1. Velaa Private Island
Velaa Private Island is the life’s work of entrepreneur Jiri Smejc, who fell in love with the Maldives after countless visits and created his ultimate resort. Highlights include Tavaru Tower a tall, ivory-white structure housing a teppanyaki restaurant and a vast wine cellar, and a fleet of vessels that includes a submarine, traditional Maldivian Bahtheli boats and a private yacht that can be charterd for day or overnight trips. Lap up the luxe at Cru Champagne Lounge or practice your short game at the Velaa Golf Academy by Olazabal, complete with 170 metres of greens. To end the day, indulge in the My Blend spa by Clarins.
2. Maalfushi by COMO
To really escape it all, Maalfushi by COMO promises extreme escapism with more than a hint of wellbeing. COMO is synonymous with wellness and Maalfushi doesn’t disappoint, featuring a COMO Shambhala Retreat, yoga sessions and in-house holistic health experts. Designed by Japanese architect Koichiro Ikebuchi, the resort is understated, built from natural materials including New Zealand pine with Kajan thatched roofs on the 66 villas, which boast inside/outside living spaces to help guests stay in touch with nature. Divers will love the remote Thaa Atoll, which is rich in marine life, including whaleshark, hammerhead and manta rays.
3. One&Only Reethi Rah
Sprawling across one of the largest islands in the Maldives, One&Only Reethi Rah is a tropical paradise dotted with private coves and white beaches. The abundance of space is put to good use in the new three-bedroom Grand Sunset Residence, which has a 50-square-metre pool and lots of outdoor space including 2,000 metres of private beachfront. There’s a private chef, 24-hour villa host and two golf buggies for guests to use. Other highlights include The Artist Studio, with classes on everything from scrapbook making to Venetian mask decoration, and excursions on an Ambassador 55 yacht or a traditional sailing dhoni.
4. Viceroy Maldives
You’ll find this hideaway in the Shaviyani Atoll, 192 kilometres from Malé. While the journey may seem a little long, your efforts are surely rewarded: 6.9 hectares of palm tree-adorned island encircling a postcard-perfect lagoon await. Such seclusion makes for the ideal break to concentrate on your health and wellbeing. Spend your stay enjoying personalised spa treatments at the overwater spa, relaxed yoga sessions or energising exercise routines under the guidance of a personal trainer, floating in the private pool of your villa or gently kayaking across the calm lagoon. There are five dining venues where you can refuel, or you can choose to enjoy fresh cuisine in the privacy of your villa.
www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
5. Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
Park Hyatt’s contemporary design has been transported to the Indian Ocean at Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, where the design aesthetic allows the natural beauty of the island do the talking. Just 50 villas are nestled on the island and above the lagoon, which is 55 kilometres above the equator, each with lots of wood, glass and whitewashed walls. When lounging around all becomes too much, the Vidhun Spa has a range of Maldivian treatments and rituals to soothe body and mind, set in a private spa village with tropical garden and an infinity pool. Yoga classes are available in the privacy of your villa or at the end
of the jetty, surrounded by the ocean.
6. Baros Maldives
At the heart of Maldivian cuisine you’ll find any combination of the following: coconut, spice and seafood. Baros, a short speedboat ride from Malé, is one of the oldest resorts in the Maldives, and is steeped in preserving island tradition. A week is plenty of time to stay and sample the cuisine from the resort’s five restaurants and bars, which all celebrate the culinary diversity of the region. Try fresh tuna or tiger prawns smothered in herbs and spices at The Lighthouse Restaurant or go for Asian-influenced cuisine with lagoon views at Lime. For the ultimate dining experience, guests can also book intimate dinners on a nearby sandbank or at a neighbouring uninhabited island.
7. Vivanta by Taj, Coral Reef
Sunning yourself poolside, cocktail in hand, sounds like the ideal way to spend a holiday in the Maldives, which is why few visitors venture too far from their sun loungers. But at Vivanta by Taj, guests are given plenty of opportunities to explore the North Male Atoll. Twice a week, you can hop on a speedboat to spend an afternoon soaking up the atmosphere of Malé, home to the 400-year-old Grand Friday Mosque and buzzing markets. For a taste of rustic Maldivian life, the resort also offers excursions to the island of Hembadhu, where you can tour the fishing village and wander around fruit trees and coconut groves.
8. W Retreat & Spa Maldives
The W Hotels brand is synonymous with fresh, funky design, so naturally this resort comes with an element of spunk. Sure, you could kick back in your beachside retreat or overwater villa, but with six restaurants and lounges dotted around, the overwhelming urge to socialise takes hold. The resort gives the North Ari Atoll another claim to fame, being home to 15 Below, the only underground nightclub in the Maldives. There, tunes are mixed by the resort’s resident DJ and the cocktail menu is as colourful as the local marine life. Luckily there’s a pristine stretch of beach waiting for you the morning after.
9. Niyama Maldives
And now for something completely different: Niyama is a modern, stylish Maldives resort that will instantly appeal to a younger, affluent clientele for whom lounging around and doing nothing is not an option. Not for long, anyway. Everything here is done with a twist: villas come with telescopes, swinging chairs and electric guitars; there’s an underwater club; the FLOAT dive centre has nippy catamarans to sail on; and the best snorkelling happens at night, when the reef comes alive. Part of the creative Per Aquum Group, Niyama will host a “Phantasy Fairytale” underwater art exhibition by artist Andreas Franke from March.
10. Dusit Thani Maldives
Located near Hanifaru Huraa, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve renowned for its impressive manta rays and whale sharks, Dusit Thani Maldives is perfect for island-hoppers seeking an active escape. With its very own dive centre on-site, nature-loving guests can take part in the resort’s marine biologist conservation programme or enjoy a host of water sports, ranging from catamaran sailing to kayaking. After an exhausting day of adventure, the hotel’s signature Devarana Spa offers the perfect relaxing retreat.
www.dusit.com
