What better place to spend your honeymoon than in the Maldives – an inviting thread of Indian Ocean islands with pristine beaches and rich tropical gardens. There are warm temperatures all year round, although it’s hottest and driest between November and April.
You’ll find numerous luxury places to stay in the Maldives, each offering their guests a range of facilities to ensure the perfect honeymoon. Beautiful villas suspended over the ocean, some with their own pool and sun deck, are the ultimate in intimate resort accommodation.
If you decide to venture out a glorious beach awaits. You could spend the time just relaxing on a lounger or chilling in a hammock and watching the world pass by. If it takes your fancy you could swim, go scuba diving or snorkelling.
Make a splash
To see the world beneath the waves, slip on your fins and mask and explore the coral gardens, awash with colour like a Claude Monet palette. Go in search of turtles or just take time to admire the vibrant tropical fish as they go about their business. But if you’re an adrenalin junkie then flyboarding, hoverboarding and jet-surfboarding might just be for you.
Maldivian cuisine, prepared by the best chefs, is a delight and a big part of any holiday. Expect a fusion of many flavours from different parts of the world – particularly Arabic, Indian and Chinese. A few of the favourites are yellow fin tuna with pickled vegetables, king crab with watermelon and succulent Maldivian lobster.
Diners are at the heart of the Hurawalhi experience. This spectacular resort on Lhaviyani Atoll has years of experience of looking after honeymooning couples so offers you something a bit different when it comes to dining.
You could enjoy romantic private dining on the beach under stars, or nearly six metres below the surface in the world’s largest undersea glass covered restaurant. But this unique option comes with a warning – you will have an audience of curious reef sharks, butterfly fish or the instantly recognisable (thanks to Finding Nemo) clownfish.
The food of love
Entertainment at some of the resorts is a low-key affair. Not so at the Karumba Resort on North Male Atoll, which has a resident DJ, live bands, guest singers and Maldivian Bodu Beru – a traditional form of music and dance. For a less hectic alternative you can watch an evening movie in an open-air cinema on the beach.
Away from the resort
There are plenty of excursions on offer at the resorts. Take a sunset ocean cruise while watching for dolphin, play a round of golf, go big game fishing or take a seaplane flight for a panoramic view of the islands.
For a change of pace, explore the small and tightly packet Maldivian capital city Male. Its bustling narrow streets have bars, restaurants and plenty of places to pick up that special honeymoon souvenir.
For an understanding of Maldivian history the Island of Utheemu, on Haa Alif Atoll, is forever associated with Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu, one of the island’s greatest heroes. His home, a small wooden palace, is now a museum dedicated to his memory.
Independent travel
Most honeymooners traveling to the Maldives will have booked a package holiday. However, while independent travel might be more challenging in terms of planning, it is entirely possible to make your own way to the islands. There you’ll find a range of budget options, particularly as locals are now allowed (since 2009) to open their own guesthouses and restaurants for visitors.
