1

BEST WATER SPORTS

Lux South Ari Atoll

At the 193-villa Lux South Ari Atoll resort there’s little

rest for adrenaline addicts. When not airborne above

the lagoon on flyboards and hoverboards they’ll be

kitesurfing, windsurfing or wakeboarding, jet-skiing

or water-skiing, paddleboarding or simply paddling.

Lux takes its watersports so seriously the resort has

committed to adding a new activity every year to keep

ahead of the competition. And its location in the

southern atolls puts it within striking distance of four

top-rated dive sites, including Maaya Thila, Sun Island

(for whale sharks) and the Broken Rock canyon.

Dhidhoofinolhu Island, South Atoll, luxresorts.com

BEST SERVICE

Como Cocoa Island

In a rarefied world where the best hotels routinely

assign Man – and Woman – Fridays to cater to guests’

every caprice, it’s tricky to pinpoint the hotel offering

the finest service. But Como Cocoa Island stands

out for its long-serving staff and their uncanny ability

to anticipate guest needs. This might be a Javanese

yoghurt bath at the spa, or a beach barbecue of

just-caught fish, or a Ginger Mojito delivered

poolside. In premium two-bedroom villas, dedicated

butlers elevate Cocoa Island service even further.

South Malé Atoll, comohotels

BEST UNDERWATER DINING

Anantara Kihavah

Dining on poached lobster medallions and potato-

crusted bream in a submarine restaurant while

thousands of wild aquatic creatures circle your

table might not be everyone’s idea of a relaxed meal.

But the Mediterranean-accented fare, underwater

wine cellar and elegant design at Anantara Kihavah’s

Sea restaurant offer precisely what many travellers

seek in the Maldives – the extraordinary and the

unforgettable.Kihavah Huravalhi Island, Baa Atoll,

kihavah-maldives.anantara.com

BEST FOR FAMILIES

Soneva Fushi

Soneva Fushi has a knack for making children feel like

adults and adults feel like children – the perfect outcome

for a family holiday. The wondrously equipped kids’ club

has a swim-up mocktail bar, waterslide, pirate ship and

zip line, and craft classes among myriad diversions. For

adults there’s a Six Senses Spa, excellent dining and

• most importantly – babysitting services. For all ages
  there’s the ice-cream kiosk, dolphin spotting by dhoni
  and private screenings at the outdoor Cinema Paradiso.
  Accommodation options suit families of any size, and
  include a nine-bedroom residence with giant waterslide.
  Kunfunadhoo Island, Baa Atoll, soneva.com

BEST SUNSET COCKTAILS

Como Maalifushi

The first resort in the southern Thaa Atoll, Como

Maalifushi has 66 suites and villas and uninterrupted

views of this remote corner of the archipelago. The

relative lack of development and passing traffic – on

the water or in the air – makes Maalifushi one of the

most attractive spots to watch wide-screen sunsets

over the Indian Ocean. The best seats are at Tai, an

overwater, open-air bar and restaurant where staff

enhance the nightly light show with Japanese-accented

cocktails such as the Hokusai, a wasabi-spiked medley

of honey melon and Mukantei Kikusui sake.Thaa

Atoll, comohotels.com

BEST SNORKELLING

Amilla Fushi

Most resort islands have a house reef but only Amilla’s

offers direct access to the Blue Hole, arguably the

Maldives’ most celebrated snorkelling and dive site.

It’s located directly in front of the 67-room property,

easily accessed by speedboat or a brisk swim, and is

teeming with marine life. Given its prime location

on the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll, Amilla Fushi

could easily rest on its corals, but its team of marine

biologists work hard to interpret the underwater world

for guests, who are encouraged to upload their photos

to global research databases of manta rays and turtles.

The resort is also handily located near Hanifaru Bay, a

hotspot for whale sharks and manta rays and accessible

only to snorkellers.Baa Atoll, amilla.mv

BEST STARGAZING

Soneva Jani

The night skies of the sparsely populated equator are

some of the most dazzling on Earth and this new resort

makes them a starring attraction. Each of Soneva Jani’s

one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, arrayed around

a five-island lagoon, feature retractable roofs to

encourage heavenly contemplation. For more serious

stargazing, there’s an overwater observatory with a

five-metre oculus telescope and a resident astronomer

on hand.Medhufaru Island, Noonu Atoll, soneva.com

BEST GOLF

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa

Iron men and women can claim the ultimate bragging

rights on a nine-hole golf course on the equator,

with par three and par four holes named for marine

creatures. Test your metals from Manta Ray to Dolphin

and, at tee number eight, experience the thrill of

standing at the highest point (5.1 metres) of the entire

island chain. The most notable handicap of Shangri-La

Villingili’s 7.5-hectare greens is the scenery – those

coconut palms and beaches can really put you off your

game.Villingili Island, Addu Atoll, shangri-la.com●

Clockwise from

top: Loft Villa

private sundeck

at Como Cocoa

Island; Soneva

Jani Water

Retreat with

retractable roof;

snorkelling at

Amilla Fushi

156 GOURMET TRAVELLER