The Maldives: the charmed circle of island life

On arrival at the resort’s jetty, guests are welcomed by the sound of a traditional Sangu horn greeting; from that moment on, their stay on the Indian Ocean archipelago is entrusted to the care of their own aris meeha. Formerly a privileged role in the ancient Maldivian royal household, the Aris Meeha, or “closest person”, is on hand to carefully craft and curate every stay by accommodating guests’ wishes and dreams — arranging sunrise yoga in the resort’s secluded Mystique Garden, perhaps, or swimming with turtles.

In the company of their Aris Meeha, guests begin by exploring their destination, a graceful halo of minimalist overwater villas that appear to float above the crystal-clear waters of the Rah Falhu Huraa lagoon. Designed by the late Kerry Hill, an award-winning Australian architect whose projects are renowned for the sensitivity they show to their surroundings, the delicate circle of villas and spa connect via a jetty to the resort’s three island bases and 100 private ocean-facing villas.

Marine dreams

Every day here unfolds with a relaxed rhythm. The morning feels like the right time to make the most of the resort’s connection with its surroundings, via Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment programme. As the first Ritz-Carlton destination in the Asia-Pacific region to participate in the ocean explorer’s initiative, the resort gives its guests the opportunity to engage with the fragile beauty of the Maldives’ ecosystems, with seasonally varying programmes.

Guests are led by an expert naturalist to explore the islands’ flora and fauna via marine biology classes for children, genuinely captivating talks at the dive centre, and the chance to use remote aerial and submarine drones to study the surrounding islands and reefs in real time. Back on land, guests can take part in exclusive, immersive experiences inspired by Maldivian culture, such as Mudu Edhuru sessions with a “Water Man” storyteller, or classes in boduberu drumming.

Horizontal balance

Afternoons are for relaxation — on the beach, in the seclusion of a private villa’s circular patio, set between the soothing understatement of the interiors and the intense turquoise horizon, or amid the minimalist design and lulling calm of the spa. Appearing like a pebble within concentric ripples, this soothing sanctuary within a sanctuary sits within the circle of private overwater villas, offering a menu of therapies that will restore peacefulness to body and mind.

Taking one’s time is of the essence here. The therapeutic massages and treatments include the spa’s three-hour Maldivian Signature Rejuvenation, which incorporates organic coconut and pearly-white sand into a full-body massage. Or there’s the healing Bamford Signature Journey, which combines Japanese shiatsu and Swedish motions to release tension and balance meridians, followed by a wave-like massage designed to echo the ocean’s motions.

Rhythm of the night

At sunset each day, the beat of a drum is deployed to announce the gentle transition from the day’s discoveries into an evening of relaxation, indulgence and reflection. This is accompanied by a flame-lighting ritual and the thump and clap of the boduberu drums, one of the Maldives’ oldest traditions. Enjoyed with sundowners made with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cumin and turmeric — the islands’ favoured spices — the ceremony connects all comers to the resort with a tradition dating from the 11th century.

Dining at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is an invitation to indulge in some culinary globetrotting, allowing you to travel gastronomically from Guangdong to the Lebanon in one day. But it is also about sustainably caught fish and seafood sourced from local fishermen, as well as plenty of homegrown organic produce from the resort’s kitchen garden. With the sea just steps away and soft sand underfoot, diners at the Beach Shack can choose from a mouthwatering menu that includes soft-shell crab tacos and crispy fried snapper to share. Guests can go super-light, with the plant-based tasting menu at the open-air Japanese restaurant Iwau, or tuck into authentically hearty dishes, such as osso buco alla milanese, at La Locanda, the all-day Italian whose indoor-outdoor dining room doubles as the resort’s living room. Here, kicking back with a digestif, or watching a movie under the stars with your loved ones, are amazing places to come full circle at the end of a Maldivian day.