Picture yourself relaxing on a sandy white beach, on a private island, surrounded by an idyllic cobalt lagoon. The little slice of paradise you’re imagining is Angsana Velavaru, a luxury beach resort 4km from Meedhoo island in the Maldives.
As well as idyllic natural scenery, Angsana Velavaru offers a unique style of accommodation and over a hundred activities for guests all ages, so it’s a big hit with kids too. There are countless reasons your family will fall in love with Angsana Velavaru – here are our favourite five.
1/5 Arrive by seaplane
Could there be a cooler way to start a holiday than taking off from Malé in a seaplane fit for 007, gliding through a cloudless blue sky over idyllic sandbanks, and landing in the heart of a fairytale lagoon?
2/5 In-ocean villas
Among the types of accommodation on offer at the resort are some seriously cool In-Ocean villas, which stand on stilts in the lagoon.
Your luxury villa will include an outdoor hammock suspended over the ocean, an infinity pool and a poolside deck that invites you to watch ocean life moving beneath your feet. For a truly extraordinary experience, Angsana Velavaru’s in-ocean villas are not to be missed.
3/5 101 things to do
Since 2005, Angsana Velavaru has acquired a reputation as one of the most popular, family-friendly luxury resorts in the Maldives.
The resort’s unique accommodation is complemented by more than a hundred activities for guests of all ages. Families can enjoy private dining experiences, or learn new skills together at the PADI 5-star Gold Dive Centre.
For teens there’s snorkeling, banana boat rides and dolphin watching tours, while little ones can get stuck into bubble-making lessons, crafts and much more, when they enrol at the kids club.
4/5 Spectacular marine life
Angsana Velavaru is blessed with being surrounded by a pristine reef. Guests of all ages can experience one of the world’s most beautiful underwater environments, thanks to the numerous accessible diving and snorkelling spots. Swimming among vibrant coral gardens and coming face-to-face with huge schools of colourful fish, whale sharks and manta rays are experiences your family will treasure.
5/5 Help endangered turtles
The word Velavaru means ‘Turtle Island’ in Dhivehi, the Maldives’ national language. The island is so-named because it’s home to two critically endangered species of turtle, the hawksbill and green sea turtle. The resort has its own Marine Laboratory which works to protect the turtles’ nesting sites and help release the baby turtles into the ocean once they are big enough.
Guests are invited to take part in the lab’s conservation efforts, by taking a guided tour of the stunning coral reefs and learning how we can protect them, on a snorkeling safari. Guests can also attend a class hosted by a professional marine biologist, to learn about protecting sea birds, turtles and coral. You’ll also be invited to help the lab’s researchers monitor the local ecosystem, and have the opportunity to volunteer with the resort’s coral replanting programme. What better way to teach the kids about the Indian Ocean and conserving the natural world?
Price: Angsana Velavaru costs from £506 a night, for a family of four, during the summer holidays
Book and find out more: angsana.com