LUX* South Ari Atoll: spoilt for choice in the Maldives

LUX* is renowned for its contemporary take on luxury, and its Maldives resort at South Ari Atoll is an excellent example of modern five-star travel. Choice abounds - sample an array of adrenalin sports, indulge yourself with an extensive range of spa treatments or repair to one of the 11 cafes, bars and restaurants - and the staff are as bright and breezy as the water villas.

Why LUX* South Ari Atoll?

Based on the island of Dhidhoofinolhu, which measures just over a mile from one tip to the other, LUX* South Ari Atoll is one of the larger resorts in the Maldives. It’s therefore less of a desert island retreat than some of its neighbours and more of a premium holiday village.

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A narrow sand track, plied by bikes and electric buggies, winds its way through a forest of palms and frangipani trees, linking the various restaurants with the villas, the spa and the dive centre. And while the size of the island lets you find your own space, there’s plenty of opportunities to socialise too - at sunset drinks, for example, or the open-air cinema.

What to do

There’s nothing to stop you holing up in your room and staring at the clear blue water, but this LUX* resort has plenty to tempt you out. One of the more unusual offerings is the opportunity to swim with whale sharks - the largest fish in the world (and yet one that feeds solely on plankton). Although finding one is not guaranteed, the waters around LUX* are among the best in the world for sightings. Even in their absence, a trip on a traditional dhoni (below) or a catamaran is an excellent way to get a sense of the unique Maldivian geography, formed by a fragile archipelago of islands, reefs and sandbars.

Complimentary snorkels and fins are available to borrow from the dive centre, which can also organise scuba diving expeditions or Padi-certified courses. Paddle-boarding, jet skiing and windsurfing are among the many available watersports: if it can be done under, over or on the water, you can do it here.

Land-based activities are plentiful too, ranging from yoga to tennis to beach volleyball. The large beachfront swimming pool may prove more of a draw in the heat of the day or, failing that, the cool tranquility of the spa, in which expert massages and other treatments are provided in air-conditioned luxury. Or you can sign up for a cooking class in the shady kitchen garden, and come home raring to cook some classic Maldivian cuisine.

Which rooms?

Water villas (top), some with their own private pools, provide the over-ocean experience that has come to define the Maldives. Plain on the outside, they’re bright and spacious within, employing a coastal palette of light timber and white linen. Beach villas, dotted around the island, are pretty both inside and out, and their direct access to both the sand and the sea may be enough to trump the novelty of the water villas.

What to eat

Food is abundant at LUX* South Ari Atoll, and there’s no sacrificing quality for quantity. Breakfast buffets aside (yes, there are two of them, both excellent: the East Market (above), offering noodles, curries, dumplings, soups and sushi, and Mixe, which has more of a Western outlook) it’s almost all a la carte as well - not always the case in the Maldives.

At the top of the culinary tree is Umami, which serves up sushi, sashimi and kobe beef, prepared in front of your eyes, as well as a range of sakes and Japanese whiskies. Beach Rouge (below) offers a more casual dining experience, its small plates a fusion of Mediterranean and tropical flavours, while Senses offers fine Indian food and Allegria specialises in Italian classics. LUX* also offers excellent coffee, perhaps the best in the Maldives, prepared in its on-island roastery and served throughout the resort.

When to go

The Maldives are reliably hot and humid, with temperatures consistently reaching 28C to 32C all year, and falling by only a few degrees at night. What varies is rainfall: the driest (and most expensive) months are November to April, when showers are few and far between and sunshine is the norm. May and October are transitional months, with a mix of clear skies and heavy downpours. The monsoon months of June to September are more of a mixed bag, featuring days or weeks of cloud and rain alternating long periods of uninterrupted sunshine. Prices are heavily discounted and resorts are much quieter.

How to get there

British Airways flies non-stop from London to Male from October to March, from £710 return. Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad all fly to Male year round from a range of UK airports, with a connection in Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, from about £650 return. The resort can arrange seaplane transfers from Male, a journey of about 30 minutes.

How to book

For more information and to book, visit luxresorts.com. Seven nights for two adults in a beach pavilion starts at about £2,400 including breakfast, during low season.