Its infinite horizon of placid, deep-blue sea dotted with 1,190 pristine islands -- the majority uninhabited -- makes this exotic Indian Ocean grouping of resort-topped sandbars an escapist fantasy come true. Since 80 percent of its coral-and-sand atolls are no more than 3 feet above sea level, global warming is threatening the small slice of paradise and creating a see-it-now buzz for curious travelers. Rest assured, however: The country’s luxe private-island resorts remain dreamy sanctuaries for newlyweds seeking a respite from our 24/7 world.
Wedding Requirements Weddings in Maldives have only ceremonial significance, as tourists cannot legally marry here. Most resorts will arrange any kind of ceremony you desire, but first you should legalize your marriage at home.
What to Do
Beach The beaches here rank among the best in the world -- powder-white wisps that vanish into water so ridiculously clear it seems retouched. (Nope, it hasn’t been.) If your idea of honeymoon bliss is to while away hours soaking in the equatorial sun, splashing in bathtub-warm shallows and taking sunset strolls during which you don’t pass another soul, this is your Shangri-La. After arriving in the capital and main island, Malé, you’ll take a motorboat or seaplane to one of the outlying atolls, where the romantic pampering at any of 87 resorts centers around dining, drinking and surrendering yourselves to head-to-toe relaxation.
Restaurants & Spas Maldives’ unique mix of Indian, African and Middle Eastern cultures is reflected in its menus, both at its beachfront restaurants and its world-renowned spas. Local cuisine is heavy on seafood and vegetables, uniquely prepared using exotic flavors that range from spicy to sweet: Think curry, cinnamon, cardamom, coconut, ginger and lime. Those same zesty ingredients are blended to create the rapturous oils and scrubs used during treatments inside Zen-like spas or in breezy pavilions facing the sea.
Diving These islands were first put on the map by divers, so scuba-certified couples will be in their element. All the resorts have dive schools; underwater visibility is up to 150 feet; and exotic marine life ranges from vibrant corals and majestic pinnacles to psychedelic reef fish, mammoth manta rays and gentle whale sharks.
Off the Beaten Path
Underwater Adventures A pair of novel experiences await: Dine (or even wed) 16 feet beneath the waves at Ithaa, the underwater restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, or enjoy a massage while cocooned in a rhythmic realm of aquatic blue at Huvafen Fushi, whose spa has the world’s only undersea treatment rooms. — Donna Heiderstadt
