Dhigufaru Island Resort

After a 10-hour flight, you touch down in Malé - and this is where your journey truly begins. Outside the arrivals hall you’re met and guided to a separate check-in area, where your luggage is taken care of for you. A short ride in a comfortable MPV brings you to the seaplane terminal, where you wait for your 45-minute flight north to the resort. You can relax in the lounge, watching the little planes taxi to and fro before skimming across the water and lifting into the sky. Flying at low altitude, you’re treated to sweeping views of turquoise ocean, scattered with perfect circles of white sand and emerald islands. The Manta Air pilots are casual, friendly and unpretentious; from your seat you can see the easy teamwork it takes to fly these iconic seaplanes. On landing near the resort, a boat is already waiting to take you to your final destination. As you step off at the jetty, the sound of local drums welcomes you ashore. The sea lies calm and glassy, the blues almost unreal, the warmth of the sun instantly softening your shoulders. A cool towel and a freshly iced drink are placed in your hands as check-in begins - though in truth, most of the work has already been done. From the moment you left the boat, the team knew your name, where you’re staying, and all that’s left is your signature. You’re then escorted to your room and shown how everything works. For us, it was a softly spoken, always-smiling host called Sifan. Because we arrived late, he had already arranged dinner for us at the Thundi Bar – a thoughtful touch, as meals are usually served buffet-style in the main restaurant. As with any good all-inclusive, you’ll always find something to your taste, and there are countless team members on hand to make sure you’re happy. Mary, Ziyad, Vena and the rest of the crew are wonderfully industrious, warm and ready to chat – you are never left wondering about service; it simply appears the moment you need it. Depending on the length of your stay, you’ll be invited to take part in a range of activities that bring the island and its waters to life. Join a guided snorkelling trip on the house reef, try your hand at night fishing as the sun sinks into the horizon (your catch can be prepared for you to enjoy the following day), or head out on a dolphin-watching cruise. There are many more experiences on offer, all led by a young, enthusiastic crew who are genuinely brilliant at what they do – patient, knowledgeable and quietly attentive. Waking up in a Sunrise Villa to the sound of waves lapping against the stilts is a magical affair. It’s utterly serene as you slide open the doors onto your private, sheltered deck, the ocean just a few feet away. Baa Atoll is a UNESCO-designated reserve, and it shows. In 2016, warming seas and changing conditionsbleached much of the coral in the region, but the resort is working to help the reefs recover. The water is still teeming with life, and the sand is alive with tiny movements. Hermit crabs, oriental lizards and flying foxes can be spotted around the island, along with an array of delicate finches. In the water, a morning snorkel becomes a daily ritual worth keeping - rent equipment or bring your own, and ease into the warm sea as the sun climbs. Drifting above the reef, you might find yourself side by side with reef sharks, silver chromis and a kaleidoscope of tropical fish that look like the entire cast of Finding Nemo. It’s a spectacle you’ll never quite forget. And as all of this starts to settle in your mind, the question isn’t “why would you make the trip?” - it’s “why wouldn’t you?” When you imagine the sun, sea and sand, the warming waters and gentle winter sun, the serene, tranquil days and soft, starlit nights, you can simply allow yourself to picture being here and make the trip.