Lusso - Swimming with possibilities at LUX* South Ari Atoll

By Sophie Wormald

Autumn might not be the first months that spring to mind for the Maldives, which is exactly why we wanted to get reacquainted with LUX* South Ari Atoll at this time of year.

Yes, tropical showers can be part of the picture. But so are warm, sheltered waters on the lagoon and overwater-villa side of the island, whale-shark encounters, long lunches on the sand, floating yoga and an island with 193 villas, eight restaurants and enough going on to give guests options when the weather changes.

And according to the team there, these months can work especially well for curious couples, families and multi-generational groups who want more from their Maldives holiday than a sunlounger and a good book.

Start with South Ari’s toothiest resident

Whale sharks are a big part of the LUX* South Ari Atoll story, and Autumn falls when guests are hoping to see them.

The hotel reports particularly strong numbers across the wider South Ari Marine Protected Area between August and November. Its Whale Shark Discovery Tour takes guests out aboard a traditional dhoni with the resident marine biologist, learning about the sharks and surrounding marine ecosystem along the way. If there’s a sighting, there may be a chance to get into the water and snorkel alongside them.

The team recommends keeping the day flexible during Autumn. Conditions can be checked once guests are on the island and, if a tropical shower changes plans, the excursion can potentially move to another day.

“When the conditions are right, the ocean becomes the main event”

ANDREA HIND, Head of Sales and Marketing for the UK and Ireland, The Lux* Collective

Meet the marine biologist

The whale sharks might get top billing, but they’re not the end of the marine story here. LUX* South Ari Atoll has its own Marine Biology Centre, with the resident marine biologist on hand to share more about what lives in the waters around the island.

Guests might meet them on the Whale Shark Discovery Tour, then find themselves wanting to know more about what they’ve seen while swimming, snorkelling or diving. There are marine-life experiences to join during a stay too, including coral planting.

A Maldives island that keeps families busy

A multi-generational holiday doesn’t mean everyone has to spend the day together. At LUX* South Ari Atoll, children have dedicated programmes, while snorkelling, cycling, watersports and family movie nights are there when everyone fancies the same thing.

Adults can head off diving, book time at LUX* ME Spa or try floating yoga and meditation, with private dining for an evening together. That gives grandparents, parents, teenagers and younger children room to have quite different holidays on the same island.

And with 193 villas, our Indian Ocean team has options to talk through when there are more generations, ages and room requirements involved.

Ask the hotel where they’d eat

The LUX* South Ari Atoll team gave us three names for Autumn, starting with Senses. It sits beside the infinity pool and ocean, serving fish, grilled seafood and Indian Ocean-inspired curries, and on an evening when the tables are outside, dinner comes with stars overhead.

Lunch can be right on the sand at Beach Rouge, where wood-fired pizzas, grilled seafood and Mediterranean dishes come with a view across the lagoon. And should a tropical shower interrupt proceedings, the coffee beans at Café LUX* are roasted here on the island, with pour-over, cold brew and Nitro all on the menu.

“The LUX* island vibe is infectious and enigmatic.”

Repeat-guest feedback shared by LUX* South Ari Atoll

More LUX* from Lusso

Keep LUX* South Ari Atoll in mind for the next Maldives enquiry, and keep our Indian Ocean specialists close too. They can help with the details that depend on who you’re booking for, from finding the right villa to family requirements and experiences to arrange ahead.

For more inspiration, browse our Indian Ocean brochure, read our latest stories or take another look at LUX* South Ari Atoll.