One of the most exclusive luxury resorts in the Maldives, Milaidhoo Island Maldives is offering guests the chance to experience the annual migration of manta rays, with opportunities to swim with these magnificent sea creatures.
With 50 private villas including The Ocean Residence, regular excursions and watersports and the only Maldivian restaurant in the country, the resort is the perfect location from which to enjoy a relaxing luxury break and explore the delights of the surrounding Indian Ocean.
MANTA RAY SPOTTING
The season is underway by June 1st, with mantas (Manta alfredi) migrating, in their hundreds, to the atoll’s plankton-rich waters and guests at Milaidhoo Island Maldives are perfectly positioned for the ultimate manta ray viewing experience.
Home to a spectacular house-reef and being only 12-minutes by speedboat from Hanifaru Bay, known as the biggest manta feeding station in the world, guests are invited to see, swim and snorkel with the ocean’s gentle giants, who feed on nothing bigger than microscopic plankton.
Milaidhoo will welcome the seasonal visitors with excursions to Hanifaru Bay, coordinated with the Hanifaru Bay park rangers, who are experts in ensuring guests enjoy the most rewarding sighting opportunities. Additionally, Milaidhoo’s resident Marine Biologist will teach them all about the fascinating creatures of the sea.
For those hoping to get even more up close and personal, the team at the Ocean Stories Aquatic Centre at Milaidhoo have identified several secret diving spots, outside of the marine reserve, where divers can enjoy the most private and intimate manta experiences.
STYLISH ACCOMMODATION
To add to the ultimate ocean experience at Milaidhoo, guests can opt for the spectacular 475sqm Ocean Residence – an incredibly spacious and elegant but authentically designed, thatched-roof villa, on stilts with unparalleled views of the Indian Ocean.
There is even a ‘secret’ loft deck hidden inside the roof of the villa, which is the perfect place to chill out with a glass of wine, taking in the views at the end of the over-water jetty. The completely private sundeck comes complete with swing chair, sun loungers, huge freshwater and infinity swimming pool, with steps straight into the sea, allowing guests to further explore Milaidhoo’s spectacular house-reef.
Guests of the Milaidhoo Residences receive a number of benefits during their stay, including a dedicated, 24-hour butler, Champagne on arrival, a dedicated chef to personalize all meals according to preference, a pop-up cinema experience on the deck of their villa, one private, half-day boat excursion during their stay and lots more.
MALDIVIAN CUISINE
Possibly one of the few fine-dining restaurants that encourage its diners to come barefoot, Ba’theli restaurant at Milaidhoo Island Maldives is the first modern Maldivian restaurant in the Maldives. Reflecting its heritage, Ba’theli’s architecture takes its name from the local word for a traditional wooden sailing boat and has been built in the shape of three boats that stand on stilts over the lagoon.
Guests can dine under the stars on restaurant’s deck or inside the boat where a glass floor reveals views of the marine life below, all inhabitance of the resorts spectacular house-reef. Led by Maldivian chef Ahmed Sivath, Ba’theli’s dishes are steeped in Maldivian tradition, with each dish inspired from the Maldivian Spice Route taking the taste buds back over 5,000 years to traders with cargoes of cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, cloves, ginger and pepper.
Locally-made cargo boats, ‘ba’theli’, sailed throughout the archipelago with these goods, spreading knowledge about different lands, their customs and cuisine. This story comes alive at Ba’theli restaurant at Milaidhoo, as their chefs serve gourmet dishes using local herbs and spices to enhance natural flavours.
Maldivian-owned Milaidhoo Island Maldives opened in November 2016 and is proudly rooted in the local island traditions, curating a bespoke selection of experiences to showcase the destination. Set on a tiny island in the Baa Atoll’s beautiful UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, each of Milaidhoo’s 50 private villas have been designed by a local Maldivian architect and each thatched-roof villa features generous private pools and is serviced by Island Hosts. The villas are just a short, barefoot stroll away to three world-class restaurants, incredible watersports, fitness, spa, yoga and world-class diving.
Milaidhoo Island Maldives is situated in the Baa Atoll, a short seaplane from Male. Milaidhoo is offering a 35% discount off stays between June – 1st September 2019. Rates for the Ocean Residence for the summer season start from USD $ 3,050 (approx. £2,341) on a half board basis and including taxes.
