Bask in the Beauty of an Island Paradise in the Maldives

Located southwest of India, the Maldives is an island nation that is home to powdery white sand, glittering turquoise water, and lush palm trees. Beach enthusiasts consider the Maldives to be one of the most gorgeous seaside paradises on Earth. Visitors can dine at an undersea restaurant, admire bioluminescent waves, and relax in an overwater villa at a plush resort.

One of the most magical attractions in the Maldives are bioluminescent plankton that causes the waves to sparkle as if they’ve been sprinkled with blue pixie dust after dark. The Sea of Stars—as the whimsical glowing waves are known—is best viewed on Vaadhoo Island in the Raa Atoll. Visitors can stroll the beach after dark to view luminescent waves that resemble a vibrant star chart. Several resorts offer guided boat tours which allow visitors to gaze at the soft blue luminescence.

The Conrad Resort on Rangali Island is home to a unique restaurant known as the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant. Visitors descend down a wooden spiral staircase into a submerged tunnel to literally dine under the sea. Diners can view colorful fish, moray eels, and playful dolphins through an acrylic dome as they dine on a set lunch or dinner menu that features Asian-influenced dishes that have dashes of inspiration from around the globe.

If you feel at peace under the sea, you can also book a stay at The Muraka—a luxury residence at the Conrad Resort that features a submerged master bedroom where you can count fish instead of sheep as you’re drifting off to sleep. There are very few places on Earth where you can lounge on a couch, relax in bed, or have a nightcap 16 feet below the sea as an octopus floats by overhead.

Gili Lankanfushi is an elegant resort that features overwater villas that offer guests the ability to appreciate and even help conserve delicate coral reefs, marine life, and the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi offers a handful of delightful culinary experiences, including a chef who prepares meals from ingredients culled from a sustainable organic garden. Guests can even opt for a champagne breakfast where they can toast the breathtaking beauty of the Maldives.

Every island offers a little slice of paradise, but few islands offer the magnificent splendor of the Maldives. It is no wonder that countless travelers who have traversed the entire globe have chosen to experience the beauty of the Maldives again and again.