PAID CONTENT FOR MILAIDHOO MALDIVES
Milaidhoo Maldives BAA ATOLL, MALDIVES
A stay at Milaidhoo Maldives is a truly out-of-this-world experience. Choose from 50 dreamy villas — offering everything from private pools to in-room wine chillers — and enjoy manta-ray spotting, Milky Way sighting and a romantic night under the stars
Set in the archipelago’s Baa Atoll, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Milaidhoo Maldives is one of the most spectacular destinations in the world for sightings of manta rays. From June to October, thousands of these beautiful creatures migrate to the Atoll’s plankton-rich waters, and guests at Milaidhoo can witness the annual gathering first-hand. Milaidhoo launched a conservation-focused Manta Ray awareness diving course by PADI earlier this year, for all certified divers hoping to swim alongside manta rays. In addition to enjoying the memorable experience of meeting these majestic rays, divers will learn how to identify and track them during two theory sessions — covering educational insights on the species’ behaviour as well as delving into the key conservation efforts needed to protect them. The Ocean Stories Aquatic Centre team at Milaidhoo have also identified several secret diving spots, outside of the marine reserve, where divers can enjoy the most private and exclusive manta experiences. Home to a
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spectacular house reef and only 12 minutes by speedboat from Hanifaru Bay — known for the biggest seasonal grouping of manta rays in the world — guests can swim and snorkel with the rays up close. Summer visitors at Milaidhoo will be welcomed with excursions to this magnificent spot, in coordination with the Hanifaru Bay park rangers, who are experts in ensuring guests enjoy the most rewarding sighting opportunities. Along with this, Milaidhoo’s resident marine
biologist will share their expert knowledge of the manta rays. Reaching up to 23 feet in width, these rays are the ocean’s gentle giants who feed on nothing bigger than microscopic plankton.
SEEING STARS Back on dry land, the island resort also has a partnership with astronomy expert Valerie Stimac. Guests can experience Milaidhoo’s new retreat series ‘Milky Way from the Maldives’. Valerie has teamed up with Milaidhoo to tap into the Astrotourism trend, where travellers choose
destinations with low light pollution to enjoy the beauty of the galaxy. Together, they’re launching a series of retreats allowing guests to discover the incredible dark skies of the Maldives. The retreats will take place from spring 2023 and will include a Healing Space Massage, dinner under the stars and stargazing on a secluded sandbank, sailing under the stars on a traditional Maldivian dhoni, astrophotography sessions, night-sky mytholog sessions focused on the history of the night sky from various cultures in the Maldives, as well as the opportunity to name a star. Guests who wish to take the retreat to new heights can even opt to spend the night as castaways under the stars, on their very own private sandbank. The sandbank comes with a canopied four- poster bed draped in muslin and a private yacht anchored nearby, complete with a dressing room and bathroom with all the same amenities guests would expect to find back at the island resort. As the crew sail away after dinner, couples are left to enjoy post-dinner drinks before heading off to
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