Paradise found

The Maldives is our number one honeymoon hotspot. Why? It’s like nowhere else on Earth. You’ll understand once you’ve felt its talcum-soft sands between your toes, cosied up at a beach cinema to watch a movie under the stars, and slept above its piercing blue lagoon in a private overwater villa.

As the Maldives experts, we can tell you that it more than lives up to the hype. These islands are our pick of the bunch for a honeymoon, but there are plenty more in our collection we can share with you.

How to choose your island

Each of our handpicked resorts is on its own private white-sand island, so your Maldives honeymoon will feel secluded and exclusive. Choosing where to stay is a big decision as it’s not just about where you’ll sleep. If you pop in-store for a chat, we’ll help you find the right match. We’ll talk you through things like the vibe of the island, the size, the food, the local experiences, how easy it is to get there, and what you might see on the house reef.

The Maldives experts

The Maldives is a special place for us at Kuoni. You could say we’re the OG Maldives influencer. We were there when the first resort opened its doors back in 1972 and have been in-the-know ever since. We only include best-in-class resorts in our collection and can answer any questions you have about them.

LGBTQ+ honeymoons in the Maldives

Every resort in our collection welcomes LGBTQ+ couples with open arms. The Maldives is a strict Muslim country and yes, there are a handful of places, like its capital Malé, that are very conservative. But it’s a different story on the private resort islands, where reality doesn’t mirror the law, so you can totally relax and be your full selves.

BEST FOR: INNOVATIVE FOODIE EXPERIENCES

Adults-only Hurawalhi Island Resort is a foodie mecca. Its superstar dining venue is the all-glass 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, where you watch colourful marine life swim around you as you savour seared scallops and smoked lobster. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see turtles and rays. Then you have ocean-view Canneli, where breakfasts are served with a side of dolphin spotting, teppanyaki dining at Kashibo, and gourmet fast food at plant-based J.F.K (Junk Food Kitchen).

BEST FOR: DESERT ISLAND CHIC

Constance Moofushi Maldives matches barefoot chic with all-inclusive pampering. It’s part of the luxurious Constance portfolio, where standards are famously high, and there’s impressive attention to detail. A subtle, highend Robinson Crusoe theme runs throughout the beautiful villas, from hammocks on the Beach Villa terraces to coin chest minibars brimming with treats, while the main sandfloored Manta restaurant has a ‘trip around the world’ theme. Go wine tasting in the ocean, watch a classic movie under the stars, and snorkel in coral gardens straight from the beach.

BEST FOR: PERSONALISED PERFECTION

Tiny Baros Maldives has set the standard of Maldivian luxury for decades, yet it still feels shiny and new. Architecturally spectacular The Lighthouse is one of the most iconic restaurants in the Maldives, perched over water with its sail-like white roof and candle-lit tables at the ocean’s edge. Bespoke experiences can be as romantic or as adventurous as you like: jump aboard the resort’s sailboat for a Champagne sunset cruise, paddle out on a glass-bottom-kayak-for-two to spot marine life, relax over a leisurely sandbank picnic, or do your downward dogs together on a floating deck in the middle of the sparkling lagoon.

A PERFECT MATCH: THE MALDIVES TWIN-CENTRE

Talk about couple goals. In many ways (size, spend, feel), Kuramathi Maldives and Kandolhu Maldives couldn’t be more different. That’s why together, they make up the dream Maldives twin-centre.

It’s rare, almost unheard of, to find the choice of activities, accommodation and dining that you get at Kuramathi , one of the Maldives’ larger islands. If you upgrade to the fantastic Select All Inclusive package, you can dine at a staggering nine à la carte venues (including Thai, Mediterranean, Indian, seafood and a barbecue) on top of your buffet restaurant. For your room, choose from cost-effective Garden Villas tucked away in the vegetation all the way up to Thundi Water Villas with a Pool on the edge of the island’s famous sandbank, the goto place for sunset strolls and ‘just us’ photos. Tiny Kandolhu is repeatedly voted one of the world’s most romantic hotels. There are only 30 villas, and you can walk around the island in under 10 minutes, so the mood is intimate. Most couples spend low-key evenings hanging out together in their beautiful villa. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to food, though – there are five small à la carte restaurants with five-star service. And if you’re here for the snorkelling, Kandolhu has an astounding house reef. Turtles love it.

