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Paradise Exists
By Lauren Glendenning
In May, that picture became a reality — and the lavish beauty I experienced while there trumped my wildest expectations.
My boyfriend, Ryan, and I booked flights to the Maldives, an Indian Ocean nation made up of 1,190 small coral islands, about 100 of which are resort islands.
When we arrived, we were stunned — not because it looks any different than it should or than we expected but because it’s so beautiful that we almost couldn’t believe it exists.
It’s surreal because it’s fabled and for good reason. This is a place where honeymooners go, where the rich and famous go on holiday, where couples fall in love with each other all over again.
The Maldives is made up of atolls, which are coral islands that encircle lagoons. The climate is warm, as the country is just north of the equator, and tropical. The hundreds of islands are no more than 6 feet above sea level, covering almost 56,000 square miles.
Traveling there from the United States isn’t easy — perhaps that’s why so many people looked at us puzzled when we told them we had just been there.
The Maldives? Where is that?
And the people who could likely point to it on a map would react in awe because we had gone there, as if Americans couldn’t ever possibly go to the Maldives and that our doing so had broken some unspoken law about where we’re allowed or expected to travel.
Flying from Denver to the Indian Ocean takes time, patience and maybe even a couple of sleeping aids (get a prescription from a travel doctor, or take advantage of free cocktails aboard international flights). It’s two hours to Los Angeles, where you can then board Emirates Airlines’ 16-hour nonstop to Dubai. After a layover in Dubai, which we chose to extend to four days (more on that experience in an upcoming article), then it’s just more than four hours to the Maldives capital of Male. All in all, that’s about 20 hours in the air, not including stops.
From there, depending on which island you’re heading to, you’ll need to board a seaplane and fly for anywhere from 10 minutes to more than an hour. To get to Kuramathi Island, where we stayed, the seaplane took just 15 minutes. From the seaplane, which is flown by barefoot pilots wearing shorts — an appropriate touch — you can see the beauty of the coral islands surrounded by turquoise waters so clear you can practically snorkel from the air.
The islands aren’t solely known for the beaches and water, though — there are also incredible lush landscapes, and this is especially true on Kuramathi Island.
When you arrive, the first thing you notice isn’t the pristine, white-sand beaches that are everywhere. It’s the tropical jungle that splatters an already gorgeous canvas with breathtaking trees, plants and flowers. You can get lost in this flourishing forest — the island feels like a botanical garden, one stocked with bats, hermit crabs, banyan trees and those over-water villas that I had been dreaming about for years.
Any American adventurous enough to take their beach vacation somewhere outside of our go-to destinations such as Mexico, Florida, Hawaii or Costa Rica can do it with just a little extra time and money. The reward is beyond worth it.
It’s hard to imagine staying in another type of room at Kuramathi, or any other Maldivian island, although beach and garden villas appeared lovely, as well.
I think it’s because we traveled all this way that we wanted to sleep on top of the ocean and enjoy every second of being there. At night, when the stars shine brighter than they do during the darkest nights in Vail, we could see the glimmer bounce off the sea and the sound of nothing more than a few small waves splashing beneath. There’s nothing like it.
You could sit out there for hours — and we did — listening to it. Just total peace, and if you’re lucky enough to catch it during or near a full moon, the light is just enough so that you can see where you are — in this picturesque paradise halfway around the world, where nothing, not even updating your Facebook status to brag to your friends about where you are, matters.
Kuramathi is an island with it all, too. Those looking for a pampered holiday can visit the spa — which sits on the beach so you can hear the sound of the ocean as you enjoy your spa treatments — or any one of the island’s restaurants (there are nine). You can relax on the beach while sipping on a cocktail from the resort’s extensive drink list, or you can choose ultimate privacy by sunbathing or snorkeling right at your villa.
Foodies will find this island more than adequate, too. Basic all-inclusive packages include three buffet meals per day, offering food that spans cuisine from Japan to Europe to Russia. The Sri Lankan and Maldivian food, however, was by far the most sensational.
For the more adventurous and active traveler, Kuramathi has a watersports shop where you can go windsurfing or stand-up paddleboarding. There are water kayaks available, too, and private fishing excursions.
