The Maldives islands : 2 weeks in Paradise!
A childhood dream comes true: the discovery of the most beautiful atolls of the world.
The Maldives’ atolls: 1200 islands but only 200 with people
This is the big day: Fly Emirates tickets, only 700€ because of the off-peak period. 12 hours of plane with 2 hours of break at Dubaï.
Arrival during dawn to Malé, where a speedboat is waiting to bring us to the first step.
First step: Anantara Resort
A 3 islands atoll, at 25min on boat from the South of the capitale. On way, we see sunken ships while we follow the barrier reef.
Maldives sunken ship
We have a wonderful welcome as new-client, a top priority here. Great feeling !
Turquoise sea, pile dwelling, white sand
Our villa is as comfortable as a 5 stars hotel, with a swimming pool.
Outside and inside bathroom, private pool, patio of 30m2
Pool Villa – Bedroom
Pool Villa
It is perfect, even if the most impressive is the presidential one:
These 3 islands are linked, which is great for walking but also testing different snorkeling spots.
What an incredible pool. I love the hammock in the middle of the lagoon
What an incredible pool. I love the hammock in the middle of the lagoon
First calm night. The buffet breakfast is lovely: near the sea with a lot of choices. you can demand omelet, Benedicte eggs, Pancakes/waffles.
There is also some delicatessen in a Muslim country, with a lot of sauce, jams, mustards…
Maldives – Breakfast in Anantara – Delicatessen
For lunch and dinner, several restaurants are proposed (Thaï, Teppanyaki = Japanese) with chef show !
Next day, visit of the installations and the SPA
then Asian cook lessons with one of the chefs
Chef’s dessert
Last day, yoga class in the morning with a coach from Singapore.
Maldives – Yoga
Second step: New address: Velassaru
Going back in speedboat to Malé and then to this new island.
Blue represent perfectly the place, and it’s the logo of Velassaru
We live now in a pile dwelling kind of « Watervilla »
Again, the level of comfort is perfect.
Maldives Velassaru – Watervilla
Nice blue flip-flops as welcome gift
Tuba and underwater fins are on the patio.
During the first diving I see a Whiptail StingRay
Break time at the SPA, also a pile dwelling.
Choice of my massage and the intensity: Swedish (for sportsmen) and strong (with bends !). It is hard but I am zen.
Finally, we go to the lounge bar to eat a ceviche.
Maldives – Velassaru – Ceviche
The journey ends in this beautiful Japanese restaurant with a chef show again !
Leaving the restaurant and meeting the guardian of the island, a heron
Third Step: Kandolhu Island
Return to Malé and 20 min of seaplane
A crush for this paradise island of 200×250 m in Ari’s atoll
It is almost a perfect ideal
Maldives – Kandolhu – Villa
Duplex villa with pool on a white sand beach. Barrer reef at 30m from the beach with a lot of color fishes.
Meeting a turtle !
The resort is completely new. HighTech with two plasma screens, sound system JBL, disposable Ipad with an interactive island map. But especially a fridge full of juices and Toblerone ! I am so glad at this moment…
SPA and fitness time.
Maldivian architecture represents reversed boat hull.
Among those 4 restaurants, I begin with fish restaurant where I meet the French chef who cooks fishes caught today: On grill, hoover, complete or fish fillet, with the sauce you want… I love it !
To end the day, a sunset cruise all around the island.
Fourth Step: New island, the Residence
Seaplane to Malé.
Look at the take-off:
Hydro-airport of Malé
And then airliner to the South of the Maldives Islands, 50min of flight. The Residence is just under the Ecuador.
It is a huge island, you can travel on it by riding or in golf cart.
Pile dwelling with pool, and a direct access to lagoon
An Intensive program: Yoga class at home during sunrise, snorkeling, windsurfing, massage and sunset bar !
Our yoga teacher:
Dinner at the Sunset Bar
Last night here, at the poolside…
Fifth step : Shangrila Maldives
The island is on south, 20 min from the Residence by airline plane. We pass under the Ecuador.
This is the southernmost luxury hotel of the Maldives Islands; it is not in the same timezone, you can stay one hour later on sun !
The island spreads on 3km and have a golf course
Humidity is more present and dense vegetation represents a jungle in the middle of the island.
We choose a beach villa with a pool.
It is impressive: on sea side, hidden by the vegetation. Pool, deckchairs, hammock… A luxury bathroom with outside and inside shower, bath…
Shangrila – Bathroom
All these fancy installations are easily integrated to the vegetation, with space between each villa. You can ride on bike all around the island without seeing anybody…
Bars and restaurants on seaside offer you lunch at some meters from water during magical sunsets.
DolphinCruise, boat trip to see some dolphins. After a time, a lot of them are playing around the boat !
Last day, a tropical rainfall to tell us goodbye…
“Voilà c’est fini… Trouve un autre rocher petite huître perlée
Ne laisse pas trop couler de temps sous ton p’tit nez
Car c’est fini…c’est fini ” Jean Louis Aubert
Credit Photo : Boris Deltell instagram @sorryformyfrench
Translate by Claudia Lully instagram @lesvolutesdeclaudia
Special thank to Cheryl Slater de Soul Seed Media, who enabled this adventure.
Cheryl is a journalist and blogger specialising in wellness travel. Her company Soul Seed Travel provides a market place, reviews, travel advisory and PR services for retreats and wellness holidays.
Contact : cheryl@soulseedmedia.com
www.soulseedmedia.com
If you want to read it in french, click here
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