Maldives Surf & Wellness Escape at a Private Island Resort

The surfing is the main event, but it's not a bootcamp. Each day the boat schedule is set around the swell and wind, and the resort's surf team decides which of the local breaks to head for. Two Ways, Love Charms, Tiger Stripes, Five Islands and Blue Bowls are all within a short boat ride. If you're a beginner or intermediate, you'll generally be pointed at the friendlier waves in the chest-to-head-high range; if you're advanced, the bigger, cleaner days from February to June and September to November are when this place earns its reputation.

Board rental is available on site if you don't want to travel with your own gear — soft-tops, shortboards, mid-lengths and longboards. Rates are $20 ++ per surf session, $35 ++ per day or $200 ++ per week. One practical thing to know: boards over 7 feet aren't allowed on domestic flights because of luggage restrictions, and Maldivian domestic flights charge extra to carry surfboards, so tell the resort in advance if you're bringing your own.

The resort itself is a full private-island setup. There are several restaurants — Magu, Ocean Breeze, Zero Degree, Sea Salt, Mizu, Kai and Ile de Joie — plus an Ottoman Lounge, private dining options and in-villa dining. The spa, dive centre, watersports centre, gym, kids' club and house reef fill the hours you're not in the water. There's a resort clinic on site and a range of environmental initiatives in place, including a secret garden and the resident animals around the island.

Accommodation spans a wide range, from Beach Suites with Pool and Garden Villas up to Ocean Villas with Pool, Sunset Family Lagoon Suites and the Royal Ocean Suite. All the main categories are beach or over-water villas and suites, most with private pools at the higher end. You're on an island in the Maldives, so even the entry-level rooms are a short walk from sand and water.

The season you book matters more here than at most surf destinations. If you're learning, aim for mid-November to mid-February when the swell is smaller and the winds are calmer. If you're chasing proper waves, mid-February to mid-June gives you the most consistent clean head-high days. The wet monsoon from mid-June to late August is for people who don't mind rain and strong winds.

What's included

- Accommodation in your chosen villa or suite category - Access to the resort's restaurants - Access to the spa, dive centre, watersports centre and gym - Access to the house reef and beaches - Kids' club access for families - Surf boat trips organised by the resort's surf team - Board rental available on site (paid separately)

What's not included

- International flights - Domestic flight and speedboat transfers (unless stated in your package) - Surfboard rental ($20 ++ per session, $35 ++ per day, $200 ++ per week) - Meals and drinks outside your package - Spa treatments - Dive courses and guided dives - Travel insurance - Personal expenses