Visiting The Maldives is always fun, even in the off-season! The island paradise presents itself like drops of gold in a sea of shimmering turquoise, promising sun, sand and exciting ocean adventures. 1200 islands are divided into 26 clusters or atolls and private resorts often occupy a whole island. Since you are somewhat marooned on an island, the flavour of your holiday is defined largely by the resort you choose, so select well! I spent my last four days at Club Med Kani and Club Med Finolhu in Maldives, chosen for the very different holiday experiences they offer, even though the islands are just 5 minutes from each other and was very glad for it. Here are five super-fun things you can do while you’re there.
1. Go Underwater
Resorts like Club Med Kani offer free snorkelling trips to over 14 points in the Maldives and these are a great way to discover the wild world under the sea. There’s rich turtle territory with fishes and anemone in psychedelic colours that will have you enthralled. There are more exciting encounters with whale sharks and hammerheads if you’re up for it! Also, you can even rent an underwater camera to create your own National Geographic moments, conquer your fears and also capture your OMG! OMG! experience on film.
2. Get Active
Staying fit while having fun on vacation is totally possible if you choose to get busy with beach activities. Paddleboarding will strengthen your core and build balance, while sailing and kayaking will work out your arms and back while you cruise like Christopher Columbus into the great unknown. Most resorts offer the regular yoga and pilates, however, if you take your class on the beach you can get a spectacular sunrise in tandem with your Suryanamaskar. I love that all these were included in the booking fee at Club Med Kani, which helped take the stress out of vacation planning. Get active and you’ll love how you look and feel at the end of the vacation!
3. Get Romantic
If it’s romance you’re looking to rekindle or planning a honeymoon, the Maldives should be on the top of your list. Choose your location well so as to ensure your holiday experience is what you really want. Resorts like Club Med Kani are very family friendly with lots of games and activities while others, like Club Med Finolhu, seem to be designed for love. The luxury resort is all about indulgence and its private over-water villas include luxurious private infinity pools and bathtubs that overlook the ocean. It even has a policy of not allowing children below 18 giving the place a very private feel. If that doesn’t do the trick, the rays and reef sharks you see swimming past your villa as you take in the stunning views will give you another excuse to cuddle and squeal with delight.
4. Get High
I always encourage people to try something new on each holiday. For me this time, it was flyboarding. Introduced by French watercraft rider, Frank Zapata in 2012, flyboarding has become quite the rage. For the uninitiated, you have to stand on a board connected by a long hose to a Jet Ski. Pressured water is forced into a pair of boots with jet nozzles underneath which thrusts you up in the air. As you get proficient you could go as high as 50 feet! Enthralling, but not as easy as it looks.
5. Taste The Local Food
What’s a vacation without decadent and delicious food, right? The food at Club Med is designed to cater to an international palette with Japanese, Indian, Asian and continental cuisine on offer every day. I loved the local Maldivian food with its distinctly coastal flavours of fish and coconut.
Rehan Poncha is an Olympian Swimmer and Arjuna Awardee and is also writes on travel and food as a passion. Follow him on @rehanponcha or @travelwithrehan for more.
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