Look at any league table of tourist destinations and the Maldives is right up there. The crystal clear sea caresses the sugar white beaches, across an archipelago of nearly 1,200 islands. The Maldives will always be seen as one of the world’s dream destinations: the pristine landscapes of Robinson Crusoe meets the luxury of modern life.
Veligandu Maldives Resort Island, a small green jungle island surrounded by soft sandy beaches, has developed paradise. Closed for 18 months, the resort has been reinvented as a 5* luxury resort.
“Naturally. Isolation. Comfort.” Veligandu’s new mantra sings in a catchy way. A quiet, almost impossibly beautiful corner of the planet for a honeymoon or paradise escape.
Acceptance
Fly into Malé International Airport and transfer to the neighboring seaport. Guests to Veligandu relax in an air-conditioned business suite, with food and drinks, before embarking on a 20-minute flight across the azure Indian Ocean. Their cameras are ideal for atolls with an irresistible image. It’s an exhilarating journey, provided by empty pilots, even before you reach your destination.
Like Maldivian kings returning to their island kingdom, we are met by Veligandu’s white-shirted crew clapping their hands to the beat of the drum as we step from the seaplane to the airport.
Jaadhee, our Lifestyle Assistant welcomes us with a refreshing passion flower drink. Then take us on a tour of the many resorts and deliver the golf cart to our villa.
Sunset Ocean Pool Villa
The sea-facing, floor-to-ceiling window with sliding door is a large wall of glass that lets in light. When we wake up, we use the bedside control to open the curtains. Beyond, the villa’s infinity pool, shades of azure, turquoise and teal melt into the horizon.
Beside the bed is a well-padded, well-appointed chaise-longue style sofa. A teak ceiling fan, the size of a seaplane propeller, whirs next to the ventilator. If needed, a 65-inch flat-screen television, with multiple outdoor channels, projects from the midnight blue wall. Decor is modern chic with a touch of traditional Maldivian colors and textures.
As you enter this watertight villa, new in November 2024, a glass viewing panel, beneath your feet acts as a rectangular portal to Nemo’s world below. Behind the stage from the ocean view room, there are his and her wardrobes, a dark wood shelf with enough space for two sides and a small bar. For example, in a small bar, the top shelf is included, the bottom shelf is charged. Bottles from the cellar of chilled wine are also charged.
Our Sunset Ocean Pool Villa, also available with two bedrooms, each with its own private plunge pool, is one of Veligandu’s 100 villas. Choose from Ocean Pool Villas, Sunset Ocean Villas, Ocean Jacuzzi Villas, Sunset Jacuzzi Beach Villas, Jacuzzi Beach Villas and Beach Villas. There are hard decisions to be made in paradise.
The bathroom
The spacious navy blue tiled shower room has space for both rain and hand held showers. Her washes include citrus-themed Veligandu toiletries.
The semi-oval bath has its own open space: private but facing the sea.
Everything you need to plan your trip in 2024
Resources
Beneath the white sand the open-sided Dhonveli buffet restaurant is cooled by the breeze and fans of the Indian Ocean: appropriately Dhonveli is the Maldivian of white sand.
Start breakfast by creating your own smoothie before choosing from a great selection of tropical fruit: fresh and frozen. Then get the chefs to eat your egg favorites.
At lunchtime those chefs switch to cooking fish and seafood to order, alongside a wide selection of salads and hot dishes. They are back and for dinner: carving steaks, creating your own designed pasta dishes.
Taking its name from the manta, Madivaru Restaurant offers a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, including Chinese, Thai, and Indian dishes. Madivaru pays tribute to the old Spice Route that helped to taste Oriental dishes such as nasai noreng, Vietnamese caramelised pork, shrimp pad Thai and other delightful Oriental flavours. That is if you can resist lobster and Wagyu beef…
True to its name, Thundi leads to a sandy beach of sun umbrellas and lounges, where waiters keep requests for drinks and snacks throughout the day. Those waiters also look after the guests sitting in the sun lounges next to the white flowered frangipani and palm tree fringed infinity pool.
Raalhu, Maldivian for wave, is an upscale restaurant, conveniently located for sunbathers in the Champagne Pavilion. From the grilled courgette and salmon amuse bouche, to the delicious octopus to the mojito sorbet, the service is exemplary.
At the Himeyn Spa, five overwater treatment rooms, four of which are for couples, guests relax and rejuvenate with a range of treatments delivered by experts.
You will not miss your home gym in the well-equipped VFitness center with treadmills and exercise bikes facing the sea. For a calm, harmonious start to the day, a handful of guests join a qualified sunrise yoga teacher.
Although the courts are shaded, early morning and late evening are the best times to play on the tennis court and bowling alleys.
Location
Veligandu’s marinas are located off the island 600 meters by 150 meters: 50 minutes by speedboat and 20 minutes by air from Malé.
Head down to the Ocean Watersports and Excursions Center to choose from a host of aquatic opportunities. From curious beginners to professional divers, the sea around Veligandu offers something for everyone: gentle kayaking, exciting jet-ski tours, paddle boarding, snorkeling trips and sunset tours in search of dolphins. For the ultimate in luxury, charter a resort yacht for a private cruise.
Another nice touch
Visitors can take a snorkel package from the diving center to look for turtles and plenty of tropical fish in the lagoon around Veligandu.
As well as providing your daily travel the Veligandu app keeps track of your total bill.
For a special meal, Veligandu offers a Destination Restaurant either on the beach or on the sandbank.
Solar panels provide roofs for newly built villas. All part of Veligandu’s plan to reduce its environmental footprint.
Costs
Prices for summer 2025 start from $508 per night for a Beach Villa double occupancy and breakfast. Beach Villa’s all-inclusive dining package starts at US$ 1,068. Seaplane transfers are an additional cost.
The best beat
Jaadhee our Lifestyle Assistant takes care of everything, she makes restaurant reservations for us, picks us up from restaurants on the golf course or takes us to breakfast if we’re not in the mood to walk.
When it’s time to leave, you contact the seaplane company for our departure time and the connection to our hotel in Malé.
Final decision
The amazing infinity pool, shaded by frangipani with white flowers and palm trees should be the beating heart of the island, yet there is always a sense of peaceful tranquility and sun-loungers to leave.
In Veligandu, isolation and peace are part of luxury. Futureproofing, Veligandu’s new houses are raised on their columns, to ensure rising sea levels. This will be the top destination of the Maldives for decades to come.
Disclosure: Our stay is sponsored by Veligandu Maldives Resort Island.
Michael Edwards
Michael Edwards is a travel writer from Oxfordshire, UK. Although Michael published his first published travel pieces nearly four decades ago, he still finds new luxury destinations to visit and write about.
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