A 50-minute seaplane flight from Male takes us to the Niyama Private Islands Maldives.
The resort is comparatively large in terms of area and offers various vacation options on the twin islands Play and Chill. The name says it all: While Play offers sports activities and a program for families, Chill on the other hand focuses on the Drift Spa, which provides relaxation with special wellness treatments.

Niyama offers guests a choice of Beach Suites and Water Studios, each with its own pool. Which one you choose is simply a matter of taste, the one with the fine white sand under your feet and the other with the stairs leading directly from the terrace to the sea. As soon as you enter, the Water Studio scores with a unique view of the Indian Ocean. Although the Niyama is probably one of the resorts in the Maldives that is likely to appeal primarily to sporty travelers, the feeling of absolute relaxation sets in as soon as you move into your "home away from home". This is not only due to the beautiful accommodation but also to the many loving details with which guests are welcomed here. Anantara Hotels' philosophy is to ensure that every visitor that visits one of their properties, feels as comfortable as if they were at home, with the bonus of all-around service that is always as discreet as it is cordial.

While relaxing, our stay is packed with everything the resort has to offer. We are enjoying snorkeling and surfing. There is actually an amazing surfing paradise here and thanks to informative discussions with water sports experts we can extensively explore the diversity of the Indian Ocean. If you have the necessary qualifications, you have the opportunity to explore the biodiversity at a depth of up to 30 meters on a real deep sea dive.

On Play, on the other hand, the hungry go high. Six meters up in the treetops of the jungle is the restaurant Nest. An Asian restaurant that not only plays at the top in terms of cuisine but also in terms of ambiance. Under the tree house, on ground level, another highlight awaits guests. A teppanyaki table, where Chef Agam awaits a special dinner experience. As everywhere on the island, vegetarians and vegans don’t miss out here either. In addition to meat and fish, vegetables and rice are also prepared here in front of the eyes of the guests – including a fire show and the chef’s juggling skills.
The restaurant Tribal offers African and South American specialties, which make the culinary offers in the resort as international as its employees and guests. Thanks to bad weather, we even had the opportunity to complete a cooking course with the chefs.