BEST FOR: SOCIABLE MIAMI-MEETS-THEMALDIVES VIBES

Contrary to its name, The Standard, Huruvalhi Island is not what it says on the tin. It’s young, upbeat and oozes cool. Sea life meets nightlife at its glass-floored nightclub, disco balls hover over bathtubs in its stunning ocean-view villas, and spice-loaded curries are eaten with your hands at its rustic Maldivian restaurant.

There’s plenty more at this playful South Beach-Indian Ocean hybrid: sun-kissed games of tennis, fruity shisha, cocktails/mocktails packed with a surprising amount of good-foryou ingredients and a spa that pretty much demands your presence at least once. Pack your wildest inflatable – every eye-popping villa has its own infinity plunge pool.

the mood is intimate.’

BEST FOR: SPECTACULAR SNORKELLING AND DIVING

Romantic Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort has stacks of beauty, inside and out. First, you’ll be dazzled by the two wide beaches, beachfront infinity pool and glittering lagoon. Then you’ll notice the details – like the eye-catching swirly rooftop at signature Moodhu Grill (one of four restaurants to take your tastebuds around the globe) with its dining platforms above the reef, and the cleanlined and contemporary villas where you can slide back the doors to let in the warm breeze. If gliding alongside whale sharks is on your bucket list, now’s the time to check it off. The resort’s location in the South Ari Atoll is one of the best places to spot these gentle giants, especially from August to October, thanks to the plankton-rich waters at the southern tip of the atoll. There are also boat trips to spot turtles and manta rays, plus a thriving house reef for first-rate snorkelling.

BEST FOR: A FUN FIVE-STAR FAMILYMOON

There is a way to bring the little ones along to your honeymoon without compromising on luxury. It’s called Niyama Private Islands Maldives . The resort’s island names – ‘Chill’ and ‘Play’ – set the tone. Explore the island on a private snorkelling tour for the chance to meet turtles and dolphins, or give surfing a go with expert tuition at the Surf Shack. Niyama has kids’ clubs (so you can enjoy date night at treetop restaurant Nest) and even an Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wiis for teens. Family Beach Pool Villas are kitted out with a big private pool, daybed, Maldivian dhoni swing and Indian Ocean views.

BEST FOR: WOW-FACTOR WELLNESS

If total relaxation tops the list of your honeymoon priorities, we think you’ll like it here. Kagi Maldives Spa Island is not just a resort with a spa, it’s the Maldives’ first wellness island retreat. The spherical Baani Spa, suspended above the lagoon, has four ocean-facing treatment rooms with therapies such as gemstone facials and Balinese massages for two, and a yoga room where mindfulness sessions are complemented with sound therapy. You can taste vibrant Hawaiian, Japanese, Thai and Peruvian flavours at KeUn, or unwind at the clean-eating restaurant, Spa Corner. There are only 50 villas on this spectacular island and they all have their own private pool.

BEST FOR: ALL-OUT LUXURY

Velassaru Maldives ’ beachy good looks have serious wow-factor. There’s a classic yet youthful feel about this luxury resort, with its cool bars and millennial aesthetic. The beach here is out of this world. Actually, everything about Velassaru is. The views, the villas, the service, the dining. Then there’s its romantic experiences. Pull up a bean bag at the lanternlit beach cinema, book a couple’s massage at the overwater spa, or savour fresh sushi and sashimi at Japanese restaurant Teppanyaki, poised above the lagoon on stilts.

BEST FOR: LAID-BACK ALL-INCLUSIVE

The mood at Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi is super chill. It’s a place for snoozing under a coconut thatch umbrella, cooling off with an icy drink at the pool’s swim-up bar, and feasting on mouth-watering food while watching the surf. It sits in 83 acres of exotic garden tropics, so it never feels crowded, and the all-inclusive package adds to the care-free atmosphere. You’re close to some excellent dive sites, the clear waters are great for snorkelling, and there are boat trips to take you fishing or dolphin spotting at sunset.

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