Romantic sunsets, ludicrously pretty villas, and impressive Turkish spa await to entice you at Ayada Maldives

Break free from the mundane and the monotonous. Celebrate the spirit of freedom with a holiday. From the most special of secluded overwater villas to sustainable back-to-nature style bedrooms with the best access to the healthiest and most bountiful reefs in the country, the Maldives is home to some of the finest resorts.

At 15 hectares, Ayada, on the southern rim of the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll and just 30km north of the Equator, is big enough to get lost on, and the more walking or cycling about you do, the more surprises keep popping up. A true Maldivian retreat, it has a wide range of restaurants, large villas with private infinity pools, and multiple award-winning AySpa. A large variety of water sports, excursions, and experiences are also available for the guests.

Themed villas and suites

Ayada features 112 themed villas and suites – Beach, Ocean, Lagoon, and Garden. Expect large sundeck with dining table, over-water hammock, private pool, sun loungers, daybed, glass floor panels in bedroom and living room, bath tub, shower and outdoor shower, Harman Kardon surround sound system, and Nespresso machine and tea making facilities. They also have villas and suites dedicated to families with two bedrooms. Butler service is available 24*7. The best part is each villa and suite comes with bicycles for all members.

Culinary delight

A culinary experience awaits at Ayada Maldives, wherein eight contemporary outlets, each with its unique influence, offer a range of delectable treats and spirits to entice your taste-buds. Open for breakfast and dinner, Magu is Ayada Maldives’ main restaurant showcasing a generous international buffet with daily changing themes such as Far Eastern, Chef’s Special, Maldivian, Mexican, Mediterranean or Middle Eastern - ensuring that every night diners enjoy an abundance of variety and flavour. Ocean Breeze, named after its beautiful over-water location, is open for lunch and dinner and offers gourmets a tempting menu of modern European dishes. With regular seasonal changes to the menu, items such as grilled seafood, home-made pasta and fine steaks are perennial favourites. Whereas at Mizu, enjoy an authentic Japanese meal, crafted to perfection by the chef. Add to this, an extensive choice of sakes and wines and the characteristic of sitting between the ocean and the tropical Ayada Maldives. Embark on a journey to the far East with an exquisite range of Asian delicacies at KAI. Open for dinner each evening, diners can choose from extensive regional Asian specialties from China, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Zero Degree restaurant and bar is where you’ll find poolside dining at its finest: a simple yet wide menu of international dishes that addresses all cravings from crisp fresh salads to European, Asian and middle-eastern dishes. Guests can choose to dine barefoot in the water, under a thatched roof, in one of the poolside cabanas swathed in fabri, or of course for the ultimate sun lovers, the sun beds by the pool. You could stop in at the Ottoman Lounge and settle in for a coffee with a squidge of Turkish delight and a shisha pipe. The Middle Eastern mood shimmies through the villas: a filigree lampshade here, a joss-stick, and a flounce of Turkish fabric over the bed. Couples love the resort’s tiny over-water open-air cheese and wine bar set 100m over the lagoon. Ile De Joie is home to the island’s fine wines cellar where oenophiles will enjoy perusing the eclectic wine list, while the resident bartender can suggest the perfect tipple from a range of fine label cognacs, premium whiskies and other delectable bottled digestives and aperitifs. If you are craving for a laid-back experience, head to Sea Salt to feast on mouthwatering freshly grilled meat and seafood. Sea Salt opens every Tuesday and Friday at the Zero Degree beach.

Experiences

Doesn’t matter if you’re a family, solo, friends group, there’s something for everyone. The Zuzuu Kids Club welcomes children with engaging and fun daily activities. There’re family-oriented programmes with a wide list of activities to enjoy together, such as carnival, fire dance shows, fish feeding experience, and excursions. Dreaming of a fancy water experience, there are guided snorkelling, kayaking, boating and fishing facilities. Curated couple experiences are available. Surprise your loved one with a private dining under the sunset, a relaxing couple massage or a private sandbank picnic excursion. Ayada Maldives’ 3500 sqm AySpa has been designed to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit. The spa showcases terrazzo floors with marble and timber hues to reinforce an indigenous feel to your spa experience. Not to forget, it has Maldives’ first Vichy shower room and private Turkish Hammam including an elaborate marble plinth.

Getting there:

From the Male International Airport, you have to take the 40-min domestic flight to the Kaadedhdhoo Airport. The Ayada crew would arrange a speedboat for reaching the resort. The ride takes around 25 minutes.