Imagine private islands with the whitest softest sand fringed by crystal blue waters.

Arriving by speedboat or sea plane it is all so stunningly beautiful. Like tiny teardrops in a turquoise lagoon you cannot help but be dazzled by its natural beauty. The Maldives has to be the ultimate luxury island escape.

The underwater world here has been the subject of countless documentaries – the highlight perhaps being the chance to drift alongside manta rays (best seen between June and October). Many of the islands are surrounded by wonderful coral reefs, often with fantastic marine life just moments from the shore. So, if an all-day diving trip isn’t for you, look out for hotels which have a house reef accessible directly from the beach. If you prefer to stay dry and still experience the seas, there’s an underwater spa, underwater music club and underwater restaurant, all found on different islands. 

The choice of accommodation in the Maldives is impressively diverse – from tiny hideaways with just a handful of rooms to larger, all-inclusive resorts with abundant facilities; authentic, rustic retreats to cool and contemporary hotels; and simple beachfront bungalows to the most exclusive overwater villas. Here we can take you to the best of the best, where exclusive villas come with private butlers and super secluded water villas can only be reached by boat. The good thing is that we know them all and are happy to guide you to the island of your dreams.

It's no surprise that the Maldives is a favourite with honeymooners - romantic candlelit dinners under starry skies, exclusive accommodation and palm-fringed beaches come as standard.

Straddling the equator, temperatures in the Maldives stay at a wonderfully warm 25-30°C year-round and only drop a few degrees at night. There’s an average of 8 hours of sunshine every day and the water temperature barely falls below 25°C. There are distinct wet and dry seasons; peak season is between December and April when it’s drier, hotter and less windy. Most travellers see this as the best time to go, but there are other factors to consider when choosing the time of year to travel here – like when to see specific marine life and when you’ll find the best value offers. May to July and September to November tend to have higher rainfall and some cloud, but still see plenty of sunshine amid short downpours.