Relax, retreat, repeat at the stunning Anantara Veli Maldives Resort. By Bayar Jain
Picture this: You’re basking on a white-sand beach on a private island surrounded by the clearest blue waters. You weave a leisurely path to the spa for a massage as memories of your diving trip from earlier that day bring a smile to your face. There’s nothing much to do after the massage but laze, swim, eat, drink and make merry. And that’s just another day at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort.
Located in the South Malé Atoll of Maldives, just a half-hour speed boat ride from Velana International Airport, Anantara Veli is a surreal paradise. This hideaway, fringed by turquoise lagoons, has over 60 private bungalows to stay in. While the overwater bungalows give you access to the blue lagoons directly below, the ocean pool bungalows come with private plunge pools and outdoor rain showers.
There’s a plethora of water sports and activities you can try at Anantara Veli. You can choose to explore the turquoise lagoons with manta rays, or cruise along the waves with the in-house windsurfing facilities. If the weather permits, you can go on dolphin and turtle snorkelling excursions as well. Aquafanatics can enrol in Anantara Veli’s year-round surfing lessons, while the less adventurous can enjoy a range of beach-based sports like volleyball, badminton, and petanque.
If you’re a hungry soul, Anantara Veli is sure to leave you spoilt for choice. Since the lagoon it’s located on is shared with Anantara Dhigu and Naladhu Maldives, its guests are privy to a large range of dining options. From seafood and waterside grills to scrumptious Thai delicacies over the lagoon, the options are mouthwateringly delicious. Guests can even choose to pamper their inner chefs by indulging in step-by-step Thai, Japanese or Maldivian cooking classes held by the executive chef. Moreover, the resident fitness gurus and chefs who specialise in healthy meals help keep your fitness in check.
Anantara Veli is the ideal location for destination weddings as well. Picture a lagoon-side ceremony with coco palm arches and the sounds of Maldivian drums ringing in your vows. Floral baths, exotic fragrances and a romantic honeymoon suite add to the memorable experience. A long walk with your partner on the white-sand beach after the ceremony makes for a cinematic happily ever-after.
If this wasn’t luxurious enough, a beachside spa session will definitely make you feel like royalty. Balance Wellness, Anantara’s garden wellness and spa centre, is hidden among the lush greens deeper in the island. The concoction of traditional ingredients coupled with modern philosophies is a recipe for relaxation and positivity. With five treatment suites, wherein one is exclusively for Ayurveda therapies, the spa ensures that guests leave feeling refreshed. After your treatment, you can enjoy the resort’s hot and cold plunge pools in the relaxation garden. Dedicated manicure and pedicure rooms, private steam and sauna rooms and a choice between indoor and outdoor showers add an extra layer of intimacy to the overall experience. To further enhance the aura of relaxation, Anantara Veli offers yoga classes and multi-day programmes dedicated to your health and well-being. The spa is well-equipped to take care of every wellness related query and has a certified Naturopathy doctor and a yoga expert visiting to provide that extra dose of wellness.
THE DETAILS
GETTING THERE
Indigo operates direct flights from Delhi to Velana International Airport, Maldives. This is followed by a 35-minute speed-boat ride to the resort. If the weather permits, Anantara Veli can even charter a VIP seaplane on request for its guests.
STAY
Doubles from INR 49,000.
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