Anantara Dhigu – Maldives
For sinking your toes into powdery white sand and generally forgetting about everyday life, Anantara Dhigu is the destination. On one of the closest atolls to Malé, the island is a picture-perfect stretch of sand, full of palms and surrounded by that type of azure the Indian Ocean does best. One of the largest islands in the Maldives, you can cycle round it in ten minutes. The thatched villas blend in with the foliage, whilst the overwater villas spread out into the ocean like a frond.
From the minute you step foot onto the sand, til the moment you wave goodbye, there’s no need to lift a finger. The pace of life could not be more seductive.
At A Glance
Luxury Hotel
Why We Love It:
For its fantastic dive centre, Kids Club & choice of cuisine.Style:
Thatched island luxe.Location:
In the South Malé Atoll – a 30-minute speedboat ride from the international airport.Rooms:
110 beach & overwater villas.Swimming:
A resort infinity pool, private plunge pools & the Indian Ocean.Children:
A paradise for families with an exceptional kids club.Accessibility:
It has good accessibility.Open From:
All year round.rooms
Face the sunrise or sunset, relax over water, or enjoy seclusion on the beach tucked in amongst the rainforest, right on the beach. Spacious, open-fronted and modern colonially styled, each suite and villa can sleep four, with some sleeping up to six. Some have outside bathrooms and the over water villas have tubs that look out over the ocean. Others have a private pool and come with a villa host service.
food
There’s a mouthwatering choice at Anantara Dhigu, with three beachfront and overwater restaurants, and more at the sister resort of Anantara Veli, serving innovative Creole and international cuisine. Or for a romantic evening, there’s in-villa private dining, or better still, on the beach by torchlight. You’ll find lavish breakfasts and all-day dining at Fushi Café, where you can watch the chefs at work at live cooking stations, and with a different theme every evening. Italian fare is the order of the day at Aqua.
This beach and poolside restaurant is relaxed and informal. Sea Fire Salt is spectacularly perched over the lagoon and serves delicious grilled meat and fresh seafood. Hop over the lagoon to Anantara Veli for excellent Thai food at Baan Huraa.
activities
There’s a fabulous choice of activities on and off the water at Anantara Dhigu, and as you would expect, the diving and snorkeling is first class. Learn to dive at the resorts PADI centre, or as an intermediate or advanced diver, you can enrol in rescue or dive master courses. There are half and full day safaris to some spectacular sites. The waters are full of whale sharks and from August to December, you’ll be able to swim with manta rays.
Above the surface, there’s paddle boarding and kayaking – the most gentle way to explore the lagoon. The resort also has a fleet of small sailing cats which you can take out solo or with a skipper. If you’re after a bit more adrenalin, there’s waterskiing, wakeboarding, wind and kitesurfing. Or maybe, you’re just not far enough away from it all, so would like to spend a night on a boat, out on the ocean beneath the stars. On land, guests have their own bikes to explore the island, or maybe, you’d prefer to lounge by the pool gazing at the blue horizon.
family
Children are most definitely treated like little VIPs here. Rooms come with mini bathrobes, and each child receives a welcome goodie bag. The Dhoni Club is open for children aged four to twelve, and has a range of fun activities – including glass bottom boat rides and cookery classes – a treehouse and a climbing wall. Every Monday and Thursday evening the resort hosts a film night just for children. On and below the water, there’s doughnutting, and children over the age of ten can learn to dive.
sustainability
Anantara Dhigu is a certified Green Growth 2050 resort, committed to a range of sustainability goals with the aim of promoting environmentally friendly tourism. Water is recycled, single-use plastics are in the process of being banned and regular marine life tours are organised to educate guests on marine conservation and coral reef regeneration.
Location
South Malé Atoll, Maldives
In the South Malé Atoll – a 30-minute speedboat ride from the international airport.