Snorkeling trips, either with a group or private, offer trips out to nearby reefs — although the “house reef” surrounding the island is accessible by a short swim from the villas. It was the house reef where we saw some of the most colorful fish, as well as black tip reef sharks, sea turtles and stingrays.
The scuba experience is once in a lifetime, too. The Rasdhoo Atoll Divers, located on the island, offer everything from diving courses to certification to expert dives. They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable — Ryan’s first dive since getting certified at Beaver Divers was here, and the instructors were there for him every step of the way.
Regardless of what kind of traveler and vacationer you are, Kuramathi — and the Maldives in general — will blow your mind in terms of what’s possible in an island vacation.
Paradise has been found — it’s sitting right there in the Indian Ocean.
Editor’s Note: Lauren Glendenning is the Assistant Manager Editor of Vail Daily (Colorado, USA). This article was first published on Vail Daily and we thank Lauren for permission to republish.
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa has crowned Caio Ibelli the 2026 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy winner, concluding a week in which world-class competition became part of the guest experience.
Held from September 4 to 11 at Sultans, one of North Malé Atoll’s best-known right-hand reef breaks and just five minutes by boat from the Resort, the event saw the Brazilian defeat former World No. 2 Bede Durbidge 14:16 to 13.50 points in the Overall Final. The victory added the championship to Ibelli’s Single Fin and Twin Fin titles and made him the Trophy’s first Brazilian winner.
For guests, the result was the culmination of a week that moved effortlessly between high-performance surfing and relaxed island life. From breakfast-time competition calls and five-minute yacht transfers to front-row viewing, drinks and canapés in the channel, the event offered rare proximity to both the action and the athletes.
Staged in collaboration with Tropicsurf since 2011, the invitation-only Trophy challenges six surfers across Single Fin, Twin Fin and Thruster divisions before the two leading competitors meet in an Overall Final aboard equipment of their choice. This year’s field brought together Mason Ho, Caio Ibelli, Bede Durbidge, Felicity Palmateer, Travis Logie and Maldivian surfer Ahmed Hishaam. For Hishaam, competing at a break shaped by a lifetime of local knowledge gave the week particular meaning. “It means a lot to me to represent the Maldives in the Champions Trophy,” says Hishaam. “I’ve spent most of my life surfing these waves.”
No Board Required: A Front-Row Seat at Sultans
The Surfing Champions Trophy follows the rhythm of the Indian Ocean rather than a fixed daily schedule. Each morning, Tropicsurf evaluates the swell, wind and tides before deciding whether competition will run. When the call is made, guests can finish breakfast, step aboard a Four Seasons yacht and arrive at Sultans within minutes. The yachts take their positions in the channel beside the reef, offering clear views of every ride with refreshments and canapés served on board.
Between heats, guests can swim or snorkel in the crystalline water before returning to watch the next match-up. On the opening afternoon, three-to-four-foot waves grew into four-to-six-foot (0.91–1.22 metres) sets as competition progressed, giving those on board an increasingly dramatic view of Sultans at its best. On Twin Fin Day, a manta ray cruised beneath the spectator boats while an 80 second soundtrack played across the channel.
For Durbidge, the experience of returning from the competition arena to the resort captured the appeal. “When you get back on the luxury boat and walk back into the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, you’re like, ‘This is just living. This is a dream,” says Durbidge. “To be able to come here and surf, to compete, and have our families here, it’s just a dream come true.”
That intimacy continues on land. The surfers and their families stay at Kuda Huraa throughout the event, allowing guests to share boats, island paths, sundowners and celebrations with some of the sport’s most recognisable names. “It’s a chance to slow down, spend time with the other surfers and their families, and really enjoy everything the Four Seasons has to offer,” says Palmateer.
Ho, returning to an event whose personality closely matches his own creative approach to surfing, described the combination simply. “The waves have been super fun the last few years, the resort is amazing and there’s always a really cool crew around,” says Ho.
The week’s celebrations began with an Opening Ceremony at Vabou Huraa, at the end of the resort boardwalk. A traditional Boduberu performance soon drew the surfers and their families into the dancing, setting the tone for a gathering where competition and Maldivian culture remain closely connected. “That’s why Four Seasons is family for us and it’s just so special to be able to live the experience,” says Ibelli after the ceremony. “I think Four Seasons is the experience.”
