Castaway in paradise

Every kid has heard the story of Robinson Crusoe, a castaway on a deserted tropical island who managed to survive many years on his own, learning to use the few tools he had salvaged from the shipwreck to build a shack and grow food. I remember I did not like the survival part of the story as I was sure I would be very bad at it. However, the idea of an island, in particular a remote one, has been a great temptation my entire life as it involved something mysterious and magical at the same time… To the extent that such an island had some kind of accommodation, food and at least one human being belonging to the friends or family categories!

The Maldives, a tiny country in the Indian Ocean, was simply the dream coming true! A great part of the nearly 1,200 islands are uninhabited or contain a single resort that provides the enchanted travellers with the ultimate luxury and a vacation of a lifetime!

The mode of transportation that you need to reach your secluded island is one of the highlights of the trip. In this country without roads, the local taxis are actually the seaplanes!

Taking off from and landing on the water is an unforgettable experience and the views from above are stunning!

The 20-minute flight will feel like mere seconds!

You will not have enough of the spectacular gems that will parade below you - coral atolls, blue lagoons, tiny deserted islands and sailing boats. It is a pure fairytale!

The arrival on your secluded island will only add up to your state of complete ecstasy.

It truly is, or at least captures the essence of, a tropical paradise with its swaying palm trees, powdery whiter-than-white sand beaches, frangipani flower gardens and the crystal clear warm waters of the Indian Ocean!

You will not be alone on the island but there will not be so many people either. You can walk on the pristine beach for a while without meeting a single soul!

The only living beings you will come across on the beach will be some lizards and herons.

And what a beach! The country is home to some of the best beaches in the world!

Your accommodation for the next couple of days will take your breath away - it's not a shack…

There are few places around the world where you can stay in an overwater villa and the Maldives has the best choice on earth! The villa is built upon wooden stilts above the sparkling turquoise lagoon et there are only a few steps down a staircase between you and the warm embrace of the Indian Ocean...

What more can you wish for? Just lay back drifting off to a state of total relaxation, enjoying the touch of the almost transparent water on your body and the gentle sun rays on your face…

Your only neighbours will be the cute crabs on the deck and the colourful fish in the water...

You can enjoy the stunning sunset views while doing yoga on the outside deck or soaking in your private jacuzzi…

Enjoying delicious fresh grilled seafood and tropical fruits, sipping cocktails or having a relaxing massage - there are so many indulgences awaiting for you on this heavenly island!

In the Maldives you absolutely have to get beneath the water's surface where the most magical secrets lie. The abundant marine life around our island gave us the idea to get our scuba diving certification when we got back home. There was just so much to explore in this underwater wonderland that simply snorkelling didn't feel enough!

However, it gave us a first taste of an amazing world waiting out there to be explored!

You can admire the vibrant colours of the coral reefs and tropical fish, spot cute turtles and swim with rays and even sharks!

As if this was not enough, you can get on a boat and enjoy a romantic sunset with the dolphins twirling happily around you!

Take my word for it - contrary to Robinson Crusoe, you will never ever want to leave your island! At least not until you run out of cash, of course! :-)