A Private Island
at the Edge of Mauritius
Private Island · Boat Access Only · Total Seclusion · South-East Mauritius
Îlot des Deux Cocos is not a beach. It is an island — accessible only by boat, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, completely private. Once used as a colonial governor's retreat, it is now operated by the Shangri-La as an exclusive day escape. No crowds, no noise, no other guests. Bilaal Sadeer photographs couples here for the most exclusive, most remote, and most extraordinary sessions on the island.
Fast response · Drone included · Island transfers includedPhotography at Ilot des Deux Cocos, Mauritius
Wedding · Honeymoon · Drone · Creative
Photography Packages — Îlot des Deux Cocos
Transparent pricing. No hidden fees. All island logistics coordinated by Bilaal.
Îlot des Deux Cocos Photography Session
Starting from
€100 per additional hour
- Unlimited photographs delivered
- Cinematic post-production editing
- Drone aerial photography (MCAA permit + Shangri-La approval managed by Bilaal)
- Private gallery delivered within 3 business days
- Island transfers included — hotel to Trou d'Eau Douce and back
- Style consultation & location guidance
- Full digital rights for personal use
Note: Island access is coordinated through Shangri-La Le Touessrok. Bilaal Sadeer handles all logistics and hotel coordination. Boat access is weather-dependent — calm sea conditions required.
Bilaal Sadeer — Photography at Îlot des Deux Cocos
I'm Bilaal Sadeer, a luxury wedding and lifestyle photographer based in Mauritius. Photographing at Îlot des Deux Cocos is a privilege I have built carefully over years of working with the Shangri-La Le Touessrok. The island is not simply a location — it is an experience that requires coordination, planning, and a relationship with the hotel team that ensures every session runs without interruption. I manage every element: the boat timing, the drone permits, the light windows, the island logistics. My couples arrive and find everything already in place.
What makes sessions at Îlot des Deux Cocos distinct from any other photography I produce in Mauritius is the quality of silence. There are no passing tourists, no noise from the coast, no interruptions. When the excursion is organised exclusively — which is possible for special occasions — it is genuinely just us, the island, and the Indian Ocean. The images carry that atmosphere. You can see the seclusion in them. And for couples who have chosen Mauritius precisely because they want something extraordinary, that seclusion is the entire point.
Why Îlot des Deux Cocos is Extraordinary for Photography
There is a particular kind of photograph that is impossible to create on any beach in Mauritius — the kind where the horizon in every direction is open ocean, where the sand is not shared with a hundred others, where the only architecture in the frame is a colonial cottage from 1870. That photograph can only be made at Îlot des Deux Cocos.
Îlot des Deux Cocos — Island of Two Coconuts — sits off the south-east coast of Mauritius near Blue Bay, a short boat ride from the mainland. Historically, it served as the summer retreat of the British colonial governor of Mauritius, and much of that heritage remains. The colonial cottage, the carefully maintained gardens, the sense of a place preserved deliberately outside of time — these elements give sessions on the island an architectural and historical depth that no beach session can replicate.
The Shangri-La Le Touessrok now operates the island as an exclusive day escape for their guests. Access is by boat only, departing from Trou d'Eau Douce on the east coast — approximately 15 to 20 minutes across the lagoon. The sea crossing itself becomes part of the experience: the island emerging from the horizon, white sand and tropical canopy, surrounded entirely by Indian Ocean blue. The visual drama begins before the boat has even arrived.
For photography, the island offers multiple distinct environments within a compact setting: the white sand shore, the colonial cottage and its gardens, the tree canopy, the rocks and coral at the island's edge. Multiple orientations mean that both morning and afternoon light are available regardless of season. The complete absence of public traffic means long, unhurried sessions with no need to work around other visitors. And the knowledge that access requires a boat, that the mainland is invisible, that no one else is coming — that sense of genuine remoteness creates photographs of a quality and atmosphere that even the finest mainland beach cannot achieve.
For elopements, proposals, honeymoon sessions, and any couple for whom the word "exclusive" is not a marketing term but a genuine requirement — Îlot des Deux Cocos is, without qualification, the most extraordinary photography setting in Mauritius.
Weather & Best Photography Conditions at Îlot des Deux Cocos
Island access depends on sea conditions as well as weather. Understanding both is essential to planning a successful session at Îlot des Deux Cocos.
