Travel Matters Insight

Lily Beach Resort & Spa

About…

The Beach Island of Huvahendhoo can be found in the southern Ari Atoll. This striking island is only 600m x 100m and its friendly neighbourhood is encircled by translucent lagoons & pure white beaches, as well as being home to the first all-inclusive Platinum Plan Resort in the Maldives.

Guests have an outstanding selection of accommodation to choose from…125 Villas & Suites to be exact! All the Beach Residences are immaculately furnished and have decking’s with a private swimming pool. If you’re looking for something a little more ‘at one with nature’, we might suggest the Beach Suites, as they roll seamlessly onto the Indian Ocean’s striking beaches. These two options are really ideal for a couple or small family, as they can accommodate up to 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children. For something a little more…iconic, you will be delighted with either the Sunset Water Suites, Deluxe Water Villas and Lagoon Villas. These charming abodes are raised on pillars that give these accommodations the illusion of floating on water, as well as being well-appointed with Jacuzzis and everything you need for an opulent stay. Wake up to the gentle ebb & flow of the tide, marvel in the beauty of the marine wildlife and enjoy the sunrise and sunset all from the comfort of your own private living space.

Book knowing that your days will be shrouded in an unlimited banquet of either; relaxation, luxury or activities. Dip down to the Tamara Spa and embrace all aspects of holistic well-being and feel the transformative effects of different cultures, techniques and philosophies all bundled into individual wellness experiences. Daily activities are in abundance, so keep your schedule clear for the likes of Yoga, tennis, beach volleyball and scuba diving (at Provider’s Diving School).

Your evenings will be supplemented with 4 Fine Dining options! Lily Maa (Flower) can be found on the golden sands, encouraging a true sense of serenity. This restaurant is renowned for its lobster tank and premium wines. The à la carte restaurant, Tamarind, caters for a global audience, as chefs here have mastered cuisines from the likes of China, India and Thailand. If a bit of theatre & performance is how you like to enjoy your mealtime, embrace the show at Teppanyaki where an extensive menu includes the well regarded Wagyū Beef. Les Turquoise d'Aqva is the final of restaurants on Huvahendhoo – here you can experience modern gourmet cuisine that consists of a five-course tasting menu. After dinner, we recommend retiring to AQVA Bar and sampling some of the bar staffs favourite cocktails.

If you have brought the kids along to Lily Beach Resort & Spa, you might be thrilled to know that Turtles Kid's Club acts as a premium Crèche. This service is available for those aged between 3-12 years. This modern facility has everything the little ones might need to blow off that mountain of energy, so let them be amused by a small library, games, toys, kids movies and an outdoor playground with a tree house, swings and a basketball court.

This is the ultimate escape for a family who relish the opportunity to soak in the natural sights of the Indian Ocean, beach & tropical surroundings, the Five-star service, supreme comfort, intriguing cuisine and unmatched activities.

Key Sustainable Features…

The Maldives has rapidly progressed in terms of their Sustainable outlook in recent years. Nowadays, there is a countrywide ban on single-use plastic water bottles and straws. Hotels have restrictions on fresh water, policies on waste disposal, how to recycle grey water for irrigation and to compost their food waste. Lily Beach Resort & Spa are attempting to lead the way on how Resorts operate in South Asia and these are our favourite implementations -

• A water-bottling plant was built in 2016 and it provides glass bottled water to guests in the Restaurants, Villas and Suites.

• Local fishermen still use traditional ‘Pole and Line’ methods, which ensure that a healthy fish stock is caught. This is used alongside size guidelines and additional government fishery requirement that benefit the long term sustainable fish population.

• Lily Beach work together with The Providers Dive Centre Team to arrange ‘Clean-ups’ of the local beach and reefs. This facility also offers guests the chance to participate in the ‘PADI Project Aware Specialty Course’.

Travel Matters Highlights…

All things water-based!

Lily Beach Resort & Spa and Huvahendhoo are encompassed by the spectacle of the Indian Ocean and its inhabitants. So, make your way down to Lily Beach's Dive Centre and learn the theory of diving, before immersing yourself in the unfamiliar world of the underwater abyss! Lily Beach has assembled a group of incredibly talented staff, some of which are accredited PADI Divers and qualified Instructors from Southern Africa. Allow your guide to provide you with state of the art dive equipment and chaperon you along local reefs and pristine dive sites. Keep your (underwater) eyes peeled, as you are likely to spot the Giant Grouper, Manta Rays, Reef Sharks, Sea Turtles and Stingrays.

Of course, not all marine & sea life needs to be observed from underwater! Whilst on the island, make sure to enquire about the community of turtles that choose to holiday amongst visitors. Or, use the on-site concierge to arrange a boat tour to some of the adjacent islands on traditional Dhoni vessel.

If you want to burn some calories, whist absorbing the beautiful surroundings, we suggest trying your hand at catamaran sailing, wakeboarding and windsurfing. These activities might even allow you to venture to some of the local lagoons, where more exceptional nature will be on view!

Map & Location…

Lily Beach Resort & Spa is located on the island of Huvahendhoo, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Being southwest of Sri Lanka and India, the Maldives consist of 1,192 coral islands that forms an Archipelago of 26 Atolls. The Maldives (Republic of Maldives) is renowned for its fantastic glistening beaches and high-end resorts that offer luxurious villas, built on stilts in the water. Lovers of these islands tend to be those who have an affinity with the water, so expect to see many scuba diving & snorkelling and water sports enthusiasts. Take an adventure into the ocean and you may catch glimpses of astounding fish, coral reef, manta rays, turtles, sharks and the famous & illusive whale shark.

With its richness in marine life, biodiversity and flora & fauna, the NBSAP (National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans) has set the Maldives a set of guiding principles that relate to ecological sustainability, individual responsibility. As well as this, the Maldives has the accolade as the founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and being a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non Aligned Movement.

In order to get to the island, guests must fly to Velana International Airport, where the Lily Beach crew will be waiting at Counter #26. At this point, you will be whisked out of the airport to the Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) Terminal where a 25-minute Seaplane Transfer will transport you to the Resort.