TRAVEL
Maldive Islands
An Escape As Breathtaking As It Is Remote
Vol 1 Spring 2013
If you desire solitude and an indulgent escape, head to the Maldives for an exotic retreat. This elusive chain of islands will delight you with its world class diving and panoramic seascapes. The Republic of the Maldives is an equatorial island chain in the most remote part of the Indian Ocean. Its tropical location allows for an exclusivity evidenced by the affluent visitors and bespoke resorts. With over 1,000 islands, only 200 are inhabited, 101 of which are designated to a single resort. An important stop on the major spice trade routes for centuries, the culture of the Maldives has an eclectic milieu of Middle Eastern, Indian, African, and Indonesian influences. Now a sumptuous retreat for discernible travelers from around the world, the mainstay of the Maldivian economy is tourism.
Most of the Maldives islands are only 1.5 meters above sea level. A unique environment for diverse ocean life with its warm, shallow waters and abundance of flora, the Maldives’ relative land mass is also its downfall. With sea levels rising over the next hundred years, the Republic of the Maldives will be no more by the turn of the century. This ephemeral and fleeting landscape, punctuated by sapphire waters and bright coral, should be on every astute traveler’s list. The islands’ cachet has always been its remote location, providing mystery and intrigue still today. Even the current leader, Mohammed Waheed Hassan, a Stanford Ph.D. with exceptional credentials, deposed the previous President in an alleged
WRITTEN BY PAMELA POKORNY
coup d’etat.
Despite its captivating and sophisticated landscapes and resorts, less than 15,000 Americans traveled to the Maldives in 2011. Cost is not the only inhibitor. Flying to the Maldives is an arduous adventure, logging over 30 hours from the East Coast. From the capital Malé, each resort provides exclusive transportation to its island by either seaplane or boat. Most of the resort islands are on atolls, ring-shaped coral reefs surrounding a lagoon. The Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, one of the newer resorts in the Maldives, takes full advantage of the one island-one resort policy with its overwater bungalows, exceptional
LESS THAN 15,000 AMERICANS VISITED THE MALDIVES IN 2011 restaurants, and 5 star PADI certified diving center. This all-suite resort provides only 38 residences, ensuring solitude and comfort in elegant surroundings. Avoid the overwater bungalows and opt for the ultra-private beach and island bungalows decked out with private pools, Hermes toiletries, Apple media centers, and 24 hour butler service. With nothing to do but relax, the Talise spa will provide the only reminders of reality.
The Maldives’ idyllic islands provide for an opulent vacation. For those willing to go outside the boundaries of a resort, private yacht charters provide a custom experience
and unequalled perspective. Even the most exclusive resorts are offering charter yacht cruises around the Maldives. One of the premier vessels is the Four Seasons Explorer. The Four Seasons Explorer cruises around the islands with only 22 guests, stopping at Four Seasons resorts and uninhabited islands so that guests can indulge in unspoiled beaches and personalized activities. Along with a dive crew, marine biologist, and spa therapist, the Four Seasons Explorer provides the custom service expected from the Four Seasons. The intimate voyage includes 3 dive site visits a day, world-class dining, and a 1-1 crew to passenger ratio.
It is best to visit the Maldives from October to April, outside of the monsoon season, but avoid February, as it has become the most popular tourist month for elite honeymooners from China. Round trip business class tickets from Miami start at $13,000 per person.