Having established an air bubble with India, the Maldives is within reach again. With privacy and personalised service hardwired in their ethos, the luxury island resorts of the archipelago offer the perfect antidote to lockdown blues. By Rashima Nagpal & Sushmita SrivastavAdventure
INDULGE YOUR CRAVING FOR THE OUTDOORS WITH RESORTS AND PACKAGES THAT ALLOW YOU TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE MALDIVIAN BLUES.
MARINE LIFE AT YOUR DOORSTEP
The best of Maldives package at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is ideal for a taste of adventure and to experience three of the resort’s most loved offerings—snorkelling with manta rays, stargazing from an overwater observatory, and a feast at SEA, the world’s first underwater restaurant and wine cellar. The offer includes complimentary daily breakfast, and dinner at any of the resort’s three restaurants during your stay. Located on the Kihavah Huravalhi Island in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the state-of-the-art resort offers accommodation in 80 private villas and residences. Choose from a beachfront oasis or an overwater pool villa, and hit the ocean at your leisure with complimentary snorkelling gear. From INR 6,54,645 for a minimum of six nights, valid until October 31, 2021.
A COMPLETE PACKAGE OF THRILLS
If all the exciting possibilities in the Maldives have left you confused, look no further than the all-inclusive VARU Plan. Tailor-made for guests staying at VARU by Atmosphere, it covers a luxurious tropical stay, complete with exclusive fine dining, premium spirits and beverages, and impeccable service, along with ample activities for the adventurous at heart. You get up to two snorkelling excursions every day, complimentary use of non-motorised water-sports gear such as windsurf board and sail, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard throughout the stay, complete access to the sports and recreation centre featuring a fully equipped gymnasium, tennis court, facilities for badminton, beach volleyball, and more. If you’re a PADIcertified scuba diver, you enjoy a 20 per cent discount on the first two regular dives. From INR 45,851 per night.
CUSTOMISE YOUR ADVENTURE
Located on the lesser explored Gaafu Alifu Atoll, The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah offers tropical adventures away from the motorboat crowd. With 173 minimalistic villas that come with a private pool each, the resort is spread across the two-kilometre-long Dhigurah Island. The atoll is home to over 1,200 species of corals and 2,000 species of fauna, and the property lets you make the most of this natural wealth with activities such as fishing trips, night snorkelling, fluorescent night diving, an underwater photography course, and island expeditions. Customise your itinerary as you avail the resort’s Vouchers That Let You Save More; for instance, a voucher worth USD 500 (INR 37,275) gets you 10 per cent extra credit and can be redeemed against accommodation, F&B, recreational activities, and spa treatments. Vouchers valid till October 31, 2021.
Family
PACK YOUR BAGS AND TAKE YOUR LOVED ONES FOR AN OVERDUE VACATION AT ONE OF THE BEST ALL-ENCOMPASSING RESORTS IN THE MALDIVES.
ALL YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS
If you’re travelling with the family in tow, Fairmont Maldives has you covered. The Family Escape Package for two adults and two kids below 12 (applicable on a minimum four-night booking) offers complimentary buffet breakfasts and dinners, cooking classes for the whole family, a 120-minute sunset dolphin cruise, and a 120-minute fishing trip on a traditional dhoni, along with 10 per cent discount on motorised water sports and diving/snorkelling, 20 per cent discount on spa treatments, complimentary recreational activities at Art Studio, complimentary non-motorised water activities and kids amenities, and complimentary Ocean Discovery Program by expert marine biologists! Moreover, their babysitting service ensures you can have some quality time with your partner on the trip. From INR 78,960 per night; valid till December 30, 2020.
RENEW YOUR BONDS IN PARADISE
Located in the tranquil Raa Atoll, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is the ideal choice for a laid-back getaway with your family. Featuring 81 beach, lagoon, and overwater villas and residences that seamlessly blend with their natural surroundings, the resort has a setting for everyone. The Family Get Together Package gives you an added bonus of a complimentary night when you book a minimum of three consecutive nights. Moreover, the all-day Club InterContinental experience for the entire family includes benefits like breakfasts at The Retreat, afternoon tea at The Collective, evening digestifs by the pool, and refreshments throughout the stay. From INR 70,444 per night, the package can be availed until March 31, 2021 for bookings till September 30, 2021.
THE KIDS WILL BE ALRIGHT
Kandima Maldives gives you more than one reason to book a family holiday. A dedicated kids club called Kandiland promises fun activities under the guidance of certified caretakers (for kids aged four to 12 years); Kula Art Studio allows for craft sessions with your little ones; and Aquaholic offers marine activities for you and your kids. If you’ve been a frontline worker during the pandemic and are travelling with up to two kids below six years of age, the resort offers an exclusive Work Hard, Play Hard deal, which features discounts on meals and spa treatments, complimentary sports and recreational activities, weekly beach games and more, to unwind. The package starts from INR 14,500 per night; valid till December 23, 2020.
Wellness
THE PRISTINE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE ARCHIPELAGO IS THE IDEAL SETTING FOR REJUVENATION OF MIND AND BODY.
