20/08/2026
Long stays work best when guests have the freedom to make each day their own. These are six very different properties that caught our eye, each offering plenty to discover, from marine life and conservation to golf, watersports, wildlife and cultural experiences, alongside plenty of time to simply slow down.
Alphonse Island Lodge, Seychelles
Alphonse has a wonderfully relaxed feel, but there’s plenty to discover once guests start exploring. The house reef and marine life are a major draw, while the island’s conservation work gives guests another way to experience the destination.
Oil Nut Bay, British Virgin Islands
Spread across 400 acres of Virgin Gorda, Oil Nut Bay gives guests a huge amount of space and an equally impressive choice of ways to spend their time. Days can be spent sailing, wakeboarding or exploring by boat, while there’s plenty to do back on land too.
Uga Ulagalla, Sri Lanka
Ulagalla is less about a packed resort programme and more about having a peaceful base from which to explore this part of Sri Lanka. Guests have a beautiful private estate to enjoy alongside easy access to the Cultural Triangle.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, Maldives
Kihavah offers a great mix of marine life, adventure and experiences beyond the beach. Guests can explore the house reef, head to nearby Hanifaru Bay for seasonal manta encounters, or try diving, dolphin cruises, fishing, jet skiing, kayaking and sailing.
Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort, Mauritius
Set within the Bel Ombre estate in southern Mauritius, Le Telfair gives guests access to much more than the beach. There’s golf, watersports and wellness at the resort, while the surrounding nature reserve opens up hiking, guided trekking, cycling, quad biking and 4x4 experiences. Guests can also make use of facilities at sister property Heritage Awali.
Fairmont Mayakoba, Mexico
Set within the Mayakoba complex, Fairmont gives guests a peaceful base surrounded by jungle, mangroves and waterways, while still offering plenty of choice for a longer stay. The complex is connected by waterways, with guests able to explore and dine across Fairmont, Banyan Tree and Rosewood Mayakoba.