All I could think as my water taxi sped through the azure shallows was I had been preparing for this moment my entire life. I stepped off the boat and let my bare feet sink into the soft, white sand on Gulhifushi Island — one of the nearly 200 uninhabited islands of the Maldives — where I smirked at how I finally had an answer to the question that had been replaying in my head since childhood. With one look in my bag, I whispered to myself, “A good book, sunscreen and a bottle of water.”
As it turns out, two of my three “things I’d bring with me on a deserted island” weren’t even neces- sary since I had booked this experience through my resort’s concierge. The island was small, populated only by a smattering of palms and a thatched cabana that offered shade. Every detail had been thought of for me, and I glanced around the petite island to find a plate of fresh fruit, a pitcher of ice water and a carafe of hot coffee waiting on a makeshift table near a basket with plush towels and snorkel gear. I had the entire island to myself for the whole day, and unlike the S.O.S.-signal scenarios I had mentally rehearsed since childhood, I settled into my spot in the sand with my book and took in the peaceful quiet…with no desire to be rescued.
© Sea Underwater Restaurant
It’s easy to kick back in the Maldives, where staying connected or disconnecting entirely is a choice, not a requirement, thanks to 5G coverage that extends to nearly every corner of this archipelagic nation. Set in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, just southwest of Sri Lanka and India, the Maldives consists of upwards of 1,200 coral islands, ranging in size and degree of inhabitation, that are grouped into 26 atolls. In general, the northern atolls receive less annual rain than their southern counterparts, while the southern tend to get shielded better from strong winds, but it’s less of a conversation about which atoll or island is best as it is about which resort is right for you.
Among the more than 150 resorts — most occupying their own private islands — you’ll find everything from budget-friendly overwater villas (Kandima Maldives Resort) to subaquatic suites that allow you to drift to sleep in a private aquarium (Conrad Maldives Rangali Island). Regardless of which resort you choose, all international arrivals take place at Velana International Airport on Hulhulé Island in the North Malé Atoll, where it’s simply a boat, seaplane or helicopter ride to your chosen accommodations.
Everything revolves around water in the Maldives, where you can spend your days either gazing out on the crystal-clear water or getting immersed within it. Guided fishing trips are often run by locals who can explain the traditional Maldivian line-fishing technique or lead you into a reeling battle with sailfish, wahoo or even giant trevally. Most of the top resorts offer a full range of watersports, with jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking and wind surfing just a concierge call away, but East Wind Watersports keeps an inventory of aquatic gear if those options ever aren’t available.
Scuba diving in the Indian Ocean is a bucket-list experience for many people, but even just snorkeling in the Maldives could put you face to face with some of the ocean’s most remarkable creatures, including sea turtles, whale sharks, nurse sharks, dolphins and more. The nation is home to the largest recorded reef manta ray population in the world, which you can best observe at the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Hanifaru Bay in the Baa Atoll.
© Krzysztof Odziomek | Dreamstime.com
Wellness rightly also follows the swell of the ocean across the atolls, where beachside yoga sessions and breezy open-air massages are regular offerings at the nation’s top spas (i.e., Six Senses Spa at Six Senses Laamu, ESPA at One&Only Reethi Rah, the spa at Naladhu Private Island, among others), but it also harnesses the island’s greatest resource: the coconut. The local Dhivehi language has 12 words for coconut, and the entire life cycle of the fruit plays a role in daily life and health. Freshly made Maldivian coconut oil is a luxury carried in many gift shops throughout the atolls, and it’s worth leaving space for it in your checked luggage, as it’s often made during the coconut’s peak ripeness and sold in its purest form with no additives or preservatives.
As with any trip to paradise, departure dates often feel like unwanted rescues from your island oasis, but thankfully another atoll — or private island — always awaits to welcome you back for your next escape to the Maldives.
LODGING
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
This boundary-pushing resort features 151 luxury beach and overwater villas, includ- ing the world’s first undersea residence, where once-in- a-lifetime experiences occur both above and below the sea.
Rangali Island, Alifu Dhaalu Atoll
$$$$$
Breakfast is served 24 hours a day in the Living Room at this recently renovated resort. Each of the 20 houses comes with a private kuwaanu (butler) to personalize each guest’s stay.
Veligandu Huraa, South Malé Atoll
$$$$$
This all-villas resort blends local traditions and culture into the guest experience through its thoughtful programming and award-winning spa.
