Barefoot bliss is a given at Solar Siyam Resorts, 5 non-public island luxurious properties within the Maldives, every with their particular person points of interest. However as all welcome company with the nice and cozy and nothing-is-too-much-trouble hospitality well-known on these paradise islands, it’s laborious to select. Solar Siyam Iru Veli is a premium non-public pool getaway for indulgent escapes; Solar Siyam Vilu Reef is a boutique hideaway, excellent for 2; Siyam World is filled with never-seen-before surprises; Solar Siyam Iru Fushi fits solos to households in acres of heaven on earth; whereas Solar Siyam Olhuveli presents extra reasonably priced all-inclusive journey, being the one four-star resort within the in any other case five-star group. Solar Siyam Iru Veli appeared excellent for my escape with associates to a particular sand, sea, solar, spa and snorkel sanctuary, however should you can’t slender it down, why not select a two-centre journey, or extra?
Look & Really feel
Circling Solar Siyam Iru Veli from above in our seaplane, first impressions are the whitest sand, the bluest sea and greenest swaying palm bushes. Coming into land in a rainbow of spray, I’d by no means seen an ‘worldwide airport’ fairly prefer it – a tiny, floating quay in the course of the iridescent Indian Ocean. But with no customs or immigration to go via and useful seaplane pilots and speedboat crew to switch our baggage, we had been quickly aboard for the hop, skip and leap by boat to shore the place a rapturous musical cacophony with Bodu Beru drums and singing welcomed us to our very personal Solar Siyam Iru Veli island. Our ambassador Rilwan already knew our names off by coronary heart and cheerfully greeted us individually as we clambered eagerly into the electrical buggy. Whisked to Chemistry Bar for chilled towels, refreshing coconut juice served within the husk and nibbles of fruit kebabs and banana chips, it’s the beginning you dream of to a much-anticipated tropical oasis.
Location
On the map, the Maldives are marked as a cluster of 26 pinprick atolls south of Sri Lanka (residence to the recently-opened Solar Siyam Pasikudah boutique seaside resort) and north of the Seychelles. Solar Siyam Iru Veli is situated inside a personal lagoon within the South Nilandhe Atoll, a couple of 40-minute scenic seaplane flight from the capital Malé, the place worldwide flights contact down on arrival.
Getting There
Qatar Airways flies to Malé by way of Doha from London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Enterprise class passengers (learn overview right here) have entry to world-class lounges reminiscent of Qatar Airways’ latest The Backyard at Hama Worldwide Airport, Doha (learn our overview right here), ranked Finest Airport within the World 2024 by Skytrax. As soon as in Malé, company of Solar Siyam Resorts can chill out pre-departure within the non-public lounge at Velana Airport’s fashionable seaplane terminal. Our seaplane switch to Solar Siyam Iru Veli was with Trans Maldivian Airways. Pre-book airport parking, lodges, lounges and transfers with UK market chief Vacation Extras.
Suites & Villas
In an intimate setting of simply 125 villas, all with swimming pools, select from dawn or sundown Seaside or Water Villas. Seaside Villas have a big sundeck and personal pool along with your very personal stretch of silky white sands to sink your toes into. Ground-to-ceiling glass doorways and an outside toilet with separate rainfall bathe and freestanding bathtub guarantee loads of mild and uninterrupted sea views. There’s a selection of dimension from Household to Grand appropriate for as much as three adults/ two adults and two kids to the Seaside Residences (one or two bed room) which characteristic a big lounge, expansive terrace and elevated views, sleeping a most of six adults.
The Water Villas are modern in design with floor-to-ceiling home windows looking over non-public plunge swimming pools and decks to the ocean. A king-size bed room with desk, dressing desk and loads of storage results in a spacious toilet with free-standing tub and separate walk-in rain bathe. Totally furnished out of doors decks all characteristic steps all the way down to the lagoon for simple snorkelling on the sheltered home reef. A selection of dimension ranges from an Ocean Villa sleeping as much as three adults/ two adults and two kids to a two-bedroom Ocean Residence sleeping a most of six adults/ 4 adults and two kids with an entrance hallway resulting in a cushty lounge and eating room in addition to king-size bedrooms with en-suite loos on either side.
My Overwater Villa
My Dolphin Ocean Villa positively had the wow issue with walk-in panoramas of the non-public pool and ocean past. A pleasant ‘Welcome House’ message on the mattress beneath a turtle-shaped from grasses was a pleasant contact – as was the Champagne on ice, hand-made goodies and complimentary minibar. These villas are so named as they’ve a prized, front-row setting for watching dolphins swim previous every day, whether or not at daybreak or nightfall – positively a star attraction. From my bathtub, thoughtfully crammed for me with scented bubbles and recent flower petals on one night by my room stewards, I watched a heron preen himself on deck. Extra surprises included a toilet with a view of the lagoon beneath – though cautious screening safely retained my modesty – and a unusual platform ‘seaside’ constructed into the deck. However my favorite spot was cooling within the plunge pool whereas watching dazzling shoals swim by.
