The Maldives is one of those rare places that actually looks as good in real life as it does in pictures. The sea really is that blue. The sand really is that white. Those explosions of rainbow-coloured fish are not edited and the resplendent sunsets need no filter whatsoever.
The Maldives really does look like the pictures...turquoise water, white sand and vivid marine life that’s as real as it is unforgettable.
Popular with couples, but not just for honeymooners and many resorts cater just as well to families with villas, kids’ clubs and water sports.
Baa Atoll is a standout for wildlife, especially during manta ray season, when hundreds gather in the UNESCO-protected waters.
Seaplane and boat transfers double as scenic flights, offering views of atolls and reefs that are often a highlight in their own right.
Many resorts now lead on sustainability, with marine biologists, coral nurseries and reef restoration projects part of daily operations.
While it’s undeniably popular with honeymooners, the Maldives in fact offers something for everyone. It can be both a place of guilt-free extravagance and quiet contemplation. It will tick all the boxes for couples, but also makes for a fun family getaway, with spacious villas providing plenty of room, thrilling watersports and amazing kids’ clubs. It is also home to some of the most dazzling marine life on the planet, especially in spots like the beautiful Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where giant manta rays gather in their hundreds to feed on microscopic plankton.
Thankfully, more and more resorts recognise the need to protect these precious ecosystems, with many running reef restoration programmes, employing resident marine biologists and carrying out vital research as part of increasingly comprehensive sustainability programmes.
The resorts we work with are among the best in the country. Some are reached by speedboat from the main island Male, while others are accessed by seaplane or domestic flight transfers. Far from an inconvenience, these breathtaking flights are often a highlight of the holiday, providing a bird’s-eye view of the Maldives’ watery wonderland.
The Maldives benefit from all year round sunshine, however the best time to visit is between January and April, when the days are drier with very little wind. The south east monsoon tends to bring more wind and rain in the summer months.
With two kilometres of powdery beaches extending across four islands, Finolhu – which means ‘sandbank’ in the local language – is a pristine, all-inclusive island playground that offers couples and families the chance to be as restful or as active as they like.
This exclusive private-island resort is located in the Raa Atoll, a 35-minute seaplane transfer from Malé and right next to the Baa Atoll, a biodiversity hotspot and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
A pristine hideaway in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru is an unspoiled wilderness flanked by a two-kilometre lagoon and wide ribbons of white sand.
Gently rising from a sheet of turquoise, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa ticks all the boxes of a fantasy island – rooms with private pools either over the lagoon or with direct beach access, great diving and snorkelling, plus private dining in romantic locations.
Beloved by honeymooners, families and A-listers alike, One&Only Reethi Rah is a palm-fringed idyll in the North Malé Atoll, just 40 minutes by speedboat from Malé, offering elegant villas, world-class facilities and luxury living at its tropical best.
Lying in a marine protected area just 25 minutes by seaplane from Malé, LUX* South Ari Atoll is perfect for water lovers, with no fewer than 50 dive sites and whale sharks spotted year-round.