Best of the Maldives: Freedom Tree – Cora Cora

Cora Cora - freedom tree

Another variation of the wish tree is Cora Cora’s “Freedom Tree”. Not only do you write you wish to hang on a special walking tree for them to be lofted away by the Maldives ocean breezes, but you can also choose one of 4 colours each associated with one of the following sentiments:

  • Yellow = “Luck is believing you are lucky”
  • Teal = “It is health that is wealth”
  • Blue = “Some people are worth waiting for”
  • Red = “All we need is love”

Cora Cora - freedom tree 2

Best of the Maldives: Kids Zip Line – Soneva Jani

Soneva Jani - zip line
Photo credit – Haneen @haneensiddiq

Another “Finally Seen”, in fact one of my earliest. Coincidentally, Lori gave me a 60th birthday gift of a trip to Belize partly motivated by its similarity to the Maldives. One of the activities on the agenda was a zipline through the rain forest. Soneva Jani’s now offers that high flying thrill for kids at its “The Den” facility.

Zipitty doodah day!

Best of the Maldives: Rope Climbing – Ritz-Carlton Maldives

Ritz-Carlton Maldives - rope climbing 3

Ropes courses are a classic team building activity in the corporate world, and for those budding executives, Ritz Carlton Maldives “Ritz Kids Club” offers and indoor and outdoor net-protected rope climbing (and clambering) frame. With the number of these “Climbing” features going higher and higher, I’ve added a tag for them with this post.

Ritz-Carlton Maldives - rope climbing 2

Ritz-Carlton Maldives - rope climbing

Best of the Maldives: Underwater Dry Treasure Hunt – OBLU Ailafushi / Lobigili

OBLU Ailafushi - underwater tresure hunt 1

The underwater, well, everything in the Maldives is so amazing that every visit should feature as much of it as possible. I love underwater facilities, but I especially like when the resorts expand their use to for other things so as many people can enjoy the underwater experience as possible. OBLU Ailafushi and OBLU Lobigili are using their underwater restaurants as a marine classroom. And part of their coral-life curriculum is a fun treasure hunt for different species of marine life. And the activity is not just for guests, but the properties also invite local Maldivian school children over to enjoy and benefit from this unique classroom experience.

  • The Educational Marine Tour sensitises school children between the ages of 5 to 12 years about marine life. They identify fish and corals, connecting with the country’s fragile ecosystem. This initiative attempts to educate future generations who may decide to have a career in hospitality. Every month the resort will invite students from different schools in Malé for the program.”

Two of my favourite things to enjoy in the Maldives – underwater and treasure hunts!

OBLU Ailafushi - underwater treasure hunt 2

Best of the Maldives: Guitar Lessons – Cora Cora

 

If you want to make your own song or if the music of the ocean breeze in the palm trees and the gentle rhythm of seawater lapping the linen white sand inspires your compositional creativity, Cora Cora offers guitar lessons for their guests by resident Mani. In fact, even their staff have taken part including Sam featured here in this sample duet of some cord progressions.

 

Best of the Maldives: Bird Island – Patina

Patina - bird island

Birds are the most prominent above-water creatures in the Maldives and Patina has segregated its own over-water sanctuary for these feathered friends. A review from Luxury Traveler describes:

  • Not exactly a facility but an interesting place to visit nonetheless. Bird Island it is the only part of the entire Fari Islands development that was originally above water and isn’t made from dredged sand. As the name implies, Bird Island is still used as a breeding ground by local birds and is a great place to come and observe them (whilst carefully maintaining your distance).”

   

Best of the Maldives: Yoga Pavilion – Soneva Jani

Soneva Jani - yoga pavillion

Soneva Jani doesn’t do anything by halves and that includes its spa yoga pavilion which is not only the highest in the Maldives, but also the largest we have seen. You can escape from the escape perched high above resort life below while still immersed in the beauty of paradise surrounding you with a 360 degree panoramic view.

Soneva Jani - yoga pavillion 2