No matter how many times you see a picture of the Maldives, its breath-taking beauty entices every time. Hadag stayed at the stunning Nova Maldives for a touch of winter warmth and world-class hospitality.
There are few locations on the planet that measure up to the natural splendour of the Maldives. The island nation is renowned for its sapphire blue waters, powdery, white beaches, green tropical forests and golden sunshine.
Resort Wonders
Positioned Southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres from mainland Asia, the Maldives is an archipelagic country, formed by 26 natural atolls, consisting of 1,192 islands. Nova is located on South Ari Atoll, a mere 25-minute seaplane ride from Malé International Airport.
This scenic flight, although very comfortable, was too short to take in the full splendour of the surrounding views. By the time we touched down on the clear waters alongside the wooden jetty, we were relaxed and ready for our refreshing island adventure.
Awe-inspiring Accommodation
Nova offers an assortment of accommodation types. From cosy Beach Villas to a two-bedroom Beach Residence complete with private pool, the island resort has something for every requirement. We were happy to be housed in a Beach Villa complete with Jacuzzi.
Overlooking the open ocean, it was a pleasure to simply sit and absorb the view from our private decks or from the temperature controlled Jacuzzi. Complete with king-sized beds, plush bedding, in-room high speed internet, flatscreen HD televisions, along with Apple TV, we wanted for nothing more over the four days in our lavish villa.
Cuisine Perfected
During our time on the island, we were thoroughly spoilt by our hosts, not least through the abundance of delicious dishes we were served throughout our stay.
SOUL KITCHEN
Soul Kitchen’s wide-ranging, mouth-watering menu is rivalled only by the incredible views on offer. Open from morning to night, this superb eatery offers generous buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
FLAMES
This fine-dining location offers some of the freshest and most succulent ingredients you could hope to find on your plate. Featuring everything from local fish, seafood and meat to delectable vegetarian options, the talented chefs ensure every dish is prepared to absolute perfection.
MIZU
Mizu is a picturesque overwater teppanyaki restaurant that offers a first-class menu of ocean delights. Pair this exceptional food with enchanting Indian Ocean views and you have an unrivalled dining location. We were taken by the delightful tropical flavours, created from fresh local ingredients, and served by the most attentive and hospitable of staff members.
WINK
A little later in the evenings, the nights truly came alive. The vibrant Wink provided all guests the opportunity to meet their fellow visitors, to hold lively conversations while enjoying cold beverages or a late meal. As music lovers, we were truly impressed by the talent and energy exhibited by The Kabans and their local rhythms. This local cabana band rocked the crowd with their lively music and spirited performances, often causing us to get to bed far later than intended.
Sunset Solace
There are moments in your life when you must stop and appreciate the adventure of it all. This was certainly the case as we headed off on our Indian Ocean sunset trip. We were privileged to spot dolphins playing in the water less than 50 metres from our boat. Witnessing a flawlessly beautiful sunset whilst appreciating these magnificent creatures in their natural environment is a moment we won’t soon forget.
Nova is a natural island and the sea’s gentle giants, such as whale sharks and manta rays, reside in the surrounding waters all year round.
Ocean Calling
Aquaholics is the name of Nova’s watersport centre. If you’re looking for excitement, relaxation, outstanding ocean views or the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local marine life, this is the place for you. Aquaholics offers snorkelling options, along with an extensive range of scuba diving experiences. An array of beginner and advanced courses, as well as private diving experiences of various lengths, are available. A broad range of equipment can also be rented.
We got to experience two hours of snorkelling in the almost unbelievable underwater world around Nova. The vibrant colours combined with the warm waters and abundance of sea life, including whale sharks and manta rays, made the entire experience surreal and it was tough to leave this submerged Shangri-la at the end of the adventure.
Private Pampering
One of our favourite moments at Nova was the Eskape Spa experience. On offer at this idyllic venue is an assortment of massages and treatments, specially designed to relax and rejuvenate the body and the senses. The Maldivian Ocean Dream Massage is the signature massage and it’s easy to understand why. As we indulged in this stress-stripping activity, on a tropical island, with the promise of more luxury and adventure to come, we couldn’t help but wonder if travelling experiences could get any better than this.
As difficult as it was to leave Nova Maldives at the end of our stay, we took with us a wealth of unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.