22 February,2026 09:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Aastha Atray Banan
The Maldivian blue is unique. PIC/GETTY IMAGES
I had always thought I wouldn't enjoy the Maldives. It seemed too surreal, and too much lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-famous. Most of Bollywood has been there, posted bikini selfies at fancy resorts, and to me - and I am sure to most of us - the Maldives seemed inaccessible.
But a trip last year made me change my mind, and I am already planning my next one. And here's why - it was not only because I stayed at luxurious resorts, and ate good food, and drank good wine, but it was because going to Maldives reminded me that true beauty exists on this planet. Untouched, wide, sprawling, uninhibited, full of colours we can only imagined - nature's bounty is at full display in the Maldives.
I went to the Sun Siyam resorts and visited three properties: Sun Siyam World, Iru Fushi, and Olhuveli, as they celebrated 35 years, and it was all about helping guests soak into the Maldivian way of living. And it does manage to do that successfully.
But let me tell you what I like the best.
PICS/AASTHA ATRAY BANAN
Okay, for a first timer, it's going to feel scary. You can see the pilot for one thing, since he is sitting next to you. And it's not flying high above - they fly around 1500-3000 feet. It's not closed off, and you can feel the breeze and hear the sound of the plane, in your body, in your heart. But that's where the magic lies. You feel free and you see the ocean up close, in all its brilliant colours. The ride showcases the lagoons, the coral reefs, and atolls in the most beautiful way.
The resort believes in not just focusing on the water and the beaches, but also the flora and fauna, and the animals. So we saw a lot of exotic birds and stunning flowers. The point is to highlight the best of Maldivian natural beauty, and we were enraptured.
What I got to know in the Maldives was that most resorts are all-inclusive. So the cost of one night covers food and alcohol and limited activities, wherever on the island. So, it's economical. Some costs also include the sea plane fare.
It may be only three hours away from Mumbai, but it really does feel you are in the middle of nowhere. And we were all for it. We felt blissfully disconnected despite having full network.
You know the feeling you get when you see water - that inner peace? Well, in the Maldives, the resorts aim to give you that feeling all the time. Every room is designed in a way that you can feel like you are on your own private island - private pools, water slides, and expansive views. We just couldn't get enough.
How to book: Log on to: sunsiyam.com
How to get there: IndiGo operates flights to and fro from Mumbai to Male. From the airport, you will need to book a seaplane, or a speed boat to transfer to the island your resort is on.
