The Treasured Island

Spurred by pressing environmental issues (coral mining and biodiversity loss), Noku Maldives has designed green initiatives to help restore Maldives to its former glory. Victoria Lim explores the luxury boutique resort.

- Victoria Lim

Made up of 26 atolls – consisting of more than 1,000 coral islands – and surrounded by azure waters, it’s no surprise that Maldives is a popular honeymoon and wedding destination. In 2017 alone, the island country welcomed over 1.3 million visitors from around the world.

When we arrived at Velana International Airport after a four-hour flight from Singapore, we were greeted with a resounding “Maruhabaa!” from the Noku Maldives staff, who were there to pick us up. That was to be a greeting we’d hear on loop in the days to follow. Used in place of hello, goodbye, and well wishes of happiness and good health, the Maldivian word means ‘life’. And Maldives is indeed invigorating, thanks to the warmth of its people and the splendour of its unspoilt landscape.

Little island

White sand beaches are par for the course in Maldives – almost every five-star resort has its own private beachfront, but the newly opened Noku Maldives offers a little more exclusivity. Think South Beach in Miami, sans the ostentation.