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Perfect Maldives resorts for Guardiola to blow off steam, tee off

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has said he would rather vacation in the Maldives or play golf than manage Manchester United even if it were the only job on offer.

Guardiola takes Manchester City to Old Trafford for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg as he seeks to win the competition for a third consecutive season.

Asked whether he would ever take charge of City’s fierce rivals, Guardiola said: “After training City I will never train them; I would not train [Real] Madrid [after Barcelona]. I’d be in the Maldives if I don’t have any offers. Maybe not the Maldives because it doesn’t have any golf courses.”

Guardialo is not new to the Maldives, having spent the last English Premier League season break in the island nation as well. But his characterisation that the Maldives doesn’t have golf courses is not right! We present four golf resort in Maldives worth trying.

Kuredu Resort Maldives

Kuredu introduced golf to the Maldives.

Established in 2003, Kuredu Golf Club is a unique island golf course located in the Maldives. The course features six holes averaging 55 yards and is the perfect place to sharpen up the all-important short game. Guests can hone their skills and and attempt a hole-in-one at the signature 3rd hole with an elevated tee box. The course is also floodlit, allowing for an excellent night golf experience which is extremely popular amongst the guests.

Kuredu is the perfect setting to escape the ordinary world of golf, enter a golfing haven in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The golf course is home to a PGA Golf Pro and offers a relaxed environment with all one could need to return from paradise an improved player. Guests can sharpen up their iron play on the range, practice on their putting stroke on an immaculate surface and improve their wedge game on the course.

Crafted for ‘the love of golf’ and holiday escapades, this course is within walking distance from the island’s rooms, Kuredu golf is quite simply a golfer’s bucket list venue.

Meeru Island Resort & Spa

Meeru opened the first nine-hole Pitch & Putt golf course in the Maldives, on November 1, 2009.

Located in the centre of the island, next to the Golf Driving Range and Putting Green, you can play nine holes over 480 yards on this 2000 sqm course.

There are nine tee boxes and six greens which allow you to play 18 holes whilst working on your short game. Each green features four or more flag positions of increasing levels of difficulty.

Average green size is 170 sqm (1,800 sq. ft). The greens are made of artificial turf, ensuring year-round perfect playing conditions. Some greens are protected by sand bunkers and some, as well by a water hazard.

Distance from the tee box to green varies from 35 – 80 yards. Some shots include dog legs and demand accuracy and control. High lofted clubs from the tee and rough (sand and pitching wedges) and a putter for the greens are best.

Meeru also opened the Maldives’ first golf Driving Range on November 1, 2003. It is 120 yards long with high target markers for shots up to 220 yards. Meeru’s artificial turf Putting Green is ideal for beginners and golfers to improve their putting skills.

Golf Lessons on the driving range or on the golf course can be scheduled from Sports Centre. Fun golf and tournaments are scheduled each week. Clubs and balls are available for rent from the Sports Centre. A range of golf accessories, including Meeru logo golf caps, shirts and balls are available for purchase at the Resort Gift Shop.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, located in the southernmost Addu atoll, is home to the one-of-a-kind Villingili Golf Course.

Nestled on seven-and-a-half hectares at the southern end of Villingili island, this nine-hole golf course includes par three and par four holes, averaging 112 metres in length. It is a recreational course designed for the enjoyment of golfers and beginners alike.

Spectacular challenges and vistas await at each of the nine holes. Coconut palms and other exotic flora, white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons and pounding Indian Ocean swells line the fairways.

A clubhouse offers light snacks and refreshments, whilst the pro shop carries golf equipment, apparel, gear and merchandise.

Velaa Private Island

Designed by Jose Maria Olazabal, renowned for his short game prowess, the Velaa Golf Academy is a golfing experience like no other, designed to create bespoke memories whatever your wishes.

With nine different tees, six greens, seven bunkers, and a lake in the wonderful turquoise hues the Maldives is famous for, Velaa Golf Academy by Olazabal provides an unequalled backdrop to develop your game on this unique private island.

A real “Practise in Paradise”, Velaa Golf Academy prides itself on tailoring golf lessons to the individual, focusing on the areas required for improvement. The resident Velaa Private Island professionals are fully PGA qualified and highly experienced in helping golfers of all levels.

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Simply summer at Milaidhoo: Invitation to slow living in the Baa Atoll

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In a destination often defined by excess, Milaidhoo Maldives offers a different summer narrative: one of restraint, rhythm and rare stillness. Introducing Simply Summer, a seasonal escape that celebrates the art of slowing down within the UNESCO-protected waters of the Baa Atoll.

An intimate island sanctuary, Milaidhoo is designed for travellers who value time as the ultimate luxury. Days unfold unhurriedly, beginning with relaxed oceanfront breakfasts and shaped entirely by choice, from sunrise yoga and snorkelling in pristine coral gardens to long, private hours spent within the calm of one’s villa. Evenings are defined by elegant à la carte dining, inspired by seasonal flavours and served with effortless grace.

The Simply Summer offer enhances this experience with considered privileges rather than excess. Guests are invited to explore the Maldives’ natural wonders through manta ray encounters in the legendary Hanifaru Bay, indulge in restorative rituals at the overwater Serenity Spa, or discover the atoll through curated island adventures, all with exclusive seasonal savings.

A chilled bottle of Ruinart Champagne awaiting guests in their villa sets the tone on arrival, while flexible early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability) ensures that time is never hurried. Dining remains a central pleasure, with daily breakfast and à la carte dinners at Ocean Restaurant, complemented by generous dining credits across the island’s culinary venues.

