OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort

It’s the iconic OUTRIGGER barefoot luxury you love in the world’s most spectacular destination: surrounded by lush gardens, warm sands and the brilliant-blue South Ari Atoll. When you’re not relaxing on your sun-washed overwater villa, drift into bliss at the ocean-perched Navasana Spa, sample lobster and grilled sirloin at Moodhu Grill or savour teppanyaki thrills at Koto.

The resort’s PADI dive centre and house reef – brimming with manta rays, shimmering schools of marine life and the occasional whale shark – offer some of the best underwater experiences in the archipelago. Return from underwater adventures to artisanal, island-made ice cream and superb coffee at Kofee ‘n Chill or breezy poolside cocktails and light bites at Edgewater.