THE RITZ-CARLTON MALDIVES
PERFECT DAYS = PERFECT STAYS.
There’s something about arriving in style that sets the tone for a holiday - and The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, nails it. After touching down at Male International Airport, you are whisked onto the Ritz Carlton’s private luxury yacht for a 75 minute glide across the Indian Ocean. Sea breeze in your hair, turquoise waters stretching out in every direction as you pass by tiny islands and sleek resorts. By the time you drift into the Fari Islands lagoon, it feels less like an arrival and more like being gently dropped into a dream.
The resort is all about space and serenity. A vast, shimmering lagoon forms the playground of the island, the kind of blue that doesn’t need a filter (or an introduction). Villas are contemporary, chic and minimalistic in design - clean lines, open layouts and wall-to-wall glass that slides away to reveal your own private pool. Whether you are perched over the water or tucked away in a beach villa, you’ll never feel crowded. The beach villas are cleverly designed so that each stretch of sand feels private—shared by just a handful of villas at most—giving you that rare sense of seclusion without ever feeling cut off.
Getting around the island is not only easy but fun - grab your bike and cruise across the sweeping bridges that connect the resort’s different pockets of paradise. Lagoon on one side, reef on the other—it’s impossible to decide which view wins. Chances are you’ll find yourself slowing down, coasting a little, and taking it all in.
When you’re ready to dip beneath the surface, a snorkelling reef a short dhoni ride away is buzzing with life—reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles, corals, the whole cast. If staying above the waterline is more your thing, you’ve got paddleboards, sailboats, jet skis and just about every toy you could dream of. And when you’ve had your fill of the sea, the island has plenty to keep you busy on land too.
And the food? Next level. Long, lazy lunches at the Beach Shack barefoot in the sand, elegant evenings at Summer Pavilion, and sun-drenched breakfasts on the reef side, where the morning light scatters diamonds across the water. Oh, and for those who can’t function without a good caffeine fix—there is an actual coffee machine at breakfast! Barista-worthy coffee to accompany the delicious pastries and view (if you know, you know!)
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, meanwhile, is pure magic. I’ve tried my fair share of Maldivian spas, and this one is in a league of its own. From the moment you step inside, the energy shifts—grounded yet indulgent, serene yet decadent. Treatments are world-class, elevated by thoughtful little touches that make the experience unforgettable. Bliss bottled.
As the day winds down, the resort has one more surprise up its sleeve: the sunset ritual. Lagoon-side, as the sky drips from gold to coral to violet, Maldivian drums begin to play—a soft heartbeat against the water. Torches flicker, the air is warm and salty, and you’re swept into a ceremony that beautifully blends Maldivian island tradition with Ritz Carlton elegance. It’s soulful, moving, and one of those pinch-me moments you’ll want to pocket forever.
Families are more than looked after here too. The kids club has a Hobbiton-style doorway that feels straight out of a storybook, leading into a little world of wonder (complete with waterslides!) Meanwhile, parents get to enjoy their own version of freedom—which, let’s be honest, often looks a lot like cocktails by the pool, uninterrupted.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands has this effortless rhythm: relaxed yet refined, indulgent but never overdone. The kind of place where perfect days really do add up to perfect stays.
