We remember the days when we used to dream about the places that we visit now. The Maldives encapsulates everything dreamy about a tropical paradise and there really are no words to describe the true beauty of the 26 ring shaped atolls that many view as a fantasy land. Well in the Maldives, reality is wrong and dreams are for real.
Arriving into Male to blue smooth skies and sunshine, we made the seemingly effortless transition from the arrival hall to the island of Kuramathi which lies gracefully just a 1 hour speedboat transfer to the North Ari Atoll. As the boat slowed and we dropped anchor, there was an air of excitement as we eyed the cyan seas and stretches of sand draped with overhanging palms.
Turning onto the wooden decking we were greeted with over water villas bridging each side of the ocean, each villa standing tall and proud against the backdrop of paradise. We quickly realised, there’s paradise, then there’s The Maldives!
We wasted no time in allowing the Maldivian air to fill the bedroom and were quick to peruse the large, decked balcony. The color of the ocean in the Maldives is like nothing we have laid eyes on before. Those picture perfect postcard images you see of the Maldives? It’s that and so much more! An effervescent myriad of multi tonal blues and salt sparkling on the surface. Without hesitation, we scaled the balcony and lapped up the essence of the elements.
Rising early, we drank coffee on our private balcony and eyed black tip sharks circling the reef. Indeed every morning offered a spectacle of oceanic movement and this frequent display of sharks, stingrays and turtles became somewhat of our morning ritual. Colorful coral cascades into the abyss as schooling sergeant major’s danced alongside us. Three reef sharks could be viewed weaving in and out of the deep and a curious eagle ray joined the party as he treated us to several up close and personal performances. We returned to the island as salty souls once more.
As the sun fell, we made our way to the northern tip of the island, which as if architecturally designed by the Gods, features a sensational snaking sandbar that slopes into the depths of the Indian Ocean. This was the perfect place to draw breath and relax to the sound of the dissipating shore, the ocean villas cast merely as a silhouette as the sun buried itself beneath the horizon.
No sooner had we arrived back into Male after our first few days on the largest island in the Maldives, we were stepping onto the smart furnishings of the Velassaru speed boat, dancing across the azure blue seas eyeing the flying fish that skipped alongside our boat. Twenty minutes into our journey we caught our first glimpse of Velassaru, set on its own private isle and famed for its beautiful over water villas that stand proudly against the backdrop of the unprecedented lagoon. A true haven for those looking for the ultimate luxury island escape.
Opening the door to wooden aromas of our water villa, a fine selection of tapas and the perfect champagne accompaniment welcomed us. We could have lapped up the sun and gazed at the marble blue covered reef from the privacy of our private balcony for days.
We spent sunshine days lapping up the days rays and enjoying the tranquil surroundings of the tropical green flora and fauna that was a manicured garden paradise circumferencing the island. One particular highlight of the islet is the infinity pool that seemingly sits in the chalky sands. It is quite something to take a dip in the warm waters and gaze out over a slither of white sand and peppermint striped blues.
As if our first week in The Maldives wasn’t enough to relax and rejuvenate, the Velassaru spa was waiting in the wings with its feather light soundscapes, crisp surroundings and invigorating treatments. The paradisiacal hydropool which drapes over the cobalt lagoon was special. The view is staggering as you watch the sea salt sparkling on the surface which will leave you gawking for as far as the eye can see.
If you are lucky, you will catch a glimpse of eagle rays, reef sharks and stingray perusing the waters, a sight to behold as you sit back and enjoy the infinite blues.
Each meal was spent alfresco to the sounds of the gentle waves caressing the shore, reminding us of the paradise we were inhabiting. There is something special about the atmosphere of these neatly spherical islets and enjoying the Maldivian air of the open air Sands restaurant, provided a theater of unspoiled panoramas
Sun, sand and seaplanes, this is the spirit of the Maldives and we were about to experience this all for ourselves heading to the sensational southern Atolls with Angsana Velavaru.
Sun sparkling off the wing, the beaming crew, sunglasses to match, kindly assisted us with our luggage as they welcomed us aboard. Taking front row seats up top with the pilots, we got our camera ready as we zipped off the sea and effortlessly gained altitude. Soon we were eyeing the marvels of the Maldives surrounded by salty sparkling seas. For just under an hour we admired the beauty of the Maldives from the skies, laying eyes on the tiny islets that make these 26 ring shaped atolls some of the most sought after locations on the planet. It was then our captain pointed into the distance, Angsana Velavaru!
As the chalky whites of the island sands came into view, we spotted the beach villas dotted around the islet, housed amongst the leafy lush palms which were to be our home for the next few nights.
We wasted no time in checking out our private piece of paradisaical beach that lay just meters from our ring shaped hut that opens onto a large wooden veranda complete with cosy loungers, should we not care to venture too far to the oceanfront. But boy was it worth wading our toes through the powder to the seafront. The scope of blues that inhabit the Velavaru reef are simply breath-taking. In all of our travels we will be hard pushed to beat these multi tonal blues that weave in and out of the sloping sandbank.
We spent our days in between the lawns of our villa and the beach, dipping into the pool just as the salt had started to bake on our bodies. It was as if we had the whole place to ourselves as we drank in the aura of the island, not another person in sight with only the swaying of the palms and the dissipating shoreline for company. We walked the circumference of the private island picking a slice of heaven to get lost on and lapped up the rays on the beach, dipping into the warm, creamy calm waters of the Indian Ocean from all sides of the island!
One of our favorite activities before dinner was spotting the stingrays. These gracious creatures would glide through the ocean to the beach for an up and close performance and if you were lucky enough, you could also spot them while snorkeling the reef too.
By this point we had spent just over a month marveling at the Maldives, snaking our way down to the Southern Atolls. Our final destination was the most southerly resort in the whole of the Maldives, Park Hyatt, lying in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll.
We were being hosted in the Park Pool Villa which oozed luxury throughout. Nestled between the jungle greens of the Hadahaa private island, we drank in the tropical greenery from the privacy of our plunge pool before soaking up the sun just a handful of barefoot steps away from our villa.
Park Hyatt was the ultimate private island escape to end our time in the Maldives. Immersing ourselves in unrivalled bliss on one of the most beautiful atolls of the prestigious Maldives, Park Hyatt nurtured our experience with enticing wining and dining venues, accommodation to nurse and encounters to remember.
Offering up an extraordinary exclusive escape, The Maldives has something for everyone. From James Bond style speedboat and sea plane entrances, sensational silky seas, blue lagoons that leave you speechless both above and below the salty surface, we were treated to World class facilities and treatment throughout our stays with our partners, set amongst the natural beauty of private isles and jaw dropping, sandbank sloping reefs. We were looking for a slice of heaven to get lost on, sun on our faces, sand on our feet and salt in our hair. We certainly found it in The Maldives.
Plan How To Marvel At The Maldives...
Kuramathi Island Resort
Instagram | @kuramathiisland
Facebook | Kuramathi Island Resort
Velassaru Maldives
Instagram | @velassarumaldives
Facebook | Velassaru Maldives
Angsana Velavaru
Instagram | @angsanavelavaruofficial
Facebook | Angsana Velavaru
Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives
Instagram | @hadahaa
Facebook | Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa