Anantara Dhigu Maldives
Our Sunrise Beach Bungalow had direct beach access and its own private garden complete with resident hermit crabs, lizards, Asian Koel and white-breasted waterhens, one of which became a regular visitor and even popped into our bungalow on occasion! Gulhifushi is a small island directly opposite our beach bungalow and it was an easy kayak row, swim, or even walk through the shallows, away. At Gulhifushi there is a natural ocean pool which is great for snorkelling although there are numerous reefs around Dhigu where it is easy to see the myriad sea-life – stunning tropical fish of all shapes and sizes and creepy sea-cucumber!
Anantara Veli is the adult-only island close by Dhigu although its restaurants allowed family dining in the evenings and were easily accessible by the free water taxis. Our favourite was the Thai restaurant, Baan Huraa, which is situated on an over-water walkway between Veli and the exclusive Anantara Naladhu island. Also on Veli, we enjoyed a Maldivian evening at 73 degrees, a sumptuous buffet and local entertainment. These restaurants are included in the Half Board option and back on Dhigu we also had great dining experiences at ‘Sea, Fire, Salt’, Aqua and the Fushi Café.
It’s easy enough to stroll around the whole of the coast of Dhigu in about 30 minutes and everywhere is easily accessible along the sandy pathways within. But if you really can’t be bothered to walk you can hail a golf buggy or cycle around, bikes are readily available all over the island and can be left where your journey ends. Fiona at Tropicsurf had the task of getting us upright for stand-up paddle boarding, Chris and Bobbi were off in no time but it took a little more persistence for me to progress from wobble-boarding to paddle-boarding! The hardest part for me was actually getting on and standing up but once I was perpendicular there was no stopping me. Needless to say, we all took a few tumbles into the shallow waters but had an enormous amount of fun and lots of laughs along the way and enjoyed it so much that we did it all again on our last day.
Dexter, at Anantara Spa, worked his magic on my knotty back muscles and I left feeling refreshed and relaxed. The spa is over the water and my bed had a glass window in the floor beneath my head affording views of the tropical fish swimming underneath, not that I stayed awake for long to enjoy it!
Anantara Dhigu is definitely a great place for a family holiday with its Dhoni Kid’s Club, plethora of facilities and activities from scuba diving and snorkelling to kayaking and jet-skiing, relaxation and superb dining, but still maintaining its peaceful island idyll. I did think I would feel trapped and bored but left feeling refreshed and relaxed after spending quality time with Chris and Bobbi – we were ‘forced’ to kick back and switch-off for a few days which, in my book, is no bad thing!
If you’d like to find out more about my Maldives holiday or would like some help to plan and book your own escape then do please get in touch, I’d be delighted to help.