Calling all seaside bums: the Maldives is a area well-known for its palm-fringed desert islands, most of them surrounded by gin-clear water teeming with tropical fish.
These islands’ sheer magnificence means you’d be forgiven for by no means fairly summoning the trouble to pry your self away out of your seaside towel. In spite of everything, mendacity out for hours will probably be your reward for the lengthy journey to your private-island-resort paradise, which is able to nearly actually contain a connecting propeller flight from the worldwide airport at Male, the Maldives’ capital.
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It should all be effectively value it if you arrive at any of those locations, the perfect seashores within the Maldives.
1. Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, Shaviyani Atoll
This Shaviyani Atoll resort has a number of breathtakingly lovely stretches of sand. The most effective of those is the seaside that borders the island’s large lagoon (it’s a perfect place for sundown selfies). From right here, you’ll take pleasure in spectacular views of the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi’s Coralarium, a semi-submerged construction, artwork set up and coral-propagation venture designed by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, well-known for his underwater sculptures. The Colarium doubles as a man-made coral reef – and in case you can muster the vitality to go away the resort’s smooth white sand for a second or two, you may swim inside it and admire the tropical fish, crustaceans and coral that decision it house.
Planning tip: Once you join a guided snorkeling tour of the Coralarium with one of many in-house marine biologists, you’ll be taught fascinating details concerning the coral-propagation venture. Plus, you’ll stand a greater likelihood of recognizing the native marine life.
2. Six Senses Kanuhura, Lhaviyani Atoll
Seashore lovers will swoon for The Level, a restaurant and seaside on the northernmost tip of the island on which the Six Senses Kanuhura is positioned. Right here, you’ll discover one of many Maldives’ largest seashores: an uninterrupted stretch of powdery white sand that extends alongside its whole western aspect. Because of the proximity of the home reef and the beautiful backdrop of towering palms, few issues beat spending just a few hours on this explicit seaside. We’re additionally large followers of the soundtrack right here: the high-pitched, song-like name of the Asian koel, an enthralling songbird discovered all through the Maldives.
3. Baros Island, North Male Atoll
Baros Island resort is legendary for its coralline seashores, which encompass ridiculously smooth sand comprised of fossilized and sun-bleached purple coralline algae. Such stretches are uncommon certainly (they account for less than about 5% of the world’s seashores) – and those on Baros have a number of different elements working of their favor, too. To begin, the home reef is only a quick snorkel away, which suggests colleges of tropical fish can usually be noticed even from the sand. What’s extra, the island’s small measurement means discovering house to put out your towel won’t ever be an issue. To ramp up the sense of seclusion even additional, you may go for dinner on Baros’s sandbank.
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Planning tip: We advise heading for the seashores close to Baros’s northern tip, or on its western aspect: you’ll have fewer neighboring islands in your sightline and also you’re much less prone to be disturbed by passing speedboats and planes touring to and from close by Male.
4. Amari Raaya Maldives, Raa Atoll
We’re not going to call a particular seaside on Amari Raaya Maldives – as a result of each single one is actually spectacular. The rationale all of them make the minimize? A novel eating expertise that any visitor at this resort can e-book on any of its seashores. Once you make a reservation for Dig-In Seashore Eating, the workers will sculpt your desk and seating out of the sand. So whether or not you wish to take your appetizers dealing with the sundown or an eastward-facing, extra secluded nook of the island, the dinner desk of your goals is just a name away.
5. Hilton Amingiri, North Male Atoll
You’ll discover the Hilton Amingiri resort on the North Male Atoll. You could be stunned to be taught it’s a man-made island – proof that landforms don’t need to be sculpted by nature to have lovely seashores. Unusually for a man-made place, there’s a staggering vary of marine life, starting from inexperienced sea turtles to (innocent) reef sharks. Because of this scuba divers staying at this resort usually enter the water from the seaside, reasonably than taking a ship to close by dive websites (of which there are numerous). The most effective bit? Keep in one of many resort’s Seashore Villas and also you’ll be just some ft from the sand – and your villa will include its very personal outside swing that’s excellent for these vacation selfies. One other shout-out goes out to the seaside close to the island’s western tip: that is the placement of the Seashore Shack restaurant, the place you may dine together with your ft within the sand.
Planning tip: For the perfect sundown views, head to Eden, the resort’s over-water champagne and gin bar.
6. Angsana Velavaru, Dhaalu Atoll
Dhaalu is without doubt one of the Maldives’ extra distant atolls, and Angsana Velavaru’s seashores are nice spots from which to look at the rainbow-hued marine life (together with quite a few stingrays and clownfish) dart by the glass-clear water. The resort’s wide selection of actions is the explanation it’s particularly standard with health freaks (a lap across the island appears to be the preferred route for eager runners). Certainly one of our favourite options is the semi-submerged volleyball internet simply off the seaside close to the island’s northern tip.
Detour: Explored each single seaside on Angsana Velavaru? Take into account one of many resort’s excursions to close by native islands – you’ll uncover entire new stretches of sand and can be taught concerning the Maldivian lifestyle, too.
7. Siyam World Maldives, Noonu Atoll
In the event you’re a fan of spectator sports activities, the seashores that encompass Siyam World Madives’ gorgeous lagoon, close to its north-eastern tip, are the place you’ll wish to settle in. The lagoon is house to the Maldives’ largest floating water park, a mind-bogglingly large impediment course comprising inflatable towers, bridges and staircases. Nothing beats reclining in your solar lounger whereas watching these courageous sufficient to sort out the rides being catapulted into the turquoise waters. Although in case you’re feeling energetic, that is additionally the spot from which you’ll be able to hire one of many resort’s glass-bottomed kayaks for a leisurely paddle across the resort’s perimeter.
Planning tip: In the event you determine to sort out the floating impediment course, permit no less than an hour – it’s a lot trickier than it appears to be like. Apply loads of sunscreen, too.
8. InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, Raa Atoll
The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is a uncommon Maldives island with a lighthouse, perched on its southernmost. This pastel, blue-striped construction – which homes a restaurant and an observatory – makes this stretch of the island’s shoreline the preferred spot for budding photographers, and the villas alongside this explicit seaside are among the many island’s most sought-after lodging.
Planning tip: Take into account investing in an underwater digital camera (even a disposable one) in case you’re visiting this resort. Snap an image of considered one of its resident manta rays and will probably be added to the database created by the Manta Belief, which has a base on the island.