Available for stays from 1st May to 31st October 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights, Simply Summer is an understated invitation to experience the Maldives at its most refined, quietly luxurious, deeply personal and guided by the gentle pace of island life.

Simply Summer – Key Inclusions:

  • Daily breakfast at Ocean Restaurant
  • Daily à la carte dinner at Ocean Restaurant
  • USD 65 per person, per night dining credit (food-only) at other restaurants
  • 30% savings on manta ray snorkelling in Hanifaru Bay (group excursion)
  • 30% savings on selected treatments at Serenity Spa
  • 30% savings on curated group excursions and island experiences
  • Exclusive benefits when booking direct

Begin your Simply Summer at Milaidhoo.

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Excursions

Manta season experience returns as InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau announces 2026 retreat

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InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced the dates for its 2026 Manta Retreat, following the programme’s strong reception in recent years. The retreat will take place from 24 to 27 March 2026, coinciding with the Maamunagau manta season, when juvenile manta rays are commonly sighted in the resort’s lagoon just offshore.

The resort will once again partner with The Manta Trust, one of the world’s leading manta ray research organisations, to co-host the retreat and offer guests an immersive, educational experience centred on marine conservation. The programme is designed for travellers seeking purpose-led experiences and a deeper understanding of manta rays within their natural environment.

Located on the edge of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and adjacent to a known juvenile manta ray aggregation site, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau provides direct access to key research and observation areas. During the retreat, guests will be able to participate in guided reef snorkelling, manta excursions led by The Manta Trust, coral restoration and planting workshops, and a series of educational sessions. Participants will also have the opportunity to adopt and name a manta ray as part of the conservation initiative.

The partnership between InterContinental Maldives and The Manta Trust has been in place since 2019. The retreat will be led by The Manta Trust’s base leader, Meral Hafeez, who will guide guests through manta ray encounters while sharing insight into the organisation’s ongoing research and conservation efforts in the surrounding waters. The programme offers participants a behind-the-scenes look at the daily work of the research team, including observing and recording manta ray behaviour.

In 2023, Maamunagau Lagoon was recognised as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), identifying it as a vital habitat for manta rays and a priority conservation site. The lagoon continues to serve as a key research area for The Manta Trust, allowing guests to observe manta rays in their natural environment within close proximity to the resort. Certified divers are also catered for, with access to dedicated dive sites where manta ray cleaning stations can be observed, highlighting the complex marine ecosystems of the Maldives.

Beyond the retreat activities, guests can enjoy the resort’s overwater villas, unwind at AVI Spa, or explore its range of dining experiences.

The participation fee for the Manta Retreat is USD 1,550++ per night, per room, based on double occupancy, with a minimum stay of four nights. The package includes one manta ray research trip, guided house reef snorkelling, manta ray adoption, educational workshops, and accommodation in a luxury villa or residence on a half-board basis.

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Featured

Ten years of turtle conservation: Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu and Olive Ridley Project milestone

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Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, part of the boutique island resort collective Coco Collection, is marking ten years of partnership with the Olive Ridley Project (ORP), celebrating a decade-long commitment to marine conservation in the Maldives.

The partnership reached a significant milestone in 2017 with the opening of the Maldives’ first veterinary-led Marine Turtle Rescue Centre at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, pioneering specialised sea turtle care in the country. Since its establishment, the centre has treated and released 152 injured turtles, achieving a rehabilitation success rate of nearly 60 per cent. The facility plays a critical role in caring for turtles impacted by human activities, including entanglement in marine debris and ghost nets.

Beyond rescue and rehabilitation, the Olive Ridley Project leads long-term sea turtle research across the Maldives, collecting data on nesting activity, population trends and threats to marine life. This work contributed to the country’s first National Red List Assessment of Threatened Species, published in 2022. Supported by a network of citizen scientists, ORP’s Maldives research team has documented more than 45,000 sea turtle encounters nationwide. Over the past decade, Coco Collection has been a major contributor to this effort, recording nearly 3,500 encounters and reinforcing its position as one of ORP’s most significant research partners.

Guests at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu are invited to engage directly with these conservation initiatives through weekly marine talks, educational sessions led by the resort’s resident Marine Educator, and opportunities to witness rehabilitated sea turtles being released back into the ocean.

Commenting on the milestone, Siraj Waseem, General Manager of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, said that celebrating ten years of partnership with the Olive Ridley Project was a source of pride for Coco Collection. He noted that what began as a shared commitment to protecting marine life has evolved into a long-term collaboration rooted in education, conservation and meaningful guest engagement, adding that the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre continues to grow in strength with ORP’s support.

Dr Martin Stelfox, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Olive Ridley Project, said the decade-long partnership reflects a pioneering collaboration and significant progress in sea turtle conservation in the Maldives. He highlighted advances in conservation medicine and research achieved together, as well as the impact of inspiring guests and Maldivian interns to care for and protect the country’s marine environment.

Over the past ten years, the ORP Marine Turtle Rescue Centre at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu has hosted ten veterinary surgeons, each contributing to the development of sea turtle conservation medicine in the Maldives. Through the Sea Turtle Veterinary Trainee Programme, the resort and ORP have trained 29 veterinary professionals from 12 countries, helping to strengthen a global network of sea turtle clinical care across the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Alongside its conservation work, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu continues to offer a wide range of experiences for guests, from water sports such as water skiing, surfing and parasailing to sailing, paddle-boarding and kayaking in the surrounding lagoon. Visitors can also explore Maldivian culture through curated Coco Experiences that highlight local island life and heritage. As the resort marks ten years of collaboration with the Olive Ridley Project, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu continues to demonstrate how meaningful conservation efforts can coexist with memorable guest experiences.

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