All photos via Unsplash
Why the Maldives?
So what makes the Maldives the ideal honeymoon destination? Is it the whiter-than-white beaches, the crystal-clear waters or the swaying palm trees lined with coconuts? Sure, the Maldives is one of those destinations where the reality is even more beautiful than the postcards. But that's not all. The Maldives consists of 1,190 islets of which only 300 are inhabited. The islets are spread across 26 atolls (island groups). From the air, they resemble a long chain lying on the Indian Ocean. The islands are spread over 90,000 km², but only 3 per cent of this area is land.
On each island, you will usually find only one resort and nothing else. So you stay on your own private island as it were. Perfect for unwinding after the wedding party and months of preparation. When you wake up in the morning with the murmur of the Indian Ocean in the background, you will forget the stress of the past months in 1, 2, 3.
If the above two reasons still don't win you over, maybe the romance will. Waking up in a stilt house on - yes, on! - the water with your brand-new better half beside you. Dining on the beach at sunset. Snorkelling together in the crystal-clear water.
Almost convinced? Then you'll surely succumb to the countless honeymoon discounts and perks you'll receive as a brand-new couple....
5x things to do in the Maldives
1. Dive
Lonely Planet poetically calls the Maldives nature's sunken garden. And garden is an understatement. Feel free to call the Maldives' underwater world paradise. Book a diving initiation and discover coral reefs, sea turtles, stingrays and white sharks. Visibility is incredible due to the clear blue water. For example, Hammerhead Point (or Rasdhoo Madivaru) is a real mecca for hammerhead sharks, manta rays and other large aquatic animals. Nice bonus: the water in the Maldives is so warm, you don't even need to put on a diving suit.
2. Snorkelling
Diving not your thing? You can also catch a glimpse of the underwater world by snorkelling in the Maldives. Because the water is so clear, you don't have to go deep at all to see turtles and colourful schools of fish.
3. Malé
The beating heart and capital of the Maldives is called Malé. This busy, populous city is in stark contrast to the à l'aise atmosphere in the rest of the country. Here you can see a glimpse of how Maldivians really live. Malé is a collection of tall, colourful buildings surrounded by turquoise water. The tallest building you see is the Grand Friday Mosque. Forty metres high with a huge, golden dome. Fun fact: in the Maldives, no building is allowed to tower above the mosque.
4. Sleeping on the water
Heaven is a place on earth. Or better: in the Maldives. Book a stay in a water villa in the middle of the Indian Ocean and wake up in the morning to the murmur of the sea. Still a little afraid of the water? Then opt for a beach villa on the beach. The same breathtaking view, but less water all around you.
5. Seaplane
If you fly to the Maldives from Belgium, you will usually arrive at the airport in Malé. As the islands of the Maldives are very scattered, the resorts are often only accessible by seaplane or speedboat. Book such a seaplane transfer with your travel operator and start your honeymoon on an adventurous note right away. Such a transfer is not cheap, but it really is an experience in itself. Taking off from the sea and flying low above the islands; something you don't do every day.
Our favourite address
On South Ari Atoll, one of the largest islands in the Maldives, lies the recently renovated resort LUX*. The hotel boasts - brace yourself - 4 km of virgin white sand beach. It is also the ideal place to spot whale sharks all year round. At the hotel, you can opt for one of those über-romantic pole villas on the water, but the ground-floor villas are also all gems . After a day lazing on the beach or the infinity pool, choose from 8 restaurants and bars in the evening. From Japanese over Italian to International cuisine.
Our travel partner Amazing Destinations always offers the most beautiful honeymoon destinations with the best promotions, for couples who like to make the most of it.
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