Dry Season
May through November. Calm seas, clear skies, consistent golden-hour light. Most reliable for boat access and ideal for outdoor photography on the island.
Sea Conditions
Boat access requires calm water. South-east trade winds (June–August) can create choppy conditions. I monitor forecasts and confirm with the Shangri-La team before every session.
Light Directions
The island's multiple beach orientations mean morning and afternoon light are both available year-round. Sessions are not limited by a single facing direction — the best light is always accessible.
Wet Season
December through April. Occasional showers but often beautiful light between rain. Morning sessions are most reliable. Dramatic clouds over the open ocean create extraordinary atmosphere.
Temperature
South-east coast stays cooler than the west. Trade winds provide natural comfort even in summer. The island has minimal wind shelter — flowing fabrics photograph beautifully in the breeze.
Peak Months
May through November for most reliable sea and sky conditions. September and October offer exceptional clarity of light and calm lagoon conditions.
I build contingency into every Îlot des Deux Cocos session and coordinate directly with the Shangri-La team on sea and weather conditions. Your session only proceeds when everything is right.
Best Photography Locations on Îlot des Deux Cocos
The White Sand Shore
The island's primary beach — fine white sand, turquoise lagoon, and the open Indian Ocean beyond. Classic private island imagery with complete seclusion. No shared beach, no passing strangers.
Best time: Morning and late afternoonThe Colonial Cottage
The historic governor's residence — colonial architecture from the late 19th century, surrounded by tropical gardens. Provides architectural depth and historical character unavailable on any mainland beach.
Best time: Soft morning light or open shadeThe Island Gardens
Manicured tropical gardens surrounding the colonial buildings. Shade, texture, and colour — a beautiful counterpoint to the open beach. Intimate portrait work is especially strong here.
Best time: Morning or overcast lightThe Coral Shoreline
Rocky coral edges where the island meets the open sea. Raw, dramatic, textured — entirely different from the sandy beach and perfect for editorial couple photography.
Best time: Late afternoon, golden hourThe Island Canopy
Dappled light through tropical tree cover creates beautiful natural framing. Cooler and shaded — a welcome alternative during midday sessions, and particularly elegant for portrait work.
Best time: Midday for shade, morning for angled lightThe Boat Jetty
The arrival and departure point — a simple wooden jetty extending into the lagoon. The visual symbol of the island's inaccessibility. Beautiful for portraits with water on all sides.
Best time: Arrival and departure golden momentsHotels & Wedding Venues Near Îlot des Deux Cocos
Access to Îlot des Deux Cocos is organised through Shangri-La Le Touessrok. I photograph at all east coast resorts and can combine your island session with a resort session for a complete gallery.
Regions Near Îlot des Deux Cocos
Combine your private island session with a mainland shoot at one of the nearby east coast regions for a complete Mauritius gallery.
Îlot des Deux Cocos Photography — Frequently Asked Questions
What Couples Say About Îlot des Deux Cocos Sessions
"We had the island entirely to ourselves for two hours. Bilaal, us, the Indian Ocean, and a colonial cottage from 1870. I struggle to describe the photographs. They don't look like wedding photography — they look like a private film. Which, in a way, is exactly what they are."— Victoria & James, London · Elopement Photography
"Our proposal happened on Îlot des Deux Cocos, coordinated between Bilaal and the Shangri-La team. Nobody on the mainland knows you're there. The images of the island, the ocean, and that moment — they are the most private and the most beautiful photographs we will ever take."— Amélie & Louis, Paris · Proposal Photography
"We came to Mauritius for an extraordinary experience and this exceeded everything. The boat trip, the colonial island, Bilaal already positioned when we arrived — seamless. The photography is extraordinary. The memories are permanent."— Priya & Arjun, Mumbai · Honeymoon Session
The Island Is Waiting. Is Your Date Available?
Peak dry-season dates at Îlot des Deux Cocos book well in advance. Island access must be coordinated early. One message is all it takes to begin.
WhatsApp · fast response · no obligation
Îlot des Deux Cocos — Private Island Location
Îlot des Deux Cocos is located off the south-east coast of Mauritius near Blue Bay. Boat access departs from Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Trou d'Eau Douce — approximately 15–20 minutes by boat.