Finding a luxurious resort in the Maldives that also feels relaxed, intimate and low-key is a lot more difficult than you might think – but Nova very successfully manages to tick this off. The resort, which is known for both its idyllic setting and its incredible sea life, is a perfect destination to visit if you want to truly unwind in a stress-free and tranquil spot.
The setting
The natural beauty of Nova is its biggest selling point. The resort is sat on a house reef, meaning it boasts daily and nightly sightings of sea life from the jetties, including manta rays and nurse sharks, while the vegetation is dense and beautiful, and the beaches long and sandy.
It is located in the South Ari Atoll, just a 25-minute seaplane journey from Malé, which will be organised for you on booking.
On arrival, you will be greeted on the jetty by the friendliest, most laidback staff, mocktail in hand. Boasting what they call a ‘soulmate culture’, the atmosphere is very relaxed, opting out of the ‘us and them’ philosophy that you experience at a lot of high-end resorts in the Maldives. The staff is there to help, but never overbearing, which is quite a welcome relief if you have previously experienced but not loved overly attentive butler culture.
Accommodation
The resort has just 76 rooms, meaning there is a real boutique feel to the place, but there are still plenty of options for you choose from, including beach and water villas of various sizes.
We stayed out on the ocean, which really is the experience we would recommend if you’re going to the Maldives – there is nothing like slipping down those steps straight into the water from your jetty first thing in the morning.
Fairly newly renovated, the interiors are slick and modern, and the room had everything we could possibly need including a freestanding bathtub overlooking the lagoon, a jacuzzi and a super private sun deck to relax on.
The restaurants
Probably my favourite part of Nova was the food – I was thinking about the fresh smoothies and delicious lunchtime salads long after I left. There are a few restaurants to choose from – lunch and breakfast will usually be at Soul Kitchen (unless you choose to book a floating breakfast in your room). Here, there is so much choice, whether you are after sushi or pancakes, fresh pastries or Maldivian curry. In the evening, you can choose to dine at Flames (which specialises in grilled meat and fish – the giant prawns were particularly memorable) or Mizu, an overwater teppanyaki restaurant that is a real experience thanks to the entertaining chefs and incredible food. Meanwhile, Wink is the island’s cocktail bar, where you can sip on fresh margaritas with your toes in the sand, and Solis is the glorious poolside bar set right on the beach.
Things to do
The marine wildlife is what a lot of guests come to Nova for, and seeing this really does help to rebrand the Maldives from being seen as a honeymoon-only destination. In fact, a lot of groups of friends and singletons will come to this resort to make the most of the incredible sea life and the extensive water activities on offer. This includes scuba diving courses, turtle and whale-shark excursions, boat cruises, watersports and other snorkelling adventures.
There are also plenty of activities to keep you busy in the evenings – when we visited, there was a fisherman’s barbeque one night as well as a talk by the marine biologist and a follow-up quiz on another evening. Guests happily mingle with one another, and it feels like a great place to meet people, particularly if you’re up for doing lots of group activities in the ocean.
That being said, the island has such a laidback feel that for many, relaxation is all that they want from the menu, and that is perfectly possible too. For those that just want to laze on the beach, drink cocktails in the swim-up bar and unwind in the spa, this is also a perfect destination. (Speaking of the spa, there is lots to choose from, including hot stones, Thai massage and healing aromatherapy.)
Final verdict
Nova Maldives is a perfect place to unwind, whether you do that with your feet in the sand or by spending your days out diving. It feels much younger and more relaxed than many other destinations in the area, but still with that truly luxurious touch.
A water villa with a jacuzzi starts at £919 on a full board basis and a beach villa starts at £590 on a full board basis. Discover more and book your stay here.