AN ISLAND FAR, FAR AWAY
The only luxury retreat in Thaa Atoll, COMO Maalifushi offers the opportunity to do very little while living the ultimate castaway fantasy. But it is the resort’s spa offerings that draw wellness seekers from around the globe. Their Discover COMO Shambhala package is all about enjoying daily 60-minute body or facial treatments, one of the signature COMO Shambhala massages, foot reflexology sessions, the Guinot Aromatic Facial, and private yoga sessions at their award-winning wellness sanctuary. Spend your days relaxing on a massage bed or in an oversized bathtub of a spa suite, sipping on therapeutic juices, and feasting your eyes on the limpid waters. The package also offers a 10 per cent discount on any additional spa treatments during your stay. From INR 1,23,132 per person per night.
JOURNEY INTO YOURSELF
Relax, reset, and rediscover yourself at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru in Baa Atoll. The Spa & Ayurvedic Retreat and Yoga Therapy Centre combine medically accredited therapies with ancient holistic sciences. Their Om Supti Night Spa treatment involves an outdoor shower in the woods, followed by a night massage ritual on a swinging bed. On the other hand, the all-inclusive Ayurvedic Immersion leads you on a path to ultimate wellness through Ayurveda. You could also try Spa Escapade, which requires a minimum stay of four nights and includes 120-minute-long Ayurvedic rituals, facial massages, daily breakfast, and airport transfers for two in a seaplane. Om Supti Night Spa starts from INR 58,680 for a couple’s massage, Spa Escapade package starts from INR 1,63,927 per person per night.
HOLISTIC HEALING
Expect eco-friendly ethos to define your wellness journey at Gili Lankanfushi Maldives. With six treatment rooms, an Ayurveda centre, steam and sauna, and an open-air relaxation space, the resort’s Meera Spa sits in a secluded bay, sprawling across languid waters and offering sweeping ocean views. Take the five-day Meera Detox Retreat to make unique treatments, like an aromatic body scrub, shirodhara, reiki, Tibetan singing bowl, and hijama cupping therapy, part of your daily routine. The Book Direct Exclusive Package lets you indulge in daily yoga sessions at dawn, complimentary sauna at the spa, non-motorised water sports, complimentary gourmet breakfast and dinner, and a Sunset Cocktail Party every Wednesday. It also offers exclusive savings of 20 to 30 per cent. The resort has introduced the Gili Cares Plan, designed in compliance with official COVID-19 guidelines, to ensure a safe and healthy stay. The Book Direct Exclusive Package starts from INR 90,911 per villa per night, valid through 2021.
Romance
MESMERISINGLY CLEAR WATERS, WHITE SAND BEACHES, AND PALMS SWAYING ON SECLUDED ISLANDS. THE LOVE STORY WRITES ITSELF HERE.
END THE YEAR RIGHT
Leave the world behind to savour the secluded delights of Shaviyani Atoll at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa. Complete privacy, unforgettable moments, and grand celebrations can mark the year’s end for you and your significant other with the resort’s Festive Season Offer. It promises four-night luxury accommodation, daily gourmet breakfast, and up to 30 per cent discount on gala dinners on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Taking it a notch higher are curated experiences for two, like a relaxing couple’s massage, dreamy bed decoration and bath ritual preparation, and sundowner cocktails at Rum Baan followed by a romantic BBQ dinner on the beach. You also take back home a special departure gift, along with memories of a lifetime, of course. From INR 1,82,120 per night for two people, valid till January 2, 2021.
A FAIRY TALE
Lock your hands and walk barefoot on the soft sand. Let conversations flow on a private picnic, set up on a secluded sandbank. Watch the Maldivian sun kiss the waters on a cruise. Milaidhoo Island Maldives knows how to make a trip special for couples. A Love Story is a curatedpackage that begins with two champagne flutes and personalised welcome gifts upon arrival and ends with gourmet in-villa turndown service every night. In between, there are private champagne breakfasts on deck, romantic bath setups, sunset cruises on a dhoni, picnic brunches, and a special dinner date on the beach. A dedicated 24-hour island host service, paired with non-motorised water sports, will make sure there’s never a dull moment. From INR 1,96,146 per night, valid up to October 31, 2021.
PRIVATE SHORES FOR TWO
Seaside Finolhu Maldives is known for its attention to detail. Pick their Ultimate Romance experience, and a dedicated team will curate every experience to perfection—from a candlelit dinner under the starry night to romantic bed decoration, champagne, and assorted chocolates. Moreover, the one-of-its-kind Finolhu Beach Bubble can be booked for their one-night-only ‘Dream Eclipse’ experience. Located at a secluded spot on the resort’s sandpit, the dome-shaped transparent accommodation brings you two closer to the stars, and each other, and features all the comforts of a luxurious suite. Enjoy a private BBQ dinner, gaze at the surreal night sky, and wake up to breakfast on the beach with an ethereal Maldivian sunrise. The Ultimate Romance package costs INR 41,222 per night, while the Beach Bubble experience starts from INR 51,998.
