10 Te Travel Guide Maldives


Framed by palms and with sparkling turquoise seas, nowhere does beachside bliss like the Maldives. And with a string of new openings, this Indian Ocean archipelago’s hotel scene has never looked better. Words: Lee Cobaj


Promotional Content • Saturday 29th January 2022


Gili Lankanfushi PHOTOGRAPH: SAKIS PAPADOPOULOS


Amilla Fushi Lagoon PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY OF AMILLA MALDIVES RESORT & RESIDENCES


eyes squint and water so blue it looks like the saturation has been set to max. Tis archipelago of 1,190 islands has become a poster child for island paradise, but there’s more variety than you might think. Some atolls are better for manta rays; some attract whale sharks; and others are great for surfing, deep-sea fishing or have beaches running for miles. Tragically, several coral reefs were badly damaged during a worldwide bleaching event in 2016, so those keen to explore beneath the surface will need to plan carefully before visiting this ever-changing seascape. But much like its marine life, the Maldives’ accommodation is similarly vibrant, and you’ll find everything from love nests and party pads to castaway villas and overwater bungalows, meaning there’s just as much action to be had on land as there is in that dazzlingly blue water.


T


One of the Maldives’ longest-established,


most environmentally conscious resorts, it’s easy to see why guests


return year after year to Gili Lankanfushi


he Maldives is Mother Nature in overdrive: technicolour coral, beaches so white they’ll make your


Best for beach bums Seaside Finolhu Named after the island’s immaculate, half-mile-long sandbank, Seaside Finolhu is perfect for hand-in-hand strolls. It recently refreshed all of its villas in sherbet shades of yellow, pink, blue and green, and the rest of the resort is similarly playful; take a stroll around the island and you might find an inflatable water park on the seashore or fire dancers on the beach. Tere’s plenty more to do here, too, including tennis and yoga, and a raft of places to eat and drink, from the beachside buffet to the tiki-lit crab shack. Even with all this, rest assured that the island is also large enough that you’ll always find somewhere to hide away and relax. Rooms: Villas from £598, all-inclusive. finolhu.com


Best for indulgence Kudadoo ‘Anything. Anytime. Anywhere.’ is Kudadoo’s mantra and this ultra-exclusive, all-inclusive resort keeps its promise. Everything really is included here, from mini-bars stocked with Patrón tequila and Old Tom gin to round-the-clock gourmet meals in the restaurants or in your room and unlimited treatments at the temple-like spa. All the watersports and excursions are included as well. Te resort has 15 overwater pool villas, giving it a members-only feel, and the house reef is brimming with colourful coral. Rooms: Villas from £2,540, all-inclusive. kudadoo.com


Best for art-lovers Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi Tis private island resort brags one of the most beautiful house reefs in the Maldives: it’s a whopping six miles long and abundant with bright, healthy corals and kaleidoscopic reef fish. It’s also home to the country’s only Coralarium, a semi-submerged tidal gallery with a collection of eco-concrete sculptures that double as an artificial reef, encouraging corals, fish and crustaceans to the area. Tere’s plenty to admire above the surface too, including airy villas with private pools, open-air restaurants serving Japanese tapas and grilled Maldivian tuna, and a serene spa. Rooms: Villas from £871, B&B. fairmont.com


For pure relaxation Amilla Maldives Resort One of the most luxurious Maldives resorts, this paradise idyll is well-suited for solo travellers, honeymooners and families alike. Te spacious villas — some overwater and some on the beach — are decked out in Saint-Tropez-style whites and blues, with large living rooms, even larger wooden decks and private pools. Te food is excellent and sustainably sourced and there’s a bonanza of free daily activities, including kombucha-making classes, chess lessons and diving near the Hanifaru cleaning station, as seen on the BBC’s documentary series Blue Planet II. Rooms: Villas from £653, B&B. amilla.com


Seaside Finolhu PHOTOGRAPH: CLAUS BRECHENMACHER & REINER BAUMANN


Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi PHOTOGRAPH: FAIRMONT


Best for barefoot luxury Gili Lankanfushi Fresh from a pre-pandemic spruce, perennial favourite Gili Lankanfushi is as dazzling as ever. One of the longest-established and most environmentally conscious resorts in the Maldives, it’s easy to see why guests return year after year: the lagoon setting, world-class cuisine, outstanding spa and castaway-chic villas are truly first-class. But it’s the service that stands out most: many of the staff have been with the resort for decades and won’t bat an eyelid


at even the most outlandish request — they once ferried in a baby grand piano at the request of one virtuoso visitor. It’s all about luxuriating in the beautiful surroundings, feet in the sand, floating in the sea or sitting on the balcony watching stingrays. Rooms: Villas from £980, B&B. gililankanfushi.com


First published in the November 2021


issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). Read the feature in full online at nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel


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