DESTINATIONS INDIAN OCEAN | MALDIVES
4
OF THE BEST
MARINE SPECIES Parrotfish
These blue-and-pink fish help protect the reef – a single
parrotfish can excrete 450kg of sand each year, helping to form a diverse seabed.
Clownfish
Clients can find Nemo hidden among the anemone fronds, as these orange fish shelter from predators.
Turtles Five of seven turtle species
can be sighted in the Maldives: green and hawksbill turtles are the most common.
Octopus
This smart cephalopod hides in plain sight, so head out with a marine biologist for the best chance of spotting one.
RAAYA RESTAURANTS
The Village: This Italian option serves hearty plates of ravioli, breads dipped in olive oil and creamy tiramisu.
Ampersand: This two-storey beachfront restaurant features Japanese-inspired sushi platters, comfy loungers and a sizeable roof terrace to drink creative cocktails.
Mizaj: The Middle Eastern- influenced tapas at this poolside joint (pictured) ranges from seared halloumi to chicken shish kebab and roasted aubergine dips.
out on daily guided snorkelling tours with marine biologists, wading in from the safety of the beach. Having time to spend on self-indulgence and leisure meant the rest of my days in paradise filled up fast: activities on the all-inclusive plan, booked via Helengeli’s app, ranged from sunrise yoga and mixology classes to dhoni boat trips and diving taster sessions.
TASTE SENSATION Food has always been a key motivator for my travels, so I was apprehensive about the lack of independent restaurants or street eats that comes as part of a resort stay in the Maldives. I needn’t have worried: at The Spice, the overwater restaurant where a buffet breakfast is served, there was everything from buttery roti to caramel cronuts. One evening, chef Rajat Sharma coyly asked if I liked Indian food. Yes, I replied, going for a second helping of paratha with my chickpea curry. We met again at Raga Route – one of two speciality restaurants, which guests can visit every fourth night as part of the all-inclusive plan – where Sharma presided over a menu of modern Indian delights. “We make everything with 45 spices – and love, of
course,” he said. Coconut soup was served as a palate cleanser, using fruits from the tall trees lining the resort’s sandy paths. Next was a platter of poppadoms in a variety of shapes, from noodles to rice cakes. “Every 15 miles in India, the flavours change, and there are more than 500 varieties of poppadom. This platter
42 26 MARCH 2026
reflects north, east, south and west,” Sharma added. It was a fitting start to an innovative feast of flavours – and a spectacular finale to my time on Helengeli.
RAAYA OF LIGHT
If your clients think they’ll run out of things to do in the Maldives, suggest a twin-centre itinerary, so that they can experience new sights, sounds and smells. After Helengeli, I took the 45-minute seaplane journey from Malé to five-star Raaya by Atmosphere, which opened in 2024. Raaya offers an even more action-packed activity
roster, with windsurf hire, sunset fishing and sound baths, as well as a 45-minute spa treatment included in each stay. Guests can also take a complimentary tour of Seb’s Farm – a 2,500sq m kitchen garden that opened last year – or splash out $100 to pick produce that will be transformed into delicate, delicious plates for dinner, which is then paired with a fine selection of global wines. Garden guide Alex was keen to point out the 30
types of fruit, veg and herbs in Seb’s Farm, then made light work of plucking fresh white aubergines, chillis, courgettes and sweetcorn stalks from the plots. “Be active today, and leave room in your stomach,” he said. “I need you to try everything!” Heeding his advice, I toured Raaya’s sports
facilities. There’s a gym, yoga pavilion and even more to try: a vast clearing in the island’s interior houses futsal (a variant of football) and padel courts, a nine-hole mini-golf course and even a ²
travelweekly.co.uk
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Hawksbill turtle; a sushi platter at Ampersand restaurant; Raaya by Atmosphere PICTURES:
Muhaphotos.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