On lay days, the resort remains the centre of the week. Guests can begin their own surfing journey with Tropicsurf, explore the surrounding reef and marine conservation initiatives, visit ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island or simply retreat to the pool, spa and lagoon until the next competition call arrives.
Three Boards. One Champion.
Three days. Three boards. Zero lay days. For the first time in the Trophy’s 14-year history, all three divisions were completed across the opening three days of competition.
Ibelli claimed the first two titles. A nine-point barrel helped him defeat Durbidge 15.47 to 13.93 points in the Single Fin Final, before his speed and aerial surfing carried him past Logie 15.87 to 14.13 on the twin fin. Logie, who had originally travelled to Kuda Huraa as a mentor for the Resort’s inaugural Learn with Legends summer camp, recorded the Twin Fin Division’s highest wave score. “I wasn’t even supposed to be at the event, so to get to the Final and to be out surfing against all my friends in these amazing conditions, everything’s just a bonus,” says Logie.
The Thruster Division belonged to Durbidge. As a forecast pulse filled in at Sultans, he posted a 17.43 semifinal total and completed what was believed to be the first mid-heat reef runaround in Trophy history. After coming ashore and running back towards the take-off zone, he returned to the lineup and immediately scored an 8.43. Victory over Ho secured the division and his place in the Overall Final.
On September 10, two Four Seasons yachts returned to the channel as Ibelli and Durbidge met in powerful, offshore conditions. Durbidge built an early lead, but Ibelli turned the heat with an 8.33 ride through two barrel sections, ultimately winning 14.16 to 13.50.
Just two weeks earlier, the Brazilian had no expectation of competing. “Two weeks ago, I was sitting in the outback of Australia, staring at the red dirt,” says Ibelli. “And then one call, my life changed!” Ibelli arrived at Kuda Huraa having surfed little in recent months. He left with three titles and memories shared with his wife and one-year-old son.
“Four Seasons has given me a whole new perspective on life,” he says. “As soon as my wife got here she was like, ‘This is the type of surf trip I’ll be doing from now on.’ She’s already planning to come back next year.”
Where Champions Come to Surf
Across 14 editions since 2011, the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy has welcomed generations of leading surfers to Sultans.
Past champions include Mark Occhilupo in 2011, Damien Hardman in 2012, Taylor Knox in 2013, Dave Rastovich in 2014, Shane Dorian in 2015, Taj Burrow in 2016, 2017 and 2024, Josh Kerr in 2018 and 2019, Kelly Slater in 2022, Joel Parkinson in 2023 and Michel Bourez in 2025.
Burrow remains the Trophy’s only three-time champion, while Ibelli becomes its first Brazilian winner.
Kuda Huraa: The Home of Luxury Surfing
If Kuda Huraa can challenge world champions, it is also a remarkable place to catch a first wave. Located 25 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa is the Maldivian home base of Tropicsurf, giving guests year-round access to expert coaching and six surf breaks within approximately 15 minutes of the island.
Complete beginners can start in the sheltered lagoon, learning how to paddle, stand and fall safely before following a structured progression into suitable ocean waves. More experienced surfers can be guided to Sultans and five other nearby breaks, with Tropicsurf managing equipment, boats and daily decisions around the best tides, winds and conditions.
The Resort’s Surf’s Up package includes four days of coaching, guided surf transfers, equipment, daily yoga and a 90-minute Myofascial Renewal treatment for two. Those wishing to travel further can take to the skies on a Seaplane Surfing Safari, exploring remote waves and rarely visited corners of the archipelago from above.
The champions may arrive chasing trophies. Everyone else can come chasing a first wave, a better turn or simply a new Maldivian horizon.
For reservations and enquiries, please visit Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, email reservations.mal@fourseasons.com or call +960 66 00 888.
ananea Madivaru Maldives will welcome Cornelia Lister, international padel player and Captain of the Swedish National Junior Padel Team, from 7 to 14 November 2026. Bringing experience from both professional tennis and international padel, she will host two afternoons of padel sessions, inviting guests to refine their game and enjoy friendly competition in an intimate group setting.
