Icing sugar white sand, whispering coconut palms and cobalt seas; the unhurried and unspoilt atolls of the Maldives are pretty hard to beat. Yet, dig a little deeper and you soon find an abundance of choice; from dhoni suites to tree houses, stylish homes to luxury yachts. Whether you’re looking for refined luxury, kick-off-your-shoes escapism, or a family-friendly wonderland, the world’s leading hotel brands here oblige magnificently.
Some resorts are polished, others more rustic; you can choose a big island resort with plenty of activity or a small, intimate hideaway for a total retreat. Here, we pick out the best to help you decide...
A-list fitness | Only&Only Reethi Rah
The Bodyism philosophy is the brainchild of James Duigan, personal trainer and nutritionist for film stars, models and socialites including Elle Macpherson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lara Stone and Hugh Grant. With its beautiful setting, One&Only Reethi Rah was the first Bodyism retreat overseas offering personalised fitness plans and Clean & Lean dishes created by the health guru and a team of expert chefs.
Destination wedding | Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
For a wedding in blissful seclusion, head to the wild natural beauty of the remote Baa Atoll. Accessible only by boat, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru has unveiled a new overwater chapel-like pavilion. With floor-to-ceiling glass doors, it gives the impression of floating atop the water and a glass aisle looks down into the ocean below.
Nature’s playground | PER AQUUM Niyama
PER AQUUM Niyama brings us modern luxe indulgencies including everything from Subsix, the ground breaking underwater restaurant and music lounge, to little touches like complimentary in-room popcorn machines and ice cream for movie nights in. Made up of two distinct islands, ‘Play’ is heavily family-orientated offering treetop dining at Nest and the only children’s club in the Maldives accepting children less than three years of age, whilst ‘Chill’ has the soothing LIME Spa and fine dining at Edge, set half a kilometre out in the ocean.
Gourmet glee | Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
The world’s first all-glass underwater restaurant and one of the widest choices of dining options compared to any other resort in the Maldives are reason enough for foodie’s to stay here. Yet Conrad goes further with the country’s first underground wine-cellar holding an impressive 20,000 bottles, whilst the cheese and wine bar is stocked with 101 of the best cheeses from around the globe, hand-picked by the resort’s Maître de Fromage.
Romantic retreat | Baros Maldives
It takes just ten minutes to circle around this small reef-fringed exclusive island. No noisy motorised watersports, or disturbances from young children – tranquillity, seclusion and relaxation are the order of every day here at Baros Maldives. One of the friendliest of the resort islands, attentive staff will go out of their way to create unique and personalised experiences for you – from setting up a private sandbank picnic or a sunrise yoga session on the piano deck in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Maldivian trailblazer | Huvafen Fushi
Constantly pushing the boundaries in delivering the ultimate guest experiences, it’s no surprise that Huvafen Fushi appeals to the likes of George Clooney and Kate Moss. We love the endless list of high-tech gadgets and gizmos – twinkling fibre optic-lit infinity pools, a curated selection of music already installed on an iPod with Bose speakers in the bedroom, bathroom and on the deck and pre-programmed mood lighting, to name just a few. Elsewhere, it brings us the world’s first underwater spa, and collaborations with celebrated musicians, artists and chefs for a host of events throughout the year.
Overwater living | Gili Lankanfushi
The epitome of barefoot chic, each of Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 villas stands above water. The ‘no shoes, no news’ philosophy makes you feel marooned in paradise, with your Mr Friday (a personal assistant named after Robinson Crusoe’s loyal friend) on hand to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Carrier tip: seek out the underground Chocolate Cave for hand-made chocolates whenever you wish.
Eco-friendly credentials | Six Senses Laamu
This year marks five years since organic and sustainable Six Senses Laamu hit the scene (and completely won us over). An extra flight is needed to get to this remote location, but once you get there you’ll be rewarded with feeling wonderfully close to nature – stretches of beachfront lay completely untouched, kaleidoscopic reef and crystal clear waters make this a diver’s paradise and an unspoilt night sky twinkles with a million stars each night.
For over 30 years, Carrier has designed tailor-made holidays around the world and has firmly established a reputation as one of the leaders in the luxury travel market. Working with a curated collection of tried and tested luxury resorts, iconic hotels, boutique boltholes and quirky hideaways, the portfolio is as diverse as it is exclusive.
