Top Five Maldivian Escapes For Your Next Vacation

The perfect list for your next vacation in the Maldives, featuring some of the best Maldivian escapes for 2021.

Best for Wellbeing:
NEW Wellbeing Programmes at COMO Cocoa Island 

A third of the private island is now occupied by the COMO Shambhala Retreat, which was re-designed to give guests more space and time to invest in their personal wellbeing. A new Pilates Studio and open-sided yoga pavilion (with striking views of the lagoon) accompany one of the only hydrotherapy pools in the Maldives.

Targeting travellers whose posture has suffered from months of home working, new Body Screening sessions analyse a guests’ unique physiology to develop a bespoke programme to alleviate poor posture and ease pain. In the new 90-minute sessions, a body alignment expert assesses the full physique, using a printed body chart to target problem areas. This isn’t a quick fix, and the routines – from alignment-focused Pilates to gentle exercises and therapy balls – are habits to be incorporated into daily life, long after leaving the resort. Wellness-enthused travellers can also try new Hydrotherapy treatments, from a joint mobilising massage to personalised hydrotherapy circuits, proven to increase circulation, relax muscles and ease pain. Rooms start from £505pn based on two people sharing (Here)

Perfect For Adventure
NEW Diving and Surfing Experiences at COMO Maalifushi 

COMO Maalifushi is surrounded by a bustling house reef and, after months of silence, the coral and its underwater residents are thriving. Thanks to the remote location of the island, guests often have entire dive sites to themselves – spotting green turtles, parrot fish, octopus, and even reef shark. Qualified divers can explore the underwater world with the new Maalifushi dive experience: an opportunity to enjoy 20 dives, each at the heart of COMO Maalifushi’s revitalised ecosystem. For beginners, there are scuba diving courses, PADI Open Water courses, and snorkelling the reefs with the resident marine biologist. 

Seasoned water babies can even try their hand at surfing at the TropicSurf school; the COMO Maalifushi Surf Pass offers an expedition to the finest breaks and best-kept secrets of the region, surfing at three secluded atolls – the ‘Surf Machines’ at Laamu, ‘Farms’ at Thaa and ‘Kasabu’ at Dhaalu. Guests can learn from scratch or simply brush up on their board skills with a seasoned guide. Adventurous travellers can also kayak, paddle board or windsurf, before taking the ultimate splash net dolphin cruise in search of pods migrating through the Thaa Atoll. Starts from £595 per night.

Best for Gastronomy
NEW Vegan Dining at Emerald Maldives Resort and Spa

Emerald Maldives Resort has established itself as a prime dining destination. With veganism being a choice for an increasing number of people on the planet, the luxury resort has adapted its offering and created plant-based mouth-watering options within all its dining establishments, as part of its signature Deluxe-All Inclusive formula. 

American eatery, Amazònico, now offers both vegan and vegetarian options, including the Jardin Quemado Salad and Chilean Salad, while at the Aqua Restaurant, new options include the vegan pumpkin soup, which is made using fresh pumpkins from Emerald Maldives’ very own vegetable patch. For something sweet there are vegan blueberry and orange cakes and Emerald Maldives’ healthy twist on a Green Tea Crème Brûlée.  For the ultimate taste of plant-based luxury, Emerald is delighted to prepare guests a Vegan Floating Breakfast, which can be enjoyed in the privacy of their own private pool overlooking the turquoise lagoon. Guests can expect an almond chia seed pudding, fresh bread, fruit salads, a special avocado salsa, herbal teas and exotic fresh juices.  The resort is also currently running a Summer Offer – 10% off best available rate for guests booking to stay between 1st of May and 31st of October. Free cancellation up to 3 days before arrival.

Best for Families
NEW Turtle Ranger Programme at Fairmont Maldives

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is making waves in marine conservation with its pioneering coral regeneration programme and sustainability initiatives, from the Coralarium – a coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art gallery – to the new Turtle Ranger programme. Designed to educate the next generation of eco-conscious travellers on the importance of caring for the underwater world, those on the Turtle Ranger programme can join the marine biologist to monitor endangered turtles, plant coral and snorkel one of the most biodiverse reefs in the world.

Patrol the beach in search of turtle nests and safely release the baby turtles into the ocean. As one of the most endangered turtles in the world, Fairmont Maldives track the migration patterns of Hawksbill Turtles to help protect them; guests can help collect vital ID data from the turtles that pass the reef – and, if a new turtle is discovered, guests are given the honour of naming them for formal certification. Outside of the Turtle Ranger programme, Fairmont Maldives is dedicated to sustainability through banning single-use plastic, beach and reef cleaning initiatives, locally-sourced produce and on-site gardens, solar panel produced energy and water distillery to produce ready-to-drink water. Rooms start from £565.

Perfect For Luxury
Velaa Private Island Partner with VistaJet

Velaa Private Island takes exclusivity to the next level with facilities and service that go beyond traditional resorts. Now partnered with jet provider VistaJet as part of their Safe Havens Collection, those travelling to the Maldives can do so in the safety and comfort of their own private plane. Once there, Velaa Private Island offers a variety of ultra-luxe facilities for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, including:

• An overwater residence only accessible by boat
• The possibility to hire out the entire island
• An on-island golf course
• An on-site semi-submarine to see some of the most amazing marine life the Maldives has to offer
• Water hoverboards/ & jet packs
• State-of-the-art Sleep Pod in the spa (pictured above)
• Staff-to-guest ratio of 8 to 1
• Private yacht for sunset cruises, dinners and diving expeditions
• NEW: Visiting wellness practitioners series launches for 2021, including partnerships with Dr Song Qinggeng (Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Buathon Thienarrom (Director of Sukkasart Institute of Healing Arts)