TRAVEL Escapes

It was time for a full-body massage from AvaniSpa. The relaxing vibe can be felt throughout the whole property, from the smiley staff to the laidback dress code. But meeting Heni, my therapist, choosing my favourite oil and changing into a super fluffy robe was the final hint I needed to fully embrace the dreamy holiday mode. The treatment started with a rice foot scrub. I then moved to the massage table, where Heni began the 60-minute therapy. She used a palm and thumb pressure technique with long-stroke movements. I finished my pampering session by drinking jasmine tea and watching the adorable fruit bats flying from tree to tree looking for Maldivian almonds.

We all met for dinner to try some items on the Tribe menu. The restaurant has a unique concept that invites you to find your tribe by offering different culinary experiences from around the world. An encounter of tribes from Northern Thailand, the plains of Colorado, the Amazon River, the Basque country, the Japanese highlands and the Middle Eastern desert. From the generous spread we had, I would highlight the Satay Gai, marinated cornfed chicken, chargrilled and finished with a spicy and coconut dip. My dining companions loved the smokiness of the chicken paired with the earthy peanut sauce. The other delightful bites were the Vegetarian Spring Rolls, Crisp Baby Squid with wasabi mayo, for which the comment was how fresh it tasted, creamy hummus and beef sliders. But the star dish for me was the simplest one, Charcoal Grilled Leeks with chimichurri and smoked almonds – they were delicate with a delicious smoked flavour. One of the main characteristics of this eatery is the molecular drinks served in eye-catching tiki glasses.

The other dining options on the island are Ocean Terrace, the main restaurant where breakfast is served; Hammock, located in the lobby lounge with comfort food and a grab-and-go corner; Smuggler’s Shack, a beach bar with seasonal pop-up dining; Charcoal, a signature restaurant with a large charcoal grill; and Petit Bistro, the first kids-only restaurant in the Maldives, located at AvaniKids. The resort also offers the option of in-villa dining and Adrift, a romantic setup and menu served by the beach or other locations on the island.

I woke up energised and headed to the gym for my daily run. I loved that it was fully equipped with Technogym equipment – no excuses to skip my routine even when in holiday mode. After a shower, I had breakfast at Ocean Terrace, where we were served an à la carte menu with all sorts of egg preparations, pastries, healthy granola and chia pudding.

Aquafanatics @Fares is the hotel’s destination for water sports. We went there for a snorkelling expedition. After collecting the equipment and listening carefully to the super energetic diving instructor, Jean, we boarded the boat and started our journey to look for manta rays. We were not lucky, but we stopped by a massive reef and saw many turtles and fish, such as fusiliers, blue surgeonfish, bluestriped snapper and many others. It was like entering an enormous aquarium – such a great experience! Back on land, we had lunch at Skipjack and shared our impressions of our incredible time in the sea. I spent the afternoon enjoying my private pool and the beach, which was just a few steps away from my garden. I felt like the luckiest girl on earth!

At the end of the day, we embarked on the boat again for an incredible sunset trip where we saw dolphins. As we observed the last light of the day kiss the horizon goodnight, we spotted a massive raincloud following us back to the shore. It poured heavily over us in minutes, but we were under Skipjack’s roof, and it didn’t last very long. Coming from the Middle East, we loved it!

That night we were invited to dine with Riaan and ask him as many questions as we wanted – and we had many! After discussing a few topics, it was clear that all the good energy that enveloped the property came from the man himself. He is a force, on top of every detail – a passionate leader that fits perfectly in this environment. We had a delightful evening experiencing some dishes from the Charcoal menu and some off-menu items such as the pumpkin and drumstick curry (which I used to commit a delicious culinary crime and poured on top of my risotto) and the Maldivian curry made with local tuna. Flavours that played with our taste buds and that we embraced with ultimate pleasure. There was entertainment from a DJ, and the party vibe took us to the dance floor. The next day we had the opportunity to spend some time in the Avani Overwater Villas. We took our snorkelling equipment and beach clothes and enjoyed the jump from the villa platform into the ocean, where we could continue to be amazed by the incredible sea life. The infinity pool with open views of the turquoise waters was a lavish touch to this luxurious accommodation.

We were gifted with in-villa dining with a selection of delicious curries, red snapper ceviche and salad. I had previously mentioned that I love Sri Lankan beetroot curry, which they don’t have on any of the menus, but guess what we had at our feast? Yes, Sri Lankan beetroot curry! This is an elevated level of customisation to please guests – conquering them by their stomachs!

We also enjoyed a sound healing wellness session at sunset by the beach conducted by Shalin. The whole purpose of this therapy is to promote mindfulness, focus on breathing correctly and massage the brain with the vibration of the bowls. It was my first time experiencing this kind of treatment, a way of connecting with myself and the nature that was surrounding us, a magical moment.