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Maldives

Forget the old stereotype of a tropical paradise where theres nothing to do but sunbathe and snorkel. Whether its surng or experiencing a cutting-edge spa, the Maldives is ensuring guests are spoilt for choice.
WORDS: Jason Leavy

Maldives
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The myth of the

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Maldives Luxe

Surfs up Maldives style Ditch the beach towel and learn to surf at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa

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Luxe

Maldives

Lying on your board at the end of a lesson, with the marine life swimming below you and the sun blazing above, you suddenly understand those surfing addicts who talk about feeling at one with nature

he explosion in popularity of the Maldives has brought with it a wealth of superlatives attempting to capture the allure of this Indian Ocean archipelago. Dream destination; heaven on earth; paradise found weve heard them all. And yet even this stunning holiday destination has its detractors. This significant minority have often claimed they have little interest in visiting the Maldives on the basis that if youre not interested in sunbathing or diving, theres nothing to do. In the past there was a degree of truth to this, however, recent developments are putting this one final objection to the sword once and for all. One of the hotel companies ensuring the guest experience is better than ever is Four Seasons. The company has two properties in the Maldives, Kuda Huraa and Landau Giraavaru. Both have their own distinct identities, but one element they share is that while they retain all the core ingredients of the stereotypical Maldives holiday, theyve gone way beyond this in a bid to enhance the guest experience. The first shock when arriving at Kuda Huraa is when I discover it is home to a globally renowned surfing school. If I were in Hawaii, California or Australia, I wouldnt have batted an eyelid, but my mental image of the Maldives was of the Indian Ocean looking like a millpond, rather than playing host to world-class surf.

A conversation with Tropicsurf instructor Chris Prewitt soon enlightens me. Chris is originally from Florida but after a couple of years chasing big waves on the North Shore of Oahu he moved to Australia, where he joined Tropicsurf, which has twice been voted Surf School of the Year. Tropicsurf set up its operation at Kuda Huraa in 2002 and has been catering to luxury surfers ever since. Chris has the relaxed air and contagious enthusiasm of a man who is able to live out his passion every day. It is this, along with his 30 years of surfing experience, that makes him such an outstanding teacher. As Chris puts it: Surfing to me is freedom. Its a bit like medicine to me. If I dont have it, Im really missing it. One of my most memorable moments is my first trip to the Maldives, when I realised that this would become my new office. It is one of the only places in the world that is as good as the postcards. The natural beauty is second to none. There are not many places in the world where you can share your surf time with manta rays and turtles, all within arms reach. The atolls in the Maldives are located in a prime position in the Indian Ocean to receive perfectly shaped swells from miles away. In addition to this many of our guests will spend 10 days on a trip and not see another surfer in the water. There are not many places in the world that this can happen anymore. It is truly a surfers paradise.

As well as those guests who travel to the resort specifically to surf, Chris and his team also offer introductory sessions for novices in Kudas beautiful lagoon, and I can testify based on personal experience that its a captivating thrill regardless of skill level. Lying on your board at the end of a lesson, with the marine life swimming below you in the clear water and the sun blazing above, you suddenly understand those surfing addicts who talk about feeling at one with nature. Its a spectacular setting and a truly immersive experience. A visit to Four Seasons other resort in the archipelago, Landau Giraavaru, reveals a groundbreaking initiative that not only provides an enthralling guest experience, but also plays a substantial part in protecting and preserving the unique environment of the Maldives. The team at the Marine Discovery Centre work tirelessly on sustainable projects ranging from sea turtle protection to building coral frames (artificial reefs). The centre is managed by Swede Patrik Svensson PhD, who has extensive experience in ecology and environmental biology. Svensson did his first-ever dive in the Maldives at the age of 13 and says, It was exciting to be able to go back to the birthplace of my underwater experience. Our aim here is to help tourists to understand the importance of marine protection the plight of turtles, sharks, dolphins, coral reefs and related ecosystems.

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Luxe

Maldives

Surfs up at Kuda Huraa The Maldives has perfect conditions for surfing

It is one of the only places in the world that is as good as the postcards. The natural beauty is second to none. There are not many places in the world where you can share your surf time with manta rays and turtles
We offer a lot of environmental awareness on the simple things tourists can do to contribute. If a guest walks away with one or two eye-openers as to the fate of the ocean ecosystem and how they may be able to help or spread awareness to friends and family, I will be very happy. To that end, the centre runs a number of nature-based guest experiences. There are guided tours of the centre itself, where you can learn more about the invaluable work that is being done, and during that there is the opportunity to participate in turtle feeding sessions. Visitors can also sponsor, adopt and name one of the resident turtles, and the team subsequently keeps them updated on the progress and growth of each turtle. They are also developing a website that guests can log into after they have left the resort, to see how their adopted baby is thriving. In 2001, Four Seasons started working with Maldivian environmental consultancy Seamarc to improve coral cover around Kuda Huraa. This partnership has gone on to become one of the most successful projects of its kind in the world, Reefscapers (www.reefscapers.com). The project has transformed previously empty reef flats into thriving marine ecosystems and again, guests are invited to play an active part in this through building and sponsoring some of the coral frames. With many of the leading resorts adopting Four Seasons approach to a more holistic holiday experience, one suspects the biggest challenge facing future visitors will be having the time to squeeze in some of the more traditional pastimes after all, who wants to just sunbathe when you could be surfing in one of the most spectacular environments on the planet, and who wants to just snorkel when you could be getting your elemental energies balanced? Whatever activities visitors eventually opt for, the one thing you can guarantee is that the small minority who have somehow resisted the lure of paradise now have no excuses left. n