With a tennis career spanning appearances at Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the French Open and the US Open, Lister brings a distinguished sporting background to the experience. A WTA doubles titleholder who reached a career-high world doubles ranking of No. 72, she combines experience at the highest levels of tennis with a passion for developing players on the padel court.
With the growing appeal of padel inspiring new ways to spend time together on holiday, ananea Madivaru offers a setting where a love of sport finds its place within the ease of island life. Its padel and pickleball courts, overwater gym and Kandu Spa allow guests to move between spirited play and quieter moments at their own pace. Lister’s visit lends a distinctive touch to this experience, bringing the insight and warmth of an accomplished player to afternoons shared on court.
Pierre Edlund, General Manager of ananea Madivaru Maldives, says: “Having worked with Cornelia before, I know firsthand the incredible energy and passion she brings, not only to the sport but also to the people around her. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and for me, it was an obvious choice to welcome her to ananea Madivaru Maldives. She brings exactly the kind of personality and spirit we love, adding a little extra sporty glamour, fun and unforgettable moments to our guests’ island experience.”
Padel sessions with Cornelia Lister are exclusively available to in-house guests on a complimentary basis, adding a fun, active and memorable moment to their Slow Glamour holiday.
Opened in July 2025, ananea Madivaru is a luxury twin-island resort set in the heart of the Maldives’ North Ari Atoll. Rooted in the philosophy of slow glamour, the resort invites guests to embrace life’s unhurried rhythms while immersed in timeless beauty and refined simplicity. With 111 elegantly designed villas, nine distinct dining destinations, a private lagoon, serene spa, immersive experiences, and a dedicated kids’ club, ananea Madivaru blends contemporary sophistication with the traditions and natural splendour of its surroundings. Every element has been carefully curated to offer meaningful, memorable escapes that resonate long after departure.
For more information and bookings, please visit the resort’s official website.
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort will host an Exclusive Kids’ Football Camp featuring former Liverpool FC defender Martin Kelly from 15 to 18 November 2026, offering young football enthusiasts an opportunity to train with a former Premier League player.
The four-day programme is open to children aged five to 13 of all skill levels and will combine professional football coaching with recreational activities at the resort in Baa Atoll.
The event follows three football camps previously hosted by Avani+ Fares Maldives with former England and Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen, as the resort continues to develop sporting experiences for younger guests.
The upcoming camp will feature daily afternoon training sessions led by Kelly, alongside a welcome meet-and-greet, beach games, pool parties, FIFA tournaments and other recreational activities.
Each participant will receive an official football camp kit comprising two customised jerseys, shorts and socks. The programme will conclude with a closing ceremony, during which participants will receive medals and certificates.
“A football camp is about so much more than what happens on the pitch. It’s about helping young players enjoy the game, believe in themselves and learn how much they can achieve as part of a team,” Kelly said.
“I’m looking forward to sharing some of what I’ve learnt throughout my career and, most importantly, having fun with the kids in such an incredible setting.”
Kelly, a graduate of Liverpool FC’s academy, made 62 senior appearances for the club and was part of the squad that won the League Cup in 2012. He later continued his Premier League career with Crystal Palace, where he spent several seasons.
The football camp comes in a year when Avani+ Fares Maldives was recognised as Best Family Resort at the Travel Trade Maldives Awards & Gala 2026.
Located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, the resort offers a range of accommodation options for families, including Overwater Villas, Two-Bedroom Ocean View Pavilions and Two-Bedroom Beach Pool Villas.
In addition to the football camp, guests can participate in activities such as house reef snorkelling, sunset fishing, watersports and beach recreation. The resort also offers activities for younger guests at AvaniKids, while wellness treatments are available at AvaniSpa.
The Exclusive Kids’ Football Camp will take place from 15 to 18 November 2026, with a participation fee of USD 399 per child.
A five-night accommodation package starts from USD 3,784 per room for two adults and one child staying in a Premium Ocean View Room.
The package includes accommodation, half-board dining, football camp participation for one child, seaplane transfers, and applicable taxes and service charges.
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