Reethi Rah, North Malé Atoll
$$$$$
DINING
Farm-to-table is a tricky concept in the Maldives, but Leaf does it effortlessly. Menus change with the tide and season, but always expect flawless execution.
Six Senses Laamu, Laamu Atoll
$$$$$
Sea Underwater Restaurant
Real sharks, turtles and fish provide the ambience for this below-the-surface dining room, where guests savor artfully plated dishes and world-class wines.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, Kihavah Huravalhi Island, Baa Atoll
$$$$$
The architecture of this over- water lounge is as impressive as the delicious tapas, tasting menus and cocktails served beneath it.
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Vommuli Island, Dhaalu Atoll
$$$$
INFO TO GO
Although most travelers arrive from Doha (DOH), Dubai (DXB) or London (LHR) at Velana International Airport on the manmade island of Hulhulé, roughly 40 international and domestic flights arrive each day from around the world. Hulhulé offers limited accommoda- tions, so visitors board sea planes, charter planes or water taxis (often speed- boats or private yachts) to reach their resorts. Most resorts outline this service at the time of booking, so pre-booking accommodations is imperative to ensure seamless transfers.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedAirlines
Jan 14, 2025Turkish Airlines Introduces UNESCO Türkiye Series Amenity Kit Collection
Turkish Airlines recently launched a new amenity kit collection, known as the UNESCO Türkiye Series. Inspired by six of Türkiye’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, the amenity kit collection allows the airline to bring the country’s cultural treasures to the skies.
Sponsored Content
Experience Next-Level Travel with Condor Airlines’ New A330neo Fleet
Condor Airlines completely renewed its long-haul fleet, featuring its new Airbus A330neo. Designed to elevate your travel experience, the A330neo is equipped with cutting-edge technology and offers unrivaled comfort, ensuring an exceptional journey for every passenger. With its striking signature striped livery, the A330neo not only promises a memorable flight but also enhances the start of your vacation from the moment you step aboard.
Daily
Jan 14, 2025Costa del Sol, Spain, Doesn’t Hold Back for 2025 Travelers
With the arrival of a new year, Costa del Sol invites travelers to explore its culture, gastronomy, sustainability and wellness offerings. For those looking to disconnect from stress, immerse with nature and discover new cultures, this province of Málaga offers plenty of activities to keep up with your 2025 resolutions. Need some convincing?
Daily
Jan 14, 2025First NH-Branded Hotel Debuts in Bangkok
Minor Hotels, in partnership with Boulevard Hotel Company Limited, opens NH Bangkok Sukhumvit Boulevard hotel, the first NH Hotels & Resorts-branded property in Thailand’s capital.
Sponsored Content
Madrid: The Charm of an Authentic City
They say Madrid is in vogue for many reasons: its lifestyle, its heritage, its cuisine and all of its new attractions. And it’s true, because Madrid is on the radar of travelers looking for a cutting-edge destination that still holds onto its essence. Join us as we explore its charms.
Daily
Jan 13, 2025Nader Sculpture Park Opens in Miami’s Design District
The latest addition to Miami Design District is Nader Sculpture Park. Founded by art collector Gary Nader and designed by Bea Pernia of BEA Interiors Design, this park is an open- air collection of more than 50 large-scale sculptures residing within Miami’s celebrated neighborhood of fashion, design, art, architecture and dining. Pernia, distinguished by her knack for blending organic materials into expressions of elegance, also has a studio in the city’s design district.
7 Reasons to Ski in Slovenia
Daily
Jan 10, 20257 Off-the-Beaten-Path Asian Hotels
Daily
Jan 10, 2025Daily
Jan 9, 2025New Spier Hotel Launches This Spring in South Africa’s Western Cape
Lauded for its outstanding wines and regenerative farming practices, Spier Wine Farm in South Africa’s Western Cape region prepares to welcome its first guests to its new hotel this spring, with an opening planned for March. Owned by the Enthoven family, the wine estate is located within a protected area known as Cape Floral Kingdom.
Sponsored Content
Extraordinary Egypt
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS
Daily
Jan 9, 20255 Wellness Journeys to Try at COMO Hotels & Resorts This Year
Jumpstart your 2025 wellness goals and book one (or more!) of COMO Hotels and Resorts’ COMO Wellness Journeys, held at properties around the world throughout 2025.
ShareThis