Some people love to make an entrance when they arrive at a hotel, so imagine the impact you would make if you parachuted in.
Thrill seekers can do just that at the newly opened Ifuru Island Maldives resort. Guests have the opportunity to enjoy an aerial view of the sublime archipelago as they free fall over the coral reefs and soft, glistening white sands. Ifuru has its own airport and partnered with world champion skydiver Will Penny to create the first permanent skydiving drop zone in the Maldives.
The resort is located in the tranquil Raa Atoll, a 40-minute flight north of the capital, Malé. This elegant luxury resort offers not only dazzling adventures but also a lot of tranquility.
Since Ifuru is happy to welcome families, I am visiting with my husband and seven-year-old daughter Amelia. At first we wondered if it would be difficult to keep our little one entertained, but we were pleasantly surprised by the variety of activities on offer for children.
There’s an all-day play center with table tennis and PlayStations, plus two kids’ clubs (Coconut Kids Club and Little Explorers Club) for ages three to 12, with numerous activities ranging from scavenger hunts and painting faces to marine biology lessons. That means ‘we’ is on the table for exhausted parents.
MailOnline Travel’s Carol Driver checks into the Ifuru Island Maldives resort (above) with her husband and seven-year-old daughter, Amelia.
Ifuru Island Maldives is located in the “serene” Raa Atoll, a 40-minute flight north of the capital Malé.
Guests of Ifuru Island Maldives can skydive to the resort; Please refer to the four images above. Ifuru has its own airport and partnered with world skydiving champion Will Penny to create the first permanent skydiving drop zone in the Maldives. The skydiving season runs from early November to late March.
Other activities on offer include sunset cruises, diving, snorkelling and water sports including stand-up paddleboarding.
One morning, we took a 40-minute boat ride to snorkel in the sea and see bannerfish, tangfish, and clownfish. And a friendly pod of dolphins joins us on the way back.
The resort has 147 rooms perfectly located to watch stunning sunsets over the Indian Ocean.
Ours is a beautiful sunset beach villa that combines traditional with modern, with a king size bed and a small sofa bed for Amelia. There’s plenty of space and storage, and it features a huge outdoor bathroom complete with separate bath, shower and toilet (expect some friendly lizards).
Sliding glass doors lead to a secluded lounge area, from where we can walk, dipping our toes into the warm, dusty, pristine white sand, out to the sparkling sea. The only thing you can hear is the sound of crystal clear water: happiness!
Carol and her family stayed in a “beautiful sunset beach villa that blends traditional and modern.” The image above shows a version of her room type that comes with a private pool.
Beach life: Carol describes the resort’s sand as “powdery and pristine”
Sail during the day – the resort ‘features 147 rooms perfectly positioned to watch stunning sunsets over the Indian Ocean’
The resort has an all-day play center with table tennis and PlayStations, plus two kids’ clubs (Coconut Kids Club and Little Explorers Club) for ages three to 12.
Carol reveals that you can “eat seafood tempura, black Angus beef and chocolate mousse cake at The Waterfront (restaurant)” (above)
For a little pampering, Amelia and I headed to the exquisite Xanadu Spa, where we both received massages in a dreamlike setting. I also sign up for my first sound healing therapy session, which leaves me completely relaxed.
Dining options in Ifuru are as varied as the activities, with a choice of four bars and six restaurants. Most surround the lively area around the resort’s large beachfront pool, complete with sun loungers and beanbags and set among lush, palm-fringed gardens (watch out for fruit bats).
We are booked on Ifuru’s Exclusively Yours dining plan, which means all meals and soft drinks, as well as wines and cocktails, are included.
Carol writes, “We spent hours swimming, walking the perfect beaches, and savoring moments I never want to leave.”
Above is Ifuru’s eye-catching Barbie-style lifeguard station. Stays at the resort start at £750 per night, based on two people sharing a Sunset Sky Suite and include a premium ‘Exclusively Yours’ all-inclusive deal.
The Social House is where we enjoy breakfasts of fresh fruits with yoghurts, eggs, cakes and baskets of toast, and delicious Maldivian ‘mas huni’ breakfasts: tuna with onion, coconut and chili.
You can choose between handmade pizza and smoothies of any flavor you want by the pool for lunch, or salads and wraps with mojitos (and great music) at the relaxed The Beach Club, located in the best beach area on the island .
For dinner, Palm Grill’s talented chefs prepare rich flavors of premium beef and local fish cooked over a charcoal grill. Alternatively, you can savor seafood tempura, black Angus beef and chocolate mousse cake at The Waterfront, which is on the pier, so be sure to book for sunset.
Unfortunately, our stay coincides with a skydiving team break (Ifuru has its own runway), so we won’t be able to make a grand entrance.
Instead, we enjoyed a less adrenaline-filled break, spending hours swimming, walking along picture-perfect beaches, and savoring “I never want to leave” moments.
