and romance — from the candlelit ocean front restaurants to the water sports and the tree top spa.

Christopher Phelps from the Adventures of Us

After a tranquil few days, a tiny propeller plane jetted us to our next stop, the remote and magical island of Desroches for a true castaway experience. Four Seasons Desroches is a world away, a tropical sanctuary edged by miles of pristine white-sands, a coral reef and it’s very own airport and runway. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of reality, this is the place for you. The villas are intimate and giant tortoises roam the gardens and sanctuary. A glance down at our IWC Ingenieur, and it was time for some food — dinner is as magical as the resort itself, fresh seafood and steak by candlelight in the island’s sky-high lighthouse which is only a cycle or buggy ride away from the villas.

Our third and final stop was the legendary Six Senses Zil Pasyon, an exclusive hideaway accessed only by boat or helicopter, just twenty minutes from the island of Praslin. Located on the private island of Felicité, Six Senses Zil Pasyon is an ecological jewel hidden amongst fascinating granite formations, bringing guests in tune with the harmony of nature while epitomising the art of simple, yet sumptuous luxury. Untouched, lush jungle covers much of this conscious island; the resort radiates wellness and sustainability. The villas are the closest thing to contemporary, minimalist treehouses: floored in local Balau wood, fronted in glass that allow the surroundings to take centre stage, and decked out in calming ocean hues.

IW459307, classy, timeless

Sarah-Louise Marks with her Da Vinci watch

Christopher Phelps of The Adventures of Us wearing the Ingenieur Chronograph IW380801

Evenings at the Four Seasons

There is no better place to swim and unwind than Zil Pasyon’s dramatic infinity pools, their blue waters merge with the sea and sky, as the waves crash against the boulders below. Nothing happens fast in the Seychelles that’s for sure, but if you’re looking for absolute privacy, seclusion and relaxation, there’s no place better.

—Sarah-Louise Marks from The Adventures of us in the Seychelles

Want to know where we’ll head to next? Follow the @IWCjournal to find out.

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Sarah-Louise Marks and Christopher Phelps run the popular travel blog “The Adventures of Us”. The London-based couple are sharing their breathtaking escapes on The Journal in a special travel series.