Paradise in a blue lagoon
Discover the ultimate in natural luxury with a holiday at Maalifushi by Como
One of the most desired destinations in South Asia, if not the world, thanks to its white-sand beaches and an amazing underwater world, Maldives is the ideal choice for a holiday of a lifetime. Like many travellers, I have long dreamt of spending a fabulous few days sleeping in a luxury villa perched on stilts in a turquoise lagoon and whiling away the daylight hours exploring the Indian Ocean.
So when I was offered the chance to spend four days at the recently opened Maalifushi by Como resort, I accepted within minutes of the invitation coming my way.
My excitement grew with every mile of the four-hour flight from Bangkok to Male’s Ibrahim Nasir International Airport where we switched to a smaller plane for the 45-minute journey to Thimarafushi Airport then boarded a speedboat for the 25-minute trip to the resort.
The journey is admittedly long and as one of my travel companions laughingly remarked, not far off the time it takes to get to Europe despite being less than half the distance.
The monsoon season is still in full swing and we are greeted to the atoll that will be our home for the next few days by cloudy skies and steady drizzle. But even the inclement weather cannot detract from the magic of walking along the narrow wooden bridge that leads from the pier to a majestic open-air lobby surrounded by tropical forest.
We sit on comfortable sofas in the spacious lobby and sip on fresh coconut juice while we complete the check in formalities.
Maalifushi by Como is the first and only resort on the southern Thaa Atoll, which is famous for diving and surf breaks.
It’s one of the largest atolls in the world comprising more than 60 islands spread over 1,300 square kilometres, the majority of which are uninhabited.
This luxurious five-star Maalifushi has 50 spacious rooms and suites, 12 villas on land and over water, three restaurants and bars, a spa, dive centre and a boutique, making it perfect for a family holiday, a honeymoon or even adventure travel.
The accommodation is divided into seven types – Water Suite, Water Villa, Maalifushi Water Villa, Como Villa, Garden Room, Beach Suite and Beach Villa. Ranging from 72 to 408 square meters, each room has its own private swimming pool and outdoor deck.
Veteran Japanese designer Koichiro Ikebuchi was responsible for interior d
