The Maldives, brought to you by Four Seasons

Close your eyes, think of the Maldives and it’s likely you have swaying palms, white-sand beaches and sundowners dancing before your eyes. The string of islands in the Indian Ocean is holiday nirvana, where the views come in every shade of blue, jungly interiors teem with wildlife and the vibe is carefree-meets-cool. Nowhere captures the spirit of back-to-nature luxury like Four Seasons, which has two resorts in this sunshine paradise – Kuda Huraa in the North Malé Atoll and Landaa Giraavaru within the Baa Atoll. From serene spas and barefoot dining to swimming in warm, clear waters, not to mention the stand-out-from-the-crowd service, these are places where you can do as little or as much as you want. Relaxation guaranteed.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

What for: world-class surfing and hospitality

Set in the North Malé Atoll, just 25 minutes by speedboat from the airport, Kuda Huraa has all the tropical island requisites – Robinson Crusoe-style beaches, lush vegetation, water so turquoise it’s almost neon and a thriving coral reef. The accommodation – some of the most capacious in the Maldives – is spread across the resort and offers indoor-outdoor living at its finest. The over-water villas have infinity pools, sea view bathrooms and direct access to the lagoon. While tucked away among the coconut palms and moments from the beach, the open-plan bungalows and pavilions come with private gardens and plunge pools. The newly renovated beach villas offer spacious palm-shaded pool decks.

Life here moves at a chilled pace. The Island Spa, on its own island and accessed via a traditional dhoni boat, is heavenly, with therapies harnessing the therapeutic powers of the ocean, as well as reflexology, acupuncture and physiotherapy in the cocooning Healing Tent and a yoga pavilion. For more up-tempo activities, the breaks near Kuda Huraa are world-class (Kelly Slater has surfed here) so catch a few waves with the on-site Tropicsurf pros or, for the ultimate ride, book a customised surfing safari where a seaplane will take you to the most hard-to-reach surf spots. The PADI 5-Star IDC Centre has the inside track on all the best dive sites, opening up a magical underwater kingdom where you may be lucky enough to spot rainbow-coloured fish, corals, sea turtles and whale sharks.

All that aquatic adventuring making you hungry? The dining options are many, whether feasting on celebrated chef Hari Nayak’s modern Indian menu at Baraabaru, fresh Italian dishes at Reef Club, Asian fusion at the poolside Café Huraa, or steak and seafood at Kandu Grill. Either way, watching the sky turn to vibrant pink and orange at Sunset Lounge, with a rum cocktail in hand, is a must.

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Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

What for: natural wonders and holistic wellness

Landaa Giraavaru in the Baa Atoll, a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve, is only a 35-minute seaplane flight from Malé and yet it feels a world away. The protected 44-acre island resort is a natural paradise, where fruit bats roost in the trees and the jewelled waters are home to all manner of oceanic creatures. Stay in one of the newly reimagined beach villas or bungalows – or a sprawling water villa. With hammocks, swinging sofas, beanbags, loungers and your own 12m-plus private pool as standard, you can enjoy front-row ocean views in supreme comfort.

The memory making doesn’t end there. At Landaa Giraavaru, you can also enjoy snorkelling and may even spot some rays, which abound in the local waters.

Back on land, guests drift between the beach and the four swimming pools on repeat. For added Zen, AyurMa, the holistic wellness haven, centres on four pillars – Ayurveda, Planetary Wellbeing, Yoga Therapy and Wellness – delivering personalised treatments and programmes designed for health, harmony and happiness for people and planet. Retox at the resort’s tempting array of restaurants and bars, whether Neapolitan pizza at the breezy all-day Blu Beach Club, authentic Levantine mezze at Al Barakat, or frozen margaritas at Seabar. A culinary highlight is the ongoing partnership with Michelin-starred Italian chef Gaetano Trovato, who works with the resort to mentor the next generation of chefs. Guests can sample the Tuscany-meets-Maldives menu year-round via Trovato’s on-site protégés.

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All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected and include a generous baggage allowance per person and a 24-hour holiday helpline. Secure your Maldives holiday now with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly.*

*Full balance due seven weeks before departure for long-haul holidays. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply. See ba.com/deposits