Make sure you find time to explore the island which includes a 100-year old lighthouse and densely forested interior. Look out for Toby the tortoise (about the same age as the lighthouse) and the tiny chapel. Tour the gardens and the farm, which ensures the island is more or less self-sufficient. Meal times are a feast of locally grown produce and freshly caught seafood cooked on the open-grill. Or, for a treat, spend an evening dining in the wine cellar. Relaxing days on Denis can be spent sea-fishing, diving, shell-collecting or simply walking on the pristine beach.
23 island-style cottages sit among casuarina and coconut trees, bordering the beach. Each has a high woven coconut-grass ceiling and a comfy double bed, romantically draped with mosquito nets and the softest Indian cotton sheets. The private bathroom opens onto a private courtyard. A sitting area is equipped with a mini-fridge, while private verandas face the sea. The newly renovated Beach Villa (325 m² in size) has an extended sea facing private deck with an outdoor sitting and dining area. The villa also has a plunge pool and a sala day bed.
To add to the charm of this desert island escape, there are no televisions in the rooms and no mobile phone signal. Wi-Fi is available in the library only at a charge. The Denis Private Island lagoon is full of triggerfish, clownfish, parrotfish, pirouetting rays, gliding turtles and a morning spent snorkelling will unveil myriad life forms and stunning backdrops. Whale sharks and manta rays are often sighted from September to November.
