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have since opened successfully, ranging guide for a cycle tour of the local islands.
from the W to the super-sized One&Only We ride amiably around Gan and onto
Reethi Rah. Shangri-La is the largest Feydhoo along part of the longest road in
natural resort island in the Maldives and the Maldives – an 11-mile stretch linking
the vegetation is the most diverse I have Gan, Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-
ever seen here, with a beautiful wide Feydhoo and Hithadhoo, all inhabited
beach that could rival those of Thailand. islands on the western side of Addu. The
There are said to be 17,000 palm trees little houses are organised along mainly
on the island and 45 other plant species coral streets with small yards, shops and
including huge Banyan trees, while beach hairdressers pop up here and there and
hibiscus, frangipani and pretty sea children’s chatter can be heard behind
trumpets provide bountiful petals for school walls.
decoration around the resort. The island
even has inland lagoons with complex Cowrie currency
mangrove systems, pointed out to me on a All guests get a bike at the Shangri-La if
nature tour of the island. they want one and this being the Maldives,
When I speak to staff at resorts further it’s very flat on the island, so getting to the
north after the Shangri-La, they ask with Chi Spa for the Kandu Boli Ritual was easy.
great interest what the resort is like. Their The Maldives was the source of an
curiosity comes from it being in their ancient currency, the cowrie shell, which
home atoll; most people who work in was found in the waters here but used all
tourism come from Addu Atoll. “When I along ancient marine trade routes. The
was a kid, Villingili was a place we used to ritual is a body and face massage in which
go and play on the beach, swimming from big tiger cowrie shells are used to apply
our boats and hacking through the jungle pressure during the treatment. I passed
there,” a waiter from the area tells me in out during this, which is apparently the
another resort. “Addu people are the point. Of course, this could have happened
friendliest in the Maldives!” a pool-side when the therapist broke into a Maldivian
waiter at the Shangri-La beams at me. lullaby. Yes, really. After the treatment, I
All resorts in the Maldives have to was fit for nothing. Again, that’s probably
employ a strong ratio of nationals to the point. After all, most people having
foreigners, but Shangri-La has additionally this treatment will be on holiday, not
reached out to the near-locals with its visiting six new resorts in 10 days.
hospitality training programme. With Alila Hotels and Resorts is an Asian
tourism largely having boomed far north brand known for its hip hotels in
of Addu Atoll and little else save for the Indonesia and Thailand, and Alila Villas
small fishing industry and an airport down Hadahaa has brought a totally different
here, social problems have developed such look to the Maldives. The resort focuses
as high unemployment. The Shangri-La heavily on design, evident from the
get around. One thing everyone will love programme has already had successful minute you step into the open-air lobby
about Diva though is its lush vegetation, graduates, including the happy soul sheltered under an enormous
with the addition of some super-colourful from the fitness centre who acts as my up-turned wooden dhoni.
bougainvillea and frangipani all over the
island. A small army of gardeners tend the
flora while women from local islands
sweep the pathways of stray leaves.
South to Shangri-La
Addu Atoll is home to one of the region’s
most hotly anticipated arrivals in recent
years; Shangri-La Villingili Resort and
Spa. The island is south of the equator,
next to Gan, and in an area completely
undeveloped in tourism terms. But this is
where much of Maldives’ future resort
growth will happen, as the government
releases islands around here for
development.
Gan is a former British army base but is
now deserted save for its airport and a few
businesses in barrack-style buildings. The
How to sEll: maldivian newcomers
airport on Gan is one of four domestic
destinations served by the scheduled Clockwise from left: good as expected from a group Alila Villas Hadahaa
flights of Maldivian, the national airline. Shangri-La Villingili with Constance’s experience. Eco-cred (built to rigorous Green
Flying with them will in itself be quite a The key is the remote location and Techies will love the in-room Globe standards), remote, a
new experience for travellers to the chance to explore the southern Mac mini system. halaveli.com Mandara Spa, Design Hotels
Maldives – the chance to zip around the region for the first time, combined member, the only authentic
country having real locals as fellow with the expertise of Shangri-La on Vivanta by Taj at Coral Reef Maldivian restaurant in the
passengers, rather than hopping on a lovely large island. Also big-up This resort has a wonderful Maldives (yes, really), perfect
speedboats and fleets of tourist seaplanes the spa which is wonderful and has youthful vibrancy, excellent spa, for divers... it’s one to beat, but a
out of Male. I was even handed a certificate the largest Ayurvedic progamme of eclectic style and great dining slog to get to. alilahotels.com
congratulating me for having flown over any of the Chi Spas. shangri-la.com options. The organic mini-bar will
the equator. The whole journey from the be a real hit, as will the Reef bar at Diva
UK to the Shangri-La had taken me around Constance Halaveli night with its funky design and A got-the-lot resort, with tons of
14 hours. But it was worth it. The USP here is a resort where all cocktails, while Open has a fun facilities, six restaurants and funky
I first heard of this project as long as five the villas have pools, where the Tepanyaki grill. The island is very design. Missing a bit of a trick in
years ago, and other incredible resorts spa is world-class and cuisine is as small though. tajhotels.com the spa though. naiade.com
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