Whether your idea of romance is a picnic on a deserted island, an intimate candlelit dinner, a barefoot ceremony at sunset or a day spent swimming and snorkelling, the Maldives offers a version of love for every couple. From secluded luxury to shared experiences designed to bring you closer, these four island stays show how Valentine’s in the Indian Ocean can be anything but one-note.
STRANDED ON A BEACH – HERITANCE AARAH MALDIVES
Have you ever dreamt of being stranded on a desert island with your loved one? At Heritance Aarah you can do exactly that. Couples can take a cruise across the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean and spend the day on their own on an uninhabited island nearby. This, however, will not be a Robinson Crusoe-style experience, but one of ultimate luxury. A delicious picnic is carried for you to the shore. With every detail taken care of, you are free to linger, swim and savour the day together.
Left: Heritage Aarah features a distinctive Maldivian village, a stunning reef for snorkelling, and a mix of spacious beach and ocean villas.
Right: Ocean Villas feature glass-bottom floors and private sun decks, with many of them enjoying stunning sunset views
If you come back a bit tired from your desert island adventure, you could choose to have dinner at your Ocean Suite villa, or go to Baani, the dedicated restaurant to this adults-only part of the resort. Discover new flavours with a six-course menu that takes the concept of fusion cuisine to the highest levels of fine dining.
Find out more, HERE.
GET HITCHED – IFURU ISLAND MALDIVES
Considered one of the most romantic destinations in Maldives, Ifuru Island offers a curated 7-night package on their Premium All-Inclusive plan that includes a complimentary wedding ceremony. An ideal choice for vow renewals, symbolic weddings or simply to celebrate love in a paradise setting.
The ceremony takes place at dusk, on the island’s secret spot, a secluded and private area on the beach with the stunning backdrop of the colour-changing sky over the ocean.
Palm-framed sunsets, a ceremony that embraces the theatre of the moment, and evenings to be enjoyed barefoot by the sea, at Ifuru Island.
Following the ceremony, a celebratory dinner takes place at one of Ifuru’s signature restaurants. Those who love the toes-in-the-sand feeling can opt for dinner on the beach, one of the “Destination Dinning” experiences available at the resort.
What makes this wedding plan particularly attractive is that you don’t have to take care of anything at all. The team at Ifuru will organise every single detail for you and your guests. More about romance at Ifuru Island, HERE.
Further details and options, HERE.
FOODIE’S PARADISE – THE RITZ-CARLTON MALDIVES, FARI ISLANDS
With seven restaurants and bars ranging from Italian to Cantonese, the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is an epicurean paradise. For this Valentine’s, the resort has created several bespoke culinary experiences, among them, the Ruinart Art Dinner and the Garden Dinner Under the Stars.
The Ruinart Dinner at the Beach Shack is my personal idea of hedonist heaven: an intimate meal by the shore, toes in the sand, featuring a curated menu paired with different Ruinart champagnes. Highlights include Fine de Claire oysters, salted cucumber and Oscietra caviar amuse-bouche, with a Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Second Skin; local Maldivian lobster with Beluga caviar and razor clams, accompanied by a Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010; and Sea Bass, heirloom zucchini and salmon roe with Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2009.
Dining by Design at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands (left) offers highly curated, private experiences in exclusive locations on the island. Its Ruinart dinners showcase the intersection of art, nature and champagne.
Designed for just one couple, the Garden Dinner Under the Stars takes place in Mystique Garden, a secluded, verdant sanctuary in the heart of the island, presided over by a majestic, 100-foot Banyan tree. This exclusive experience, part of the resort’s “Dining by Design” initiative, includes mouth-watering dishes such as scallop carpaccio, steamed rainbow sea bass with salmon roe and slow-braised Wagyu short rib.
More information and bookings, HERE.
MOVE, PLAY, CREATE – CROSSROADS MALDIVES
For action-inclined couples, Crossroads Maldives offers a plethora of activities across two connected resorts. Start your day at Saii Lagoon with a sunrise run along the shoreline, followed by guided snorkelling and pool-based wellness sessions. As the pace lifts, couples can join aqua zumba, beach and pool volleyball, water polo, and a playful island-wide “Amazing Race” designed to inject light competition and shared adventure into the afternoon.
Across the lagoon, Hard Rock Hotel brings a different energy with its Love Loud, Live Proud programme. The day features dance-driven fitness sessions, jiu-jitsu and sunset partner yoga.
At Crossroads Maldives, action-loving couples can enjoy a variety of activies, including morning yoga and private jiu-jitsu sessions.
This action-packed plan is not just about pulse-pounding activities, there are creative options too, in the form of coconut painting, tie-dye workshops, and cocktail and mocktail masterclasses. If you are pushing the romantic vibe, take your beloved to the clay studio at The Marina (Saii), where you can shape a ceramic piece together. If you wish to keep it as a souvenir, they’ll happily ship it back to your home address.
Plan your stay, HERE.
Author: Lina Ress
Other features about the Maldives that you may enjoy reading include, among others, Thrilling Experiences in the Maldives, Sustainable Luxury at Amilla Maldives, and High-End Luxury at Kuda Villingili Maldives.
Lead image: Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands
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