Kuramathi, Maldives

Some people want the desert island, traditional Maldivian experience and in that case they’re going to need a smaller island. At 1.8km from top to bottom, Kuramathi is one of the larger islands, and for a longer stay, or for eating in a different restaurant every night for a week, and not always bumping into the same people in the bar (because there are six of them) Kuramathi is a fabulous island.

Here’s what makes Kuramathi special.  Firstly, it’s stunningly beautiful with tall trees of different species, wide white sandy paths, and endless beaches and coves that are never, ever busy – some better for snorkelling, some with shade from trees, some overlooking rocky reefs, others the boats and if you’re lucky you’ll see a school of dolphins pass by. Then there’s the sandbank where it’s just you and the horizon.

The island is spotlessly clean and unbelievably well organised. There are no rooms as it’s an all villa resort and everything about the thatched, dome-roofed villas is of a very high standard. The service is faultless and it’s a well-documented foodie’s paradise with its selection of signature restaurants. There’s live entertainment if you want it with singers, jazz trios, disco, occasional movie nights and even karaoke. The snorkelling, as is usual in the Maldives, is fabulous and it’s one of the few remaining places to see a hammerhead shark.

I was there in December and although all my customers’ feedback had been excellent I was still transported into a parallel universe when I stepped onto the jetty. It happened to me time and again. I was relaxing on the beach under the shade of a tree and a tall bird that looked like a multi-coloured species of stork picked its way right past the foot of my sun bed. Swimming with a sea turtle, rays, the first sight of a shark. People I knew were staying in the beach villas in the northern end so I walked up there on my second night, underestimating the distance. In the dusk, and aware I was going to miss the sunset from the sandbank, I stopped in the Laguna bar and got chatting with a lady at the bar who suggested I have a cocktail and watch the manta rays being fed. She’d been there for three weeks and did this every year – which is what I find with Kuramathi. It has a devoted repeat clientele.

If you’re new to the Maldives and not sure how you’ll be on an island for any length of time why not do what I did and combine a stay with a tour of Sri Lanka? The flight between the two takes under an hour. Prices for 2014 start from £1198 per person for 7 nights on All Inclusive and my prices are as low as anybody’s.