Maldives

Twenty-six tropical coral atolls sat in the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean make up the Maldives archipelago. A dream destination for nature lovers and luxury seekers, it is a true paradise of blue skies and white sands, where you can expect gourmet dining, spectacular diving and magical sunsets. With many hotels having a house reef accessible straight from the beach, the coral-rich waters around the Maldives are bursting with life – sea turtles, butterfly and angel fish, manta rays, great silver tuna and much more make this a world-class location for snorkelling and scuba diving. Take a boat trip further out from your island to see sharks, dolphins and whales in their natural habitat.

Island resorts provide an idyllic castaway experience with picture-perfect palm-fringed beaches. On some of the larger islands you’ll find markets selling traditional arts and crafts and Maldivian capital Male is a shopper’s paradise where you can hunt for unique gifts in local boutiques. Throughout the archipelago, the choice of accommodation is diverse from tiny hideaways perfect for candlelit dinners under starry skies, to family-friendly resorts boasting a whole range of facilities.