Fregate Island in the Seychelles - history, nature and tourism

In the past, the island of pirates, which today turned into an exclusive resort, where Claudia Schiffer, Michael Douglas, Julia Roberts and other celebrities stayed. Fregate Island Private - a luxurious corner 56 kilometers east of the city Mahe, the main island of Seychelles. Here is a small but very exclusive hotel chosen by celebrities.

A small granite island rises at an altitude of 125 meters above sea level, and its area is only 2 square kilometers. Locals earn a living by tourism, agriculture, nature conservation and fishing. The Fregate has its own harbor. However, if you want to visit the island by boat without staying in a hotel, you will have to show a free license to access.

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Fregate - the history of the island of pirates

Fregate Island was once a haven for pirates who used it as a base for attacks on the British East India Company. There are many treasure stories, but nothing has been found yet.

• Seychelles, declared a French colony in the 18th century, changed hands several times between the French and the British before gaining independence in 1976. Throughout its history, Seychelles has been home to people from all over the world, and today it is renowned for its mix of cultures and warm welcome to visitors from all over the world.
• In 1744, French explorer Lazar Picot named the easternmost island of Seychelles a "Fregate" after the birds he found in large numbers. After World War II, the island began to grow fruits, vegetables, coffee and spices, as well as poultry for sale in the Mahe market.
• In the 1990s, further development was allowed on the island. It was rented by a German industrialist, and then began complex restoration activities.
• In 1998, the only hotel on the island was opened, which is now owned by the Oetker Collection, one of the leading hotel chains in the world. However, the island remains almost untouched by tourism, offering sandy beaches, vibrant jungles, fruit and vegetable plantations, and rare species of animals and plants.

Unfortunately, Fregate did not escape environmental problems, including the destruction of nature and exploitation of land for coconut plantations and copra production. For 200 years the island was used for intensive agricultural activities and the local forests have almost completely disappeared. Currently, about 80% of the vegetation has been restored here. Two trees are planted on the island for each guest who has visited.

Fregate Island Private

Why You Should See Fregat Island

Turtles. This is a reserve where giant Seychelles turtles live. The Fregate is home to about 2,200 giant Aldabra turtles. There are also two separate species of sea turtles on the island that are critically endangered: the Hawksbill turtle and the green turtle. Both species use the island's beaches for nesting.

Bird reserve. Birds sing in the coconut groves, and terns and frigatebirds fly over the coast. The island is home to many endemic species, such as the flightless giant tenbryonid beetle.

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How to get to Fregat Island

You can get to the island by local plane or helicopter from Mahe Airport. The flight will only take about twenty minutes. The Fregate has its own helipad, as well as an airport, which is equipped with a dirt runway.

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Fregate Island Private Hotel

Fregate Island is famous for being a luxury resort from Oetker Collection, a company that funds an environmental program that restores the local habitat. The exclusive resort has 16 luxury villas that cater to 150 hotel staff. And the rest takes place in the company of many giant turtles that blithely roam the island, and hundreds of thousands of birds.

Residences at Fregate Island Private offer magical ocean views and lush gardens. The hotel grows vegetables, tropical fruits and herbs, which give a unique accent to the kitchen. The luxurious Rock Spa at Fregate Island Private offers traditional treatments. The island has several tourist attractions and the famous Anse Victorin beach, which was voted the best beach in the world by the Times.

 For hotel guests:

• Own yacht club and picturesque harbor.
• Two restaurants and a luxury spa.
• Bars on the coast, with incredible views, and a wine cellar.
• Diving club and amateur boatsand.
• SUP and kayaks, sailing, surfing equipment, windsurfing boards, water skiing and tubing.

Fregate Island Private

What to do on Fregat Island

Snorkeling, diving and fishing

Snorkeling and diving are very popular on the Fregate, as it is near Drop Off for Big Game Fishing. The island has launched a new coral restoration project on the eastern reef. You can find many different species of fish, turtles, stingrays, and for the most daring - stingrays, sailboats and even whale sharks.

Snorkeling equipment is available to all guests and is included in the room price.

The diving center in Fregate Island Marina offers various dive courses and certification. There are plenty of beautiful spots that are only accessible to Fregate Island guests and suitable for divers of all levels, from beginners to experienced.

For lovers of deep-sea fishing, it is the closest island to "Drop Off", where the seabed stretches thousands of meters. Fishing along the abyss is one of the best in the world with trophy catches. This is a feeding ground for yellowtails, yellowfin tunas and striped marlins.

Fregate Island Private

Walking around the island

The island is crossed by 11 kilometers of trails, which can be walked, or explored by golf cart and bicycle. There are no paved roads on the Fregate. Some trails will take you from one beach to another through dense forests, open terrains that offer exceptional views of coastal groves and other islands on the horizon.

Fregate Island Private

Plantation house museum

Plantation House was once the home of a former plantation owner. It is now the venue for the Creole Night performances. Guests gather to enjoy the local cuisine and listen to traditional Creole music.

The charm of colonial architecture takes you back in time.

Beaches.

There are seven beautiful beaches all over the island. Each of them has its own peculiarity.

• Anse Victorin has a great snorkeling spot just 15 metres from the shore.
• Marina Beach is protected by a coral reef.
• To get to Anse Park, you will walk along a trail in the jungle among giant turtles.
• Anse Bambous is just below Fregate House and features boogie boards and a beach bar.
• Grand Anse is the wildest and most beautiful, you can hear the roar of the waves before you step out of the jungle trail, order a cocktail and admire the magnificent sunsets.
• Ans Victoren Beach has repeatedly been recognized as the most beautiful in the world.

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