By Marilyne Morin, Founder of IMPACT M, Marketing & PR Consultancy.
Tropical retreats unveiled
Here are three spectacular Indian Ocean resorts and what makes a stay with them so special.
Milaidhoo Maldives
Crafting your holiday story
Milaidhoo is a boutique luxury resort in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, close to Hanifaru Bay, 126km north west of Male’. It’s the perfect escape for nature lovers, as the island’s own coral reef is a protected area and an outstanding snorkeling and diving site. This small island, abundant with tropical greenery, measures just 300m by 180m and is fringed by a soft deep white sand beach.
Spacious and filled with light, outdoor living is what they do best: villas open up 180 degrees to allow the natural beauty of the Maldives inside.
All 50 villas and residences have been designed in a natural style and offer a large private freshwater pool on the sun deck, a hanging Maldivian swing (‘undhoali’), an outsize day bed and incredible sea and beach views.
For those seeking the suite life, residences offer additional island luxury such as a separate bedroom and living room, a dedicated butler, a personal chef to customize all menus, and the opportunity to have a private outdoor cinema on the deck.
Focusing on authentic, light food with clean flavors, the three restaurants and two bars are designed to appeal to the senses, offering outstanding dining in wonderfully informal settings.
No shoes are required. Blissful relaxation for body and soul takes place in the over-water spa where the four treatment suites offer inspiring views.
The holistic treatment menu incorporates the healing powers of plants combined with entrancing healing traditions from Africa, as well as organic and natural spa therapies.
Hanifaru Bay, the jewel of the UNESCO biosphere reserve, is the place where the world’s largest groupings of manta rays can be seen.
Soneva Jani
A new era of over-water luxury in the Maldives
Nestled within the tranquil waters of the Noonu Atoll, where sun-drenched blue skies and azure seas stretch out in every direction, Soneva Jani‘s collection of seven island residences and 51 over-water pool villas, ranging from one to four bedrooms, are the ultimate in castaway chic.
It’s one of the world’s lowest density resorts, with some of the largest and most luxurious villas in the Maldives, each designed for the ultimate privacy, space and breathtaking ocean views.
Each Water Villa opens to its very own stretch of sparkling lagoon and is complete with a private pool.
Many of the villas feature slides from the top floor straight into the lagoon and have a retractable roof to stargaze from the master bedroom.
The culinary experiences at Soneva Jani are as diverse as they are memorable, presenting gourmet menus across a variety of cultures and cuisines, organic offerings, simple barbecues and elaborate romantic escapades.
Voted as the ‘World’s Most Romantic Restaurant’ on CNN.com, The Crab Shack features a rotation of Sri Lankan mud crab curry and Alaskan crabs.
The Den is an inspiring playground for younger guests, and one of South Asia’s largest children’s zones with a sensory room for toddlers, a cascading waterfall with a zipline, a vast pool with waterslide, a musical floor, and a games room.
When it comes to relaxation, Soneva Spa encourages guests to learn new skills and rethink their lifestyles with a focus on wellness. The in-house experts assist guests to heal, move, and ‘be’.
North Island Seychelles
Where luxury blends with sustainability
Some 30km from the main island of Mahé, North Island enjoys private seclusion within the Inner Island group of the Seychelles. Its luminous white beaches surround a tropical interior of coconut palms and takamaka trees, cradled between three granite outcrops, and surrounded by the azure ocean.
The architectural marvel of North Island is a testament to its commitment to environmentally friendly practices, effortlessly blending with the natural surroundings.
Crafted with meticulous care, the island’s 11 Villas, constructed from wood, local stone, and glass, embody the concept of “barefoot luxury.”
Each Villa has a private plunge pool, an outdoor sala, and two bedrooms, a main bedroom and a second bedroom that can be transformed into a lounge. The fully retracting sliding doors allow for uninterrupted views onto the lawns and the turquoise seas in front of each Villa.
The activities on offer at North Island have a minimal impact on the environment and are designed to allow guests to explore the Island and its magic, either on foot, bicycles, or buggy.
When it comes to the underwater world, Seychelles forms part of the world’s longest coral reef system and some of the best diving and snorkelling sites have been identified around North Island and its nearest neighbour, Silhouette Island.
An extensive natural history library, lovingly renovated out of the old coral ruins, houses a large selection of books and artefacts and hosts regular presentations on the marine life and environmental programmes.
The culinary experience at North Island spans Créole, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and English influences, with daily menus based on the latest island harvest. Further up the mountain, the 45m long pool offers magnificent views. The island’s spa, set against the backdrop of turquoise waters and dramatic cliffs, provides unique treatments tailored to guests’ needs.
