Get close to nature

With its turquoise blue shimmering water, coral reefs and white beaches, it’s no surprise that Maldives is considered to be one of the best tropical beach destinations in the world. A place to relax far away from the hectic chaos of urban life. Club Med Kani is one such destination.

Take a break
This gorgeous private island resort is set in an archipelago of the Maldives on the island of Kanifinholu and is 20 kms from Malé. After landing on the narrow strip of the Malé international airport from Cochin you travel to the Kani Island in the Maldives on a speedboat (included in the Club Med’s three-day holiday package). The 30-minute journey makes for a pleasant ride. Tucked away at the heart of the Indian Ocean, Club Med in the garden island of Kani, Maldives, offers an escape to a private island at their all-inclusive resort.

Live it up
Among the various accommodation options are deluxe villas set on the edge of the beach with open air bathrooms and a sea view from the terrace. The Suites 5 Trident Space is a group of 75 Suites on stilts which viewed from above, resemble a giant palm tree growing out across the lagoon. It has a furnished balcony and you can dive directly in to the ocean, or sit back and relax.

With nothing but the sound of the waves crashing and the sight of clear turquoise water mirroring clear blue skies, this is a safe haven from the hectic pace of city life. Lots of well-planned activities and a healthy dose of local culture add to the charm of the location. Club Med is the pioneer of the all-inclusive concept where everything is specially crafted to take care of their guest’s individual needs and make holidays hassle free. Not just unlimited food and beverages, the tag covers every aspect of vacation interests.

Dive in
Try various sports activities some of which include scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, surfing, parasailing, kayaking, kite-surfing, water-skiing, swimming, angling, big game fishing, private boat trips, lobster picnics, wave runner outings, island visits, beach soccer, beach volleyball, soccer, and table tennis at the recreation centre. Parasailing and snorkelling in particular turned out to be great experience as even those who can’t swim or are scared of water can attempt them.
The excursion in a glass-bottom boat where one can see the underwater world of the coral reeves is an exciting journey. You get to see turtles, Napoleon fish, stingrays and lion fish in their natural habitat.

What’s on the platter
This resort has two restaurants — Vehli, for international cuisine and traditional Asian cuisine buffets, and the Kandu, which is a speciality restaurant. Iru Bar and Sunset Bar are the two bars that offer a variety of delicious cocktails. Food aside, there are various entertainment programmes right from funny skits to a Michael Jackson night to a night of Indian songs to enjoy. If you are lucky you may also get to enjoy a pool party where you can sip on champagne from crystal goblets.

Spa time
Spa time Kani offers a wide range of truly world-class spa treatments, including Balinese massages, warm stone massages, pure nature facials, reflexology and aromatherapy. The Balinese massage in the Club Med Spa leaves you rejuvenated, and  is highly recommended.

The Maldives consists of approximately 1,200 coral islands, formed by 26 natural atolls. Each atoll has approximately five to 10 inhabited islands. Several atolls, however, consist of one large, isolated island surrounded by a steep coral beach. The word atoll (atholhu) is derived from the Maldivian Dhivehi language while Maldives apparently got its name from mala (Sanskrit)  (garland) and dvipa (island) or the maladvipa (garland of islands). The Maldivian people are called Dhivehin. The word Dhives (Dhivehin) means islanders (Maldivians).