Travel news: Seychelles welcomes the Six Senses and more

Plus: Qatar starts route to Namibian capital; Slide into new resort in the Maldives; Be Intrepid with cycling trips; Generator gets revved up in Rome.

A villa at Six Senses Zil Pasyon in the Seychelles. Courtesy Six Senses

Qatar starts route to Namibian capital

Qatar Airways has launched a new direct route from Doha to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. The south-west African country is an emerging tourist destination, with locations such as the Skeleton Coast proving popular with more-adventurous visitors. The flight time from Doha is nine hours and tickets cost from 3,030 Qatari rials (Dh3,056). For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com.

Slide into new resort in the Maldives

The luxury hotel group Soneva has opened its third property in the Maldives: Soneva Jani. The 24 over-water villa resort is on Medhufaru, a 60-hectare island cluster in Noonu Atoll, towards the northern end of the country that's a 35-minute seaplane trip from the capital, Malé. Special features include retractable roofs, an outdoor cinema and slides from the top deck of some of the villas straight into the ocean. Villas cost from US$3,449 (Dh12,669) per night, including taxes. For more information, visit www.soneva.com.

Be Intrepid with cycling trips

The tour company Intrepid Travel has launched 14 new cycling trips, and is offering 20 per cent off new bookings made by November 7. The trips, to locations including Thailand, Myanmar, Morocco, Japan and South Africa, last between seven and 15 days. They cost from $1,295 (Dh4,757) per person, including accommodation, some meals and all internal transport, but excluding international flights. For more information, visit www.intrepidtravel.com.

Generator gets revved up in Rome

The budget design hotel group Generator Hostels has opened a 73-room property in the Italian capital, with smart, stylish rooms from €78 (Dh322) per night, including taxes. The hotel is situated close to the city's main train station on Via Principe Amedeo. For more information, visit www.generatorhostels.com.

Seychelles welcomes the Six Senses

The Six Senses hotel group has opened an exclusive new property in the Seychelles. The 30-villa Six Senses Zil Pasyon is on the small private island of Felicite, east of Praslin and La Digue, a 20-minute helicopter ride or about 100 kilometres north-east of Seychelles International Airport on the main island of Mahé. Its Six Senses Spa will open in January, but until then, a temporary spa is available. Rooms cost from €1,200 (Dh4,946) per night, including breakfast, tax and service charge. For more information, visit www.sixsenses.com.