Land and sea Two-bedrrom suite at Four Seasons Landau Giraavaru

Finding Nemo Clownfish and other exotic sealife inhabit the reefs of the Maldives

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Four Seasons Resort, Kuda Huraa

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Jumeirah Vittaveli

Angsana Velavaru Maldives

W Retreat and Spa, Maldives

Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi Resort & Spa

Waldorf Astoria Maldives

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Maldives Luxe

From luxurious cruises to coral adoption programmes, these Maldives activities will get you off your sunlounger
1. Cruise the Maldives 2. Powered by pedals

Banyan Tree has been a long-term resident in the Maldives, with two wonderful resorts, but its the newly refurbished Banyan Tree Velaa that has our pulses racing. The 30-metre Turkish gullet is offering visitors to the Maldives adventures of a sea-faring kind. Choose from one to three nights aboard the magnificent vessel, and see the Maldives archipelago from a very different perspective while you enjoy champagne sunsets on deck or exclusive excursions to secluded spots. The yacht has six cabins that can sleep up to 12 guests all fitted out in mahogany interiors, oversized beds, en-suite bathrooms, LCD TVs and magnificent ocean views. Time at sea will give you a chance to get to know the Maldivian marine life, but if you prefer your fish on a plate, your private chef will cook up whatever you catch during the day for dinner under the stars, or maybe youd rather enjoy a picnic on a private island, or lunch on a sandbank. Deluxe cabins with all meals cost US$790 per night.

Think you can get away with spending all day lazing around in a hammock at Shangri-La Villingili? Well, yes you can if you like, but personally wed recommend borrowing one of the hotels bicycles and exploring the 17-kilometre road that connects the five neighbouring islands for a unique opportunity to explore the island archipelago beyond the edges of your resorts coral reef. The extensive network of pathways and bridges forms the longest road in the Maldives, passing through dense vegetation and traditional villages. Pack a picnic and hop on the short boat ride to a neighbouring island, then spend the day (or days) exploring at your own pace. Discover a slice of traditional Maldivian life as you pass coffee shops and market stalls, where you can chat to locals or just watch local life go by. If you prefer to be in the vegetation rather than below it, check into one of the resorts Tree House Villas, which are elevated on stilts high in the jungle canopy, providing a monkeyseye-view of Villingilis lagoon.

Protecting the coral reefs is a responsibility shared by everyone in the Maldives, residents and visitors alike, so the team at Anantara Kihavah Villas have gone the extra mile to engage guests in the conservation and regeneration of its reefs. Marine biologists have created an artificial reef made from iron a-frame in the middle of the resorts overwater pool villas, to which they attach young coral. The Coral Adoption Programme allows guests to sponsor an entire frame, which they can plant themselves in the shallow waters of the lagoon with the help of the resident marine biologist. The frames are then moved to their permanent home among the pool villas. Each frame is registered and sponsors can view photos of their own personal coral reef and monitor its growth on the resorts website, where new photos along with the names of the sponsors are uploaded every three months. Even if you dont decide to sponsor your own coral frame, you can always view the fledgling corals from the resorts underwater restaurant or wine cellar. Coral frames come in small (US$100), medium ($200) and large ($400) sizes.

3. Adopt a coral reef

4. Star-struck

Some people complain that the Maldives is all about the beach. Well what about this: Soneva Fushi is not only the home of the No shoes, no news concept a policy that has been quoted in innumerable travel publications since the resort opened in 1995 it is also home to the Maldives only fully operational observatory. Thats right: the lack of light pollution in the Maldives makes it a perfect place to gaze into the night sky and watch for your favourite constellations. Enter the latest addition to the original Maldivian hideaway resort the Meade RCX400 telescope, located in a tower 12 metres above Soneva Fushis herb garden, high above the canopy of the jungle and far away from the soft lights of the resort. Sonevas resident experts and the occasional visiting guest astronomer will point out the most famous constellations for visitors and give presentations on the stars. A reference library is stocked with books on the heavens, as well as a plasma screen TV linked to the telescopes viewfinder, so everyone can share the experience together. Who would have thought science could be so much fun?

One thing the Maldives might have lacked in the past is nightlife (not that many of us who travel to paradise are there to party), but that all changed with the opening of W Maldives and its uber-trendy underground club 15BELOW. Situated 15 steps under the beach, the intimate club features private alcoves, expert mixologists and a resident DJ all year round, plus 95 different kinds of vodka. Entrance is for resort guests only, so there are no queues If that doesnt spice up the Maldives nightlife then were not sure what will.

5. Going underground

6. Ultimate chill-out

Youve heard of overwater spas, youve heard of jungle spas and youve probably even heard of underwater spas. But have you ever heard of an ice cream spa? Thats the order of the day at Conrad Maldives, a chic new addition to the Maldives stellar lineup of resorts. Guests can choose from their favourite flavours including peaches n cream, coconut cove, and papaya nectar which are incorporated into treatments including the signature Super Sundae Supreme, a 75-minute body scrub and body massage (US$80).

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