With its white sandy beaches and the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean, it’s not difficult to see why the Maldives is a bucket-list destination, no more so than for honeymooners. Offering a wonderful blend of seclusion and luxury, the Maldives really is the picture-perfect honeymoon setting.
Choosing the right island for you
The islands in the Maldives are tiny and there are hundreds of them, so choosing which one to stay at can be a nice problem to have!
If you’ve been dreaming of a Robinson Crusoe experience, where you leave your shoes at home and are encouraged to go barefoot around the resort (yes even in the restaurants!), then Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu needs to be top of the list.
Situated in Baa Atoll, a 30-minute seaplane journey from Male airport, the resort offers a serene mix of incredible natural beauty and relaxed luxury. Scattered amongst the lush island gardens, the thatched villas are romantically decorated rooms with fourposter beds, complete with outdoor bathrooms private beach areas, or on stilts on the lagoon.
Maldivian Hospitality
Warmth and friendliness are inherent in the culture of the Maldives, and that welcoming hospitality shines through in the two resort restaurants which expertly demonstrate how locally sourced ingredients from land, tree, and sea are combined to delight.
Complimented by its very own vegetable garden in the middle of the island, where fresh basil, rosemary, eggplant, Scotch bonnet chilli and a selection of other herbs and vegetables are grown.
Activity packed or lazy sun-lounger days
Everyone knows that planning a wedding is pretty exhausting, so if the plan is to chill out and only venture off the sun-lounger for a cocktail or two, you won’t be disappointed. Or if you’re looking for something even more intimate, the resort has its very own uninhabited desert island, Embudhoo.
You will be taken by boat and can experience a dining and overnight stay – rustic and romantic, the island is home to a single traditional hut, which would be your very own exclusive retreat.
Days can equally be filled by a whole host of other activities; snorkelling is a must around the house-reef where you will see the bright colours of Powderblue surgeon fish, Parrotfish and Oriental sweetlips amongst many many others, and if you’re lucky you may see turtles, dolphins, rays and sharks which are often spotted.
PADI-courses can be booked at the dive centre, and the watersports centre caters for further adventure with sports like water-skiing, paddleboards and kayaks.
Environmental focus
With protecting the environment at the forefront of our minds, eco-conscious couples will be delighted to learn that as well as being a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which means it’s recognised by the international body as a place where people can learn more about sustainability.
The resort only uses glass bottles to cut harmful plastic waste, and all seafood served is either pole- or line-caught to stop ‘ghost nets’ harming local marine life. This is especially close to the heart, as Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu hosts a turtle rescue centre (The Oliver Ridley Project), for turtles who have been hurt in the wild and need medical attention, and time to rest and recuperate. You can visit the turtles everyday and the team are always on hand to answer any questions.
The island is also popular with nesting turtles, who feed on the seagrass in the lagoon, with guests and staff gathering when a hatching takes place to help herd the hundreds of baby turtles towards the sea.
Booking essentials
Travelbag offers a 14-night holiday to Maldives at the 4*+ Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu on a half board basis from £4609pp including return flights with Etihad and seaplane transfers from Male. Travel between 1st – 31st March 2023. Based on two adults sharing. To book,
Call Travelbag on 0207 001 4112 or visit www.travelbag.co.uk.
