DO AUTHENTIC BAREFOOT LUXURY IN THE MALDIVES

Though close to the airport (just 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana), Gili Lankanfushi (00 960 664 0304; gili-lankanfushi.com) is set on one of the most beautiful coral islands in the country – all turquoise lagoons, crystal beaches and white sandbanks that swirl and morph with the tides.

This is one of the Maldives’ original barefoot luxury resorts where, on arrival, guests are invited to cast off their shoes for the days ahead, ready for beachside breakfast buffets, lounging under palm trees, and bicycle rides between the swimming pool, watersports centre, tennis courts and outdoor cinema. Other activities include coral planting with a marine biologist, learning to surf, foraging for ingredients for cooking classes and big-game fishing. There’s a choice of excellent restaurants and a knock-out spa offering Thai, Chinese and Ayurvedic therapies.

All of the timber and thatch villas are set over water and channel stylish castaway vibes, with split-level living rooms, netted four-poster beds, indoor/outdoor bathrooms and wooden decks with steps leading to hammocks strung above the Indian Ocean. The most private and romantic among them are the eight Robinson Crusoe villas, which stand alone out at sea and have rooftop terraces where you can lie and watch the constellations in the night sky.

YOU’LL NEVER FORGET

Coming face-to-face with the enormous amber-eyed green sea turtle that likes to hang out in the lagoon, using the hotel’s pioneering coral restoration lines as a kind of underwater hammock.

Turquoise Holidays (020 7147 7087; turquoiseholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights in a villa suite from £3,499pp, half-board, including international flights and speedboat transfers

Lee Cobaj