Drops of paradise scattered across the cobalt waters of the Indian Ocean, the superlatives flow easily when it comes to the iridescent atolls of this far-flung archipelago, as Sales Consultant Sally Yendley found out on her recent trip.
Niyama Private
Islands
This is a tropical island escape with serious state of the art
credentials. All of the villas in this resort are sleek and
contemporary - each room comes equipped with an iPad and you can
arrange and request anything you may need or want via this. You can
even choose to close the curtains of your villa with a simple press
of a button on the device. Each villa also boasts a plunge pool -
and they are some of the largest villa plunge pools that I have
seen in the Maldives. I would absolutely recommend the villas on
the sunset side of the island, where the beach is utterly
beautiful.
There are quirky elements woven into the fabric of this resort - not least the much vaunted Subsix underwater music club - but my particular favourites were the rooftop bar at Fahrenheit - the perfect place to enjoy a sundowner whilst watching the spectacular Maldivian sunsets, and the Deli where the ice cream parlour sells homemade gelato that is sublime!
Huvafen Fushi
The underwater focus continues here at the LIME Spa which
is home to the world's first underwater treatment rooms - a deeply
relaxing setting for some seriously pampering treatments. A small
and intimate property, the pampering continues across the board
here with a dedicated 'Thakuru' butler service - our butler, Afzal,
is a senior thakuru and he ensured that no wish went unfulfilled
during our stay.
The Maldives is renowned and revered for water sports and the diving and snorkelling available in the surrounding lagoon and by the reef of this hotel is quite exceptional; often around the more developed northern atolls, the coral is diminished and has died away, but around Huvafen Fushi the coral is healthy and thriving. This is in no small part thanks to their resident marine biologist - Nicole Herz - who has developed a programme to help to maintain and regenerate the coral on the reefs around this atoll.
Gili Lankanfushi
Sustainability is the buzz-word at this iconic rustic-luxe
property. The architects of the 'no news, no shoes' philosophy
certainly know how to do barefoot chic and there is a real focus on
eco-friendly activities and processes on the islet. Many
vegetables, herbs and fruits used in the cuisine on the island are
grown in the organic kitchen garden and they try to find a way to
reduce waste and recycle everything - even a coconut shell can be
recycled or repurposed.
This green focus does not detract in the slightest from the standard in the resort. The rooms are some of the largest in the archipelago and offer an open-air living room and large sun decks - both on the roof and out over the water. In addition, you can shower under the stars in your open air shower. All of the villas at Gili are overwater and, before my visit, I expected to be able to snorkel straight from the steps down into the lagoon. However, the water around the villas is very shallow and you may need to wade out a little bit further into the lagoon to snorkel and see more diverse marine life.
By The Sea restaurant has a delicious fusion Japanese-Peruvian menu and I would highly recommend dining here - the food is exceptional and with the accompanying sake and sensational ocean views, a meal here is a moment you will treasure. We rounded off our evening at the Jungle Cinema enjoying a film with cocktail in hand and feet in the sand.
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda
Huraa
This is a small and intimate resort with such a friendly and
welcoming atmosphere that I would happily recommend it to couples
and families alike. A band plays on the jetty to greet us as we
arrive into the resort - a happy and exuberant welcome that cannot
fail to put a smile on your face. Walking around this garden
island, this exuberance seems to be reflected in the flora and
fauna - pathways are lined with borders of bougainvillaea,
frangipani and hibiscus flowers, creating a melange of heady scents
and colours.
The Island Spa sits on its own island - reached by a short dhoni ride - and you cannot stay at this resort without indulging in a treatment at the Night Spa where lunar treatment rituals take place in an open-air room under a starry tropical sky. For experiences of a more exhilarating persuasion, there are few better locations for aquatic activities - both above and below the water. There is a PADI dive centre at the resort with over thirty dive sites close by and a Surf School to enable guests to enjoy arguably some of the world's best surfing. Adrenalin junkies and spa junkies equally well catered for.
The Marine Discovery Centre at Kuda Huraa is an interactive research and education centre. Guests and local school children alike are introduced to the conservation programmes, including the turtle rehabilitation and tracking programme with frequent talks on marine life and conserving the local and global marine ecosystem.