Secret Garden Villa

Secret Garden Villa sits on a hillside above the east coast of La Digue, reached by a steep track just past Anse Patates. SeyVillas describes a plot of about 12,000 m², and the owners have cut a private trail through the garden past a fish pond and tortoises to a hilltop viewpoint over La Passe and Praslin.

The five rooms are built by hand from wood, with open fronts instead of glass windows. The owners say this is deliberate: there is no air conditioning and no TV. SeyVillas says the open rooms are cooled by the breeze, and it lists ceiling fans. Some rooms look out towards Félicité and the Sister islands.

Rates are on a half-board basis. The owners serve a Creole breakfast and an evening buffet or set menu with a carafe of house wine, using fruit and vegetables from their garden. A 4x4 transfer from the jetty is included.

Active travellers who want an open-air, back-to-nature stay with meals included and do not mind insects, a steep climb or the absence of air conditioning.

Five rooms, with sizes from the owners' booking engine. Secret's Standard (two rooms): ground floor next to the restaurant, double bed, en-suite bathroom, about 25 m², up to two guests. Aladdin: built around a granite boulder in the separate house, about 50 m², large veranda, up to three guests. Black Pearl (Captain Black Pearl): top floor of the main building, about 70 m², open veranda with views to the neighbouring islands, small kitchen, up to five guests. Sindbad the Sailor: first floor of the separate house, about 50 m², boat-themed interior, open balcony, up to three guests. All have en-suite bathrooms, ceiling fans and no air conditioning.

Free wifi in rooms and common areas, restaurant, bar, garden trail, beach towels on request and daily cleaning. SeyVillas lists bicycle rental, snorkelling, excursions, laundry and a shuttle on request for a fee, a safe and a barbecue.

Half board is included. Breakfast is a Creole buffet with garden fruit, and dinner is a set menu or buffet of Creole dishes served with a free carafe of house wine. The owners say they cook with produce from their organic garden. SeyVillas lists a bar on site.

Not on the beach. SeyVillas says the sea is within about 300 m and lists Anse Gaulettes at about 530 m as the nearest beach in its surroundings. It gives Anse Sévère as about 1.8 km away.

On a forested hill on La Digue's east coast, reached by a track just after the corner at Anse Patates. It is about 1.2 km in a straight line from the La Digue ferry terminal. The owners describe the area as away from the busy parts of the island.

The owners collect guests from La Passe jetty on arrival and return them on departure at no extra cost, using a 4x4 because of the steep access. Bicycles cannot be ridden up the access road.

The owners say reaching the villas involves about a 10-minute hike, and SeyVillas says the access road is too steep to cycle, so bicycles are left at the bottom. There is no air conditioning, no TV and no glass in the windows. The owners give a minimum stay of three nights. SeyVillas says children must be at least five, and the property is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility.