Milky Way in the Maldives
Jemma Crew enjoys the stars from a tropical island
From above and afar, the hundreds of islands that make up the Maldives loosely resemble an inverted night sky.
Countless islets, sandbanks, atolls and turquoise reefs scattered in a sea of deepest blue stand out like the stars, burning bright and suspended in the endless night of our universe.
It is easy to feel insignificant, small, a tiny cog in the vastness of nature. Which is perhaps why many seek out this remote destination and the opportunity to leave a million niggling worries behind.
After two plane journeys, a seaplane and a speed boat, my toes are in the sand, and I am welcomed to Milaidhoo island with a flagon of icy coconut water to rehydrate, swiftly followed by a glass of champagne,
I’m here to experience a new stargazing retreat, allowing guests to discover the beauty of our galaxy from an Indian Ocean paradise.
As a country that is 99% water, the Maldives is the perfect place for stargazing, with a great dark sky and little light pollution.
Starting from spring 2023, Milaidhoo will be offering a number of astronomy retreats, timed to maximise the chances of clear skies. This will be outside the traditional rainy season, which spans roughly May to October, with dates based on analysis of an indigenous Maldivian calendar system known as nakaiy, lunar cycles and astronomical events.
The retreat will include the opportunity to name a star, guided stargazing, lectures on Maldivian night sky history and culture, and dinner under the stars on a secluded sandbank.
Guests will be offered a ‘healing space’ treatment, starting with vibrating singing bowls, followed by a Balinese massage using rose aromatherapy – inspired by a rose which was sent to space in the late 1990s, as an experiment to create an entirely new scent.
They will also have a chance to set sail on a traditional Maldivian dhoni and learn the ancient skill of wayfinding – using the sun, stars and waves to steer a course.
Guests will have the opportunity to spot the winter constellations of the northern hemisphere, including Orion, Taurus, and Auriga, and stars such as Sirius –
the brightest in our night sky. Milaidhoo is only a few degrees north of the equator, so it may also be possible to see constellations in the southern hemisphere, such as the Southern Cross.
Astronomy expert Valerie Stimac, who will lead the retreats, says stargazing while on holiday is “a great opportunity to even further disconnect from the stresses of everyday life” and learn more about a destination through its skies. Using a powerful laser beam, she helps us identify the constellations of Sagittarius, which loosely resembles a teapot, and Scorpius, part of which looks like a scorpion’s tail.
For a truly special experience, guests can visit a secluded sandbank just minutes by boat from the island, which changes shape at different times of year. As waves gently roll in from all directions, we are treated to canapes and champagne followed by a three-course meal of sushi, barbecued meat, fish and vegetables, and fresh fruit, surrounded by dozens of candles and lanterns.
Dinner and a stargazing session is included as part of the astronomy retreat, but at extra cost, guests can arrange to stay overnight, sleeping on a four-poster bed with just the stars for company, while a nearby anchored yacht provides facilities. Milaidhoo is part of the Baa Atoll’s Unesco Biosphere Reserve, so snorkelling in its azure shallows should not be missed.
Following the reef which encircles the island, I spot yellow and blue surgeon fish, parrot fish, clown fish and incredible coral formations. Guests can also arrange to swim with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay. Afterwards, sitting with a cocktail in hand, doing nothing but watching the sun set, is essential Maldives behaviour.
How to plan your trip
Abercrombiekent.co.uk offers a seven-night trip to the Maldives staying at Milaidhoo in an overwater villa with private pool from £5,500pp based on two people sharing on a B&B basis.
Includes flights and seaplane transfers.