Read this blog: The one where low tide is un-swimmable
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd February 2026
The first stage of our Sri Lankan adventure is a short stopover in the Maldives. Our early evening flight from Heathrow meant that we could watch the Six Nations‘ England vs Ireland rugby match in the airport Wetherspoons. By half-time, Robert was wishing we hadn’t bothered.
The flight, combined with the five hour time difference meant that we saw the sunrise from the stratosphere. Meanwhile, the couple behind us were having an extended argument and we couldn’t help but feel that their holiday/honeymoon was not going to go well. Such a shame when they were going to this incredible bucket-list destination.
We arrived at Terminal One [international flights] and discovered that we had to walk to Terminal Two to find our transport to the Villa Nautica resort which is located on Lankanfinolhu Island on the North Malé Atoll. There will be more about the geography of this region in future blogs. Villa Nautica is just a 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport in the capital city of Malé. When they describe the transport as a speedboat rather than a water taxi, they are serious [see Video of the day] and, amazingly, despite the height of the spray we remained dry.
All passengers were issued life jackets although these were unexpectedly collected in before we disembarked when Matilda felt there was still a risk of mishap. Once at the resort we were welcomed in style. First with a cold towel and a refreshing fruit drink.
Next Dillon, a very personable Sri Lankan, introduced himself as our point of contact for the duration of our stay and drove us in a buggy to reception. Passports were checked and registration forms completed. We also paid for our stay, partly in cash. Later we discovered that apparently neither Robert nor Dillon agreed with the automated note counting machine held on reception. Our room was not yet available and we were directed to the Captains’s Bar to wait. This proved to be a slippery slope.
The resort is beautiful. Even though the sea is a seductive rich turquoise in the shallows . . .
. . . there is also a pool which looked very inviting.
Robert wanted to get his money’s worth on our all inclusive stay in Villa Nautica in the Maldives. Consequently, even though Matilda pointed out that it was 07:30 in the UK and we had had very little sleep on the flight, Robert insisted on celebrating the first day of this trip with a cold beer. Having made a token remonstration, Matilda felt she should indulge him and was pleased to see that the glasses were chilled.
Several drinks later we were brought our bill. We sought clarification and Dillon returned to inform us that we were not in fact “all inclusive”.
Robert did a quick calculation and, having seen the price of his beer, decided it would be cost effective to pay the difference. The all inclusive package gave us free loan of snorkelling equipment daily [to be returned by 16:30] as well as an hour’s kayaking per day. We were duly upgraded. At this point Dillon came back to inform us that the cash counter at reception found we owed another $20.
Our room was right on the beach and once we had checked in we decided we had to take a dip. The islands of the Maldives are, on average, only between one and two meters above sea level and comprise almost entirely biogenic carbonate sand (broken coral and shells). Our friend Carol had advised us to pack beach shoes as the sand, and dead coral fragments, can be sharp and painful to walk on and were pleased we had taken her advice.
On Monday morning after a rather fitful night’s sleep, we decided we would go for a swim before breakfast only to discover that at low tide it is not deep enough to swim within the safe area. A very different experience from the night before. However, if you stand still in the water inquisitive fish swim up to investigate.
After the swim, we walked past the pontoon/jetty out to the Farumathi restaurant with rooms and suites on stilts over the water. We planned to walk to the end the following day.
Matilda opted to wear the robe provided by the resort to return to the Captain’s Bar to watch the sunset. [See also Selfie of the day.]
A sunset or sunrise is always a blessing.
This close to the equator, they tend to be only around twelve hours apart.
Video of the day:
Selfie of the day:
Route Map:
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