Barefoot Bliss

Kuredhivaru Resort and Spa Review

Alan Cox travelled halfway round the world to the paradisical Maldives to discover what no shoes, no news luxury really feels like.

Stunning white powder beaches, crystal clear waters, turquoise lagoons and overwater villas all conjure up a vision of paradise and continue to make the Maldives a top renowned dream holiday destination. I had joked for some time with a friend, who is based there, about him never having to wear shoes at work, so when he extended an invite for my wife and I to come and pay him a visit, we jumped at the chance to see what a barefoot vacation ‘in paradise’ was really like.

Just a 45-minute seaplane transfer from Male international airport and we were whisked away to Kuredhivaru Resort and Spa, a delightful destination on the north coast. Arriving in a 15-seater seaplane is a real experience in itself. You enjoy a scenic flight and a bird’s eye view of some of the other islands and resorts. As we touched down, in the ocean and moored at the arrival jetty, several of the resort staff were on hand to greet us with a traditional Maldivian chant accompanied by native tom tom drums.

After a refreshing welcome drink, we were introduced to our charming ‘Island host’ who would be looking after us during our stay. We were given a personal tour of the resort in one of the many buggies, before checking into our home for the next few days, our attractive overwater villa. There are over 70 villas, 30 beach side villas and a handful of luxury 3-bedroom beach residences. Our villa was comfortably furnished throughout, with an enormous bed adorned with fresh, crisp white linen. Our bathroom sported his and hers sinks, a slipper bath and inside and outdoor showers. Surrounded by the sea from every angle, including a glass floored hallway; outside, our deck had 2 sun loungers, and a small plunge pool with steps leading down to warm Indian Ocean; perfect for a morning dip to explore the varied marine life. We spotted one of our new neighbours, a sting ray, swimming past within minutes of arriving.

Shoes kicked off, and we were soon relaxing into the tranquil surroundings and lapping up the outstanding service and hospitality on offer. Every member of staff went above and beyond to make our stay as perfect as possible. Nothing was too much trouble. The vista from every angle at the resort is idyllic - after all, it’s all about being outdoors in the Maldives. Kuredhivaru’s swaying palm trees, infamous white beaches and clear blue waters didn’t disappoint.

The best marine life and snorkelling here is at the reef, walkable, but slightly away from the main resort and where the sea is literally teeming with tropical fish of every size and colour. You can wile away an hour or so here, memorised by the captivating underwater spectacle. There are accompanied snorkelling trips available with a marine biologist, sunset fishing excursions and daily deep-sea diving as well as champagne sunset cruises and water sports a plenty.

Once we’d exhausted ourselves with the water sports activities, we headed to the spa; a haven of tranquillity, and one where time literally seems to stand still. The team of highly trained and attentive staff provide everything from signature massage therapies, body treatments, and facials to body scrubs and spiritual sound healing. Each treatment is carefully curated to soothe, nourish, and rejuvenate body and mind, ensuring a holistic wellness experience. I thoroughly enjoyed (if that’s the right word) the sound healing session. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it before, and I literally floated off in a dreamlike state as our skilled and spiritual leader created a serene and holistic bubble, enveloped with varied percussive sounds. Bliss.

I’m not so sure my private yoga session was quite as relaxing. Having never attempted this form of exercise before, I really rather enjoyed it. I was surprised just how much my uncoordinated and unflexible body could stretch under the right encouraging tuition. So much so, I was rather tempted to join the communal sunrise yoga session, but the 7am start got the better of me.

Everyone loves to indulge in good food on holiday and the cuisine at Kuredhivaru was no exception. There are three restaurants, so you can vary your dining options during your stay. The large buffet style, OMU Marche, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The enormous and varied selection of dishes on offer is a little overwhelming which can make it difficult to decide what to sample. Every palate and dietary requirement are certainly well catered for.

Latitude 5.5. is another option. We enjoyed some lunches here and dinner is accompanied by the dulcet tones of a jazz singer. Our favourite restaurant was Bodumas, the resort’s Japanese inspired a la carte establishment. The service here is outstanding and a must for fish and seafood lovers.

We were also treated to 2 rather unusual meals. Firstly a ‘floating breakfast’. Tucking into a tray laden with hot and cold food whilst sitting in our plunge pool and making sure the tray didn’t float away was, let’s say…an ‘interesting’ experience and certainly a first. Our final evening was spent in the Oak Lounge, the resort’s opulent wine cellar. With a collection of over 250 premium wine labels from 15 of the world’s most esteemed wine regions; this is a wine lovers’ delight. We had a truly exquisite private dining experience here with a five-course gourmet tasting menu with wine pairing expertly selected to complement each course. Every dish was delicate, delicious and artistically presented.

As first time visitors to the Maldives, we were promised ‘true escapism’ and Kuredhivaru delivered that in spades. A lovely resort that balances serene moments with turquoise lagoons and exhilarating land and sea adventures and allows you to escape to a world where imagination knows no bounds. Shoes are optional.

Explore Kuredhivaru.