RIDE THE WAVES

THESE WHITE-SAND ISLANDS ARE IDEAL FOR RELAXED BEACH BREAKS, BUT THEY HAVE AN ADVENTUROUS SIDE, TOO. LEARN TO SAIL, COOK LIKE A LOCAL OR CONQUER THE CROWD-FREE SURF.

- JAMES STEWART

1 Have a go at kitesurfing

Expert kitesurfers may find the Maldives to be too tame. But just consider its benefits for beginners: modest winds, warm and flat lagoon waters, and chilled-out beach bars with accommodation close at hand. It really is the perfect place to learn and improve. Prime season is from May to October, when southwesterly winds average 15 to 22 knots. The few Maldivian resorts with unobstructed, wind-facing lagoons include on-site surf schools offering rental and instruction. Top picks include Cocoon Maldives, Carpe Diem and Sun Siyam Olhuveli. planetkitesurf.com

2 Sail the seas

Beach-club dinghies and Champagne cruises on traditional sailing dhows are fine for excursions. But for real escapism, seek out a catamaran — the most spacious and stable of charter yachts. By untethering themselves from hotels, novice sailors can embark on voyages through the South Malé and Ari atolls: island-hopping between dreamy resorts and villages. Whether learning the ropes from a professional skipper or snorkelling over pristine reefs fringed by uninhabited islands, it offers the chance to play the windblown vagabond in relative luxury. Catamarans also come at a fraction of the price per person of many hotels. kraken.travel

3 Snorkel off Dhigali island