How to island hop for the ultimate Maldives holiday
Twinning islands in the Maldives is a more unusual request but there are ways to make it work for the quintessential Indian Ocean holiday
With length of stay and spend rising post-pandemic and today’s Indian Ocean visitors likely to be repeaters, the time is ripe to suggest Maldives stays beyond the traditional “one island, one resort” flop.
While it’s common to combine the Maldives with nearby Sri Lanka, or with a Middle East stopover, twin- or multi-centres within the destination are less requested. “Island-hopping is a fantastic way to see more of the Maldives, yet guests rarely take up the option,” says Zoe Saunders, senior product manager for Inspiring Travel.
There are, however, advantages. An intimate island could be contrasted with one with more facilities, or clients could maximise their budget by linking a more affordable resort with a few days somewhere more luxurious. They will also avoid tiring of the same bars and restaurants.
Without a strong transport network, Maldives transfers can often mean returning to the central travel hub of Male, but combining close-by islands or sister resorts takes the stress out of twinning. There are even mini cruise options.
IN THE FAMILY
Maldivian-owned Sun Siyam Resorts has six unique properties with twinning potential. Katharine Wood, regional account director UK, suggests: “At Siyam World in Noonu Atoll, guests can enjoy a series of never-seen-before experiences in the Maldives, from the world’s first underwater jetpack and the Maldives’ biggest floating water park to its first resort horse ranch. While at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, just a five-minute speedboat ride away, clients can enjoy a slower pace and experience our award-winning The Spa by Thalgo France together with more than a dozen bars and restaurants.”
Alternatively, in South Nilandhe Atoll, Wood recommends couples twin boutique Sun Siyam Vilu Reef with the “unbeatable all-inclusive package” at Sun Siyam Iru Veli, 10 minutes away.
Book it: Gold Medal has a family all-inclusive package from £12,479 for two adults and two under-12s with four nights each in Sun Siyam Iru Fushi’s and Siyam World’s beach villas, flights in October half-term and all transfers; goldmedal.co.uk.
Contact Gold Medal via the TTG Travel Supplier Directory
If Only offers couples three nights in a Sun Siyam Vilu Reef villa then four in a beach suite with pool at Sun Siyam Iru Veli from £4,519pp, including flights departing in November. ifonly.net
Contact If Only via the TTG Travel Supplier Directory
LINKING LUXURY
Abercrombie & Kent suggests twinning Milaidhoo and The Nautilus in the Baa Atoll. “This makes a fantastic combination in the Maldives due to the ease of travelling between the two islands, just a 20-minute journey by luxury speedboat,” says director of product Ross Pakes. “You can enjoy spacious villas and unrivalled snorkelling at Milaidhoo followed by a unique luxury experience at The Nautilus, which has just 26 villas with their own dedicated house master, and a range of experiences on offer, from private dining on a secluded sandbank to snorkelling with manta rays.”
Book it: Abercrombie & Kent’s Island Hopping in the Maldives suggested itinerary costs from £9,447pp for five nights at Milaidhoo and five at The Nautilus, including flights; abercrombiekent.co.uk
Contact Abercrombie & Kent via the TTG Travel Supplier Directory
FOUR- TO FIVE-STAR
Kuoni travel expert Stacey Owens recommends four-star Kuramathi twinned with five-star Kandolhu via a 30-minute speedboat transfer. “These two popular islands are a wonderful combination for a couple looking to contrast the fabulous mile-long sandbank and a broad range of activities including tennis courts, watersports, an eco-centre and several bars offering a livelier atmosphere [found on] larger island Kuramathi, with the tranquillity and intimacy of Kandolhu, relaxing in the amazing spa and sipping champagne on a sunset cruise.”
Owens further suggests trading up from a beach villa on Kuramathi to an ocean villa at Kandolhu.
Book it: A 10-night full-board Kuoni holiday with five nights at Kuramathi in a beach villa and five at Kandolhu in an ocean pool villa costs from £5,099pp in October, with flights and transfers; kuoni.co.uk
Contact Kuoni via the TTG Travel Supplier Directory
BIG NAME SISTERS
To pair one larger property with a more intimate one, Inspiring Travel’s Saunders recommends COMO Maalifushi with COMO Cocoa Island, or Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru with Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa.
“These options work really well, as they showcase varying holiday experiences in the Maldives. Also, one resort is a seaplane ride away from the main airport, and the other a speedboat transfer, which means customers experience these incredible modes of transport, too,” she explains. Choosing same-brand resorts gives clients the same standard of hospitality and means their preferences can be shared, she adds.
Book it: Inspiring Travel has 35-40% off COMO Maalifushi and COMO Cocoa Island when booked by 31 July for travel completed by 19 December, resulting in a price of £5,035pp for five nights at each resort (the latter in a water villa) plus a sunset cruise and turtle snorkelling.
Alternatively, seven nights each at the Four Seasons at Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa costs from £9,149pp (representing 20% off for travel by 30 September). Both packages include complimentary half-board, flights and all transfers; inspiringtravel.co.uk
Contact Inspiring Travel via the TTG Travel Supplier Directory
ISLAND-HOPPING CRUISES
Clients keen on diving and snorkelling can island hop around the Maldives on live-aboard vessels. Orbital Travel has four- and seven-night cruises on MV Ying or MV Yang, which each have 10 cabins and nine suites, dive facilities, spas and cinemas. Coco Palm Hithi Resort, Bodu Hithi Manta Point and Meerufenfushi island are among stops.
Explore’s Maldive Dhoni Cruise uses a five-cabin vessel to visit fishing villages and uninhabited islands in the Fulidhoo and Meemu atolls.
For underwater-focused exploration, Exodus has a Marine Wildlife of the Maldives gulet cruise in South Male Atoll. Its 26 November departure is a collaboration with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme.
Book it: A full-board, seven-night cruise with Orbital Travel costs from £2,499pp with flights and transfers and eight dives or spa treatments; orbitaltravel.co.uk.
Explore’s seven-night Maldive Dhoni Cruise is from £1,400pp full-board for autumn departures, excluding flights; explore.co.uk.
Contact Explore via the TTG Travel Supplier Directory
Exodus’s six-night Marine Wildlife of the Maldives cruise costs from £2,499pp, full-board this winter, excluding flights; exodus.co.uk
Contact Exodus via the TTG Travel Supplier Directory
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