Why Maldives seems to be a tourist-favourite destination during the pandemic

Dubai - What is making tourists whisk off to the paradise islands?

It’s been a while since we’ve been confined to our homes, no matter where in the world we live. My husband and I spent months with bated breath, waiting for some semblance of normalcy — rather the ‘new normal’ — to return to our lives.

So, when there was a close possibility, we jumped at the idea of packing our beachwear, sunnies and hats, and head straight to the breathtaking archipelago of the Maldives for a dreamy holiday, albeit amidst the pandemic.

With 1,192 coral islands set within 26 atolls, the Maldives is spread across 35,000 square miles of the Indian Ocean, offering an abundance of sunshine, surrounded by its talcum white beaches and crystal-clear waters. Upon landing on the serene island nation, we were awestruck by the turquoise waters at the dock, slender palm trees, house reefs and lush greenery. The silver lining, however, was the onset of monsoon season in the Maldives that made the destination even more picturesque, making us feel like we had transported ourselves to paradise.

It took around four hours to fly from Dubai to the airport in Male, the capital of the Maldives, and from there, it took another one hour twenty minutes to reach the island on a seaplane. It was our maiden flight in a seaplane, and the experience was beyond comparison, flying over the ocean for a one-and-a-half hour flight.

We landed on Vagaru Island, Shaviyani Atoll and headed over to JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, which was going to be our abode for the next three days. We checked-in to our beach villa, built on stilts in the ocean, with a stunning view of the blue waters, exquisite spreads of local and fresh food, accompanied by a very personal service.

The whole of Vagaru Island is around one km square foot in area, so walking up to our breakfast venue everyday felt like a soothing stroll in the lap of mother nature. After a sumptuous breakfast, it was time for our snorkelling experience at the magical coral reef in the blue waters. It was my first time snorkelling and while I was a little anxious before trying it out, all my fears vanished soon after, all thanks to our snorkelling guide, who made it a seamless experience.

But the Maldives is not limited to snorkelling alone. It is a paradise for water-sport lovers. From diving, jet skiing, kayaking, parasailing, to activities like dolphin-sighting or simply sitting back and catching the Maldivian sunset in its fiery red hues, there is something for everyone — even if you’re not a very adventurous person.

wknd@khaleejtimes.com