Love ISLAND

With skin glowing in the sun, hair perpetually wind-swept and unobstructed views of the deep blue at its most picturesque, life on the island sanctuary of Hilton Maldives Amingiri is nothing short of idyllic.

- CHANDREYEE RAY

For a location so prolifically photographed, the islands of the Maldives remain uniquely difficult to capture in a picture. It is easy to pull together an arresting image of a Maldivian beach in your mind’s eye. Teal waves glitter in the bright sun, skirted by wisps of cloud-like sea foam, sweeping gently onto white sand so pure your feet sink pleasantly with every step. And yet, no matter how vivid your imagination, you can almost be certainly sure that it pales in comparison to the real thing.

A 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport in the Maldivian capital of Male is the new, breathtakingly pristine Hilton Maldives Amingiri. The resort’s proximity to Male means guests can bypass seaplanes, which tend to suspend service after sunset, leaving travellers to camp out overnight in an airport hotel.

I arrived at the resort in the dead of night, which allowed me to wake up the next morning in my overwater villa to one of the greatest surprises imaginable—a stunning, crystal-clear view of the Maldivian ocean through floor-to-ceiling windows.

True to their name, the overwater villas hang over the ocean and have various vantage points (including strategically positioned glass screens built into the floors) that offer undisturbed views of the ocean. Luxuriantly spacious and elegantly appointed with modern furnishings, these enclaves come with a private pool and deck, alongside a ladder that leads down directly into—you guessed it—the ocean.