Breakfast
I liked the Maldivian breakfasts finest within the buffet-style Aqua Orange which served each delicacies you would want for. I’d ask for recent, native mango and keenness fruit to be sliced for me, whereas fragrant curries, tuna fish kulhafila salads and flatbreads made a change from porridge again residence! Our floating breakfast was a superb first – a tray overflowing with pastries, fruit and even bacon and pancakes with maple syrup dropped at my villa and launched in my plunge pool whereas I sat and loved all of it in my swimsuit!
Eating places
A feast for the eyes, Aqua Orange serves an all-day tasty buffet from breakfast and lunch to scrumptious themed dinners with beautiful lagoon views, tables on the seaside and a daily-changing menu. When you choose waiter service, then Grouper Grill specialises in mouth-watering seafood and fish, in addition to prime steaks at lunch or dinner; whereas Roma is a Mediterranean restaurant with sea views, selfmade pasta and tropical-inspired panna cotta. For additional particular events, the group can organise a romantic dinner on the seaside or magical barbecue and cinema expertise underneath the celebrities, whereas we relished a Maldivian Cookery Class with Chef Aafaag, particularly after we lunched on the recent dishes ready utilizing spices, grated coconut and different locally-grown elements fully new to us.
Bars
Chemistry Bar is on the coronary heart of the resort – a fantastic place to fulfill and socialise for a espresso, mocktail or cocktail from skilled baristas and mixologists. There’s additionally a pool desk and night leisure reminiscent of karaoke or reside music. We completely loved a cocktail-making class one night, consuming the fruits of our labours, in fact. At Recent Water, the place full of life weekly pool events are celebrated, sip freshly squeezed juices or pina coladas served to your cabana, whereas the Wine Cellar is good for personal group dinners, tastings and pairings of the world’s best vintages and Champagnes.
Spa & Wellness
The sensory-scented signature therapeutic massage at Solar Siyam Iru Veli Ocean Spa will eternally reside in my reminiscence. For not solely was the overwater pavilion with ocean views and enjoyable sounds of lapping water a cocoon of calm, however as I lay face down on the therapeutic massage mattress, I might even watch the reside aquarium of fish within the lagoon beneath via a glass ground. What I’ll always remember usually are not simply my skilled therapist Wayan’s soothing methods to unknot muscle tissue, however the truth that I noticed a shark – sure, a shark – nonchalantly swim previous, oblivious to the impact he was having on my coronary heart price above! Reassuringly, it was a non-woman-eating, blacktip reef shark that lightly cruises the Maldives’ shallow waters with out ever taking a chew out of unsuspecting vacationers, however I nonetheless most well-liked spying him from this protected sanctuary fairly than whereas snorkelling!
The hydrotherapy suite with its sauna, steam room and out of doors whirlpool was additionally blissful for rest – even when a sudden tropical downpour gave us an actual rainfall bathe! There’s allegedly a well-equipped health centre (should you suppose spending time at a health club is worth it in Paradise); tennis courts; yoga and aqua qigong, in addition to a clinic for any emergencies. My thought of unwinding is sunbathing on a talcum powder seaside, studying a great e-book on a hammock or admiring spectacular sunsets, cocktail in hand!
Actions
I discovered a painless option to hold match right here is to swim and snorkel, feeling protected in our group and discovering it a lot simpler than anticipated (put on a lifejacket should you’re not a powerful swimmer). It’s positively beneficial for the colourful coral gardens, turtles, reef sharks, manta rays and 1,100 species of fish you possibly can spot! Water sports activities are additionally widespread, from canoeing or windsurfing to jet snowboarding or new, electrically-powered Seabobs which propel you thru the water extra rapidly than fins. The SSI dive centre will information budding newbies to the extra skilled and intrepid, with off-shore shipwrecks to discover. Youthful company will make associates on the Turtle Children Membership with each day actions from breakfast till bedtime.
Excursions
Complimentary excursions are a part of a Premium, All-inclusive Signature Plan and there are loads to select from. Our prime picks had been a Guided Snorkelling Safari (daytime or blue mild with a marine biologist), Native Island Discovery and Fortunate Dolphin Sundown Cruise. Solar Siyam Resorts can be eager to protect the nation’s wealthy heritage, with cultural reveals and demonstrations of native crafts and traditions reminiscent of cookery courses or making coconut oil.
Last Ideas
Solar Siyam Resorts is proudly Maldivian owned and the hospitality is second to none, with pleasant, smiling employees and attentive ambassadors only a WhatsApp away for lifts to eating places or another request. When local weather change might have a catastrophic impact on the weak coral atolls, it’s reassuring that the award-winning Solar Siyam Cares programme strives for a lightweight carbon footprint. A devoted sustainability mission supervisor and marine biologists purpose to guard the delicate archipelago, partaking holidaymakers and islanders in eco-friendly initiatives like planting coral nurseries and bushes, in addition to vitality saving, recycling and supporting the local people. On this wonderful castaway island, you’re inspired to kick off your sneakers and chill out, left to do as a lot or as little as you please in your personal time and at your personal tempo. It’s a spot the place the extraordinary can occur – like seeing a pod of dolphins at dawn, being left in awe as light large whale sharks cruise by or being stunned by the sight of a reef shark out of your therapeutic massage mattress!
This property is included in our information to the most effective lodges within the Maldives
