Heaven is indeed a place on Earth — and it’s in the Maldives. Dotted with dreamy lagoons and ridiculously lavish resorts, these Indian Ocean islands spoil visitors with private butlers, overwater villas and beaches so white you have to squint.
But paradise, a collection of about 1,190 tiny atolls 600 miles southwest of Sri Lanka, comes with a hefty price tag. Most of the hotels are on remote isles reachable by puddle-jumper flights or private boat transfers from the capital, Male. With air transfers and rare packages that include meals, a five-night trip for two can easily cost up to $10,000, so it makes sense that this fantasyland caters to wealthy honeymooners, jet-setters and bucket list seekers who undertake the 24-hour journey from New York City.
Which begs the question: Is it even worth the expense — or the time?
Yes, if only for the endless parade of jaw-dropping attractions beyond natural beauty and high-end hotels. There are one-of-a-kind activities, from underwater yoga to glass-bottom Jacuzzis, exclusive to the archipelago. These only-in-the-Maldives experiences justify the long trek — and they’re worth every penny.
Downward dog on the ocean floor
In 2016, Hurawalhi resort opened 5.8, the world’s largest underwater restaurant, sunk 20 feet in a lagoon. Tables are cleared out in the mornings to transform the space into a studio where yogis hold warrior pose as tropical fish, manta rays and reef sharks swim past the windows. It’s the only all-glass, underwater yoga studio in the world (open to all, it’s $65 per class).
Ice skate in the tropics
A 89-suite hotel on Bolifushi Island, Jumeirah Vittaveli is already small. The vibe is even more intimate in its seven freestanding villas (from $2,155), which “float” in the sea offshore and are only reachable by dhoni (a local boat). With glass-bottom floors, a private infinity pool and decadent room service, there’s no reason to leave — except to ice skate. Debuted last year, the resort’s artificial rink is the first of its kind in the Maldives; all guests can lace up skates and glide against a tropical backdrop. Perfect for a surreal post on Instagram (from $1,125).
Dolphins outside your door
New resorts have the advantage of one-upping slightly older ones, and Milaidhoo (opened last year) didn’t spare any luxuries. Beach villas, each with two outdoor showers and a private infinity pool, are oval-shaped to maximize 180-degree, floor-to-ceiling views. The best part? They’re built around a coral reef in a protected marine reserve, so you can take a spur-of-the-moment snorkel with sea turtles, dolphins and nurse sharks just steps from your villa (from $1,600).
Sea life while you soak
While new resort Soneva Jani has been getting all the attention (yeah, there are water slides in each of its overwater villa), its slight older sister property, Soneva Fushi, is also having a moment. It recently unveiled a luxury yacht with a retractable dive deck for scuba diving and a glass-bottom Jacuzzi in the main suite. Guests can cruise during sunset or spend three days visiting uninhabited atolls (the sunset cruise starts from $1,750 per couple). Back at the hotel, the observatory’s new Meade telescope is a stunner. State-of-the-art technology allows live 3D astronomy view — thanks to its better depth of field — for the first time in history and, as of January, Soneva Fushi is the only resort in the world to offer this (from $1,754/night).
Beach club to the stars
Most travelers to the Maldives enjoy their privacy — with one exception. Guests at One & Only Reethi Rah love to be seen. A magnet for celebrities from David Beckham to Milla Jovovich, this stylish property features a luxurious, guest-only beachfront ocean club, complete with an ice cream bar, pool tables, jet skis, overwater climbing walls, swinging chairs and a live DJ. Here, it’s all about the scene — and showing off expensive swimsuits and rock-hard abs (from $1,800/night).
Book a trip now, because May to November (a k a low season) offers the best rates and fewer crowds with near-perfect weather in the mid-80s. As for how to get there, Cathay Pacific offers flights from New York with a stopover in Hong Kong starting at $1,130 roundtrip.
The author was a guest of Jumeirah Vittaveli, Milaidhoo, Soneva Fushi and One & Only Reethi Rah.