Joanna James
The Maldives is a dream destination that's perfect for a retreat with that special someone, magical honeymoon or family getaway. Part of the holiday experience is to stay at private island resorts like those mentioned below, which give you a chance to experience the best the country has to offer.
Located in the Raa Atoll and around a 40-minute seaplane journey from Male, Dhigali Maldives provides an enchanting escape to get away from it all. You have the option of staying at overwater bungalows above a lagoon or villas by the shore. Diverse dining options with local and international favourites await, while the Dhigali Spa offers an array of wellness treatments as well as yoga and meditation. There's a kids' club here along with a PADI dive centre, lots of snorkelling adventures, water sports, sunset cruises, fishing trips and more.
Only 25 minutes by speedboat from Male, the island sanctuary that is Velassaru Maldives provides an ideal headway in the Indian Ocean. You can stay at a charming beach or overwater villa, some featuring their own pools. When at this luxury hotel, Maldives wellness experiences can be enjoyed at overwater treatment pavilions and sunset yoga is on offer too. Culinary discoveries await at five dining venues, while you can also snorkel with manta rays, make use of the dive centre with PADI courses, try various water sports, go dolphin watching and celebrate a beach wedding.
The country's first private island resort, Kurumba Maldives is in the North Male Atoll; a 10-minute speedboat ride from Male, the resort offers beach villa and bungalow options in which to begin and end your day by the shore. The Veli Spa features a variety of soothing wellness therapies, while diverse dining options, nightly entertainment, kids' and teens' clubs, meeting venues and a shisha lounge are to be found here too. Guests also have access to complimentary snorkelling lessons, PADI dive courses, jet-ski tours, glass-bottom boat excursions and big game fishing.
The North Ari Atoll is where you will find Kandolhu Maldives which can be reached by seaplane from Male in around 25 minutes. The 30 villas at the resort are either built over the water overlooking the ocean or are right beside the beach. If it's an adventure you are after, you can embark on snorkelling safaris, explore nearby dive sites, go on sunset cruises or visit a deserted island. For a wellness experience, the Varu Spa features more than 20 treatments to choose from, while intimate dining venues including beachside settings are on offer too.
From Male, it takes just a 30-minute speedboat ride to get to Huvafen Fushi Maldives in the North Male Atoll. The bungalows here provide direct access to the beach or lagoon waters and some have plunge pools too. Amongst the highlights is its unique underwater spa and the nation's first underground wine cellar. Dining is on offer at resort restaurants, a lovely sandbank or aboard a dhoni, while overnight cruises, snorkelling trips, diving excursions, complimentary water sports and chartered private yacht journeys can be enjoyed as well.
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