A question that we get asked often is “What is your favorite country that you have visited?” While I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one, the Maldives is certainly at the very top of the list of favorite countries! This beautiful Island country in the Indian Ocean has countless experiences to see and do. 

Wanting to maximize our time and experience as much of the country as we could in the 3 weeks that we were there, we decided to partner with Secret Paradise and Island Luxury Fulhadhoo Boutique Hotel. Secret Paradise offers an array of incredible packages in the Maldives. Their excellence has earned them a top spot as one of TripAdvisor’s leading tour companies in the country! The company focuses on sustainable tourism and local Maldivian experiences. 

Secret Paradise offers everything from day trips in Malé to comprehensive 7-night island hopping tours. Pretty much if you can think of it, chances are Secret Paradise offers it. The company customizes the perfect tours for their guests while placing an emphasis on providing an amazing local experience. They partner with local guides and accommodations to help make your vacation an extra special experience.

Some of our favorite experiences were touring through the capital city of Malé, visiting the local island of Guraidhoo, snorkeling in crystal clear water, and participating in a beach cleanup! Secret Paradise also offers snorkeling and sandbank tours, volunteer trips, and countless multi-day trips. They offer the perfect combination of relaxation and fun. 

The Malé tour was a great way to start our trip to the Maldives. Zaffran, our local tour guide, grew up in the capital city and did an excellent job explaining the country’s history and culture. My favorite highlight was walking through the local food and fish market. We got to try different local snacks and fruits while we watched local fishermen bring in their daily catch!

Because the Maldives is made up of more than 1,000 islands, it can be a little confusing to plan your stay, which is why booking with Secret Paradise allows you to not worry about the details and just fully enjoy your time in the Maldives. they arranged everything from airport pickup and speedboat transfers to tours, activities, food, and lodging. All we had to do was give them some ideas of what we wanted to experience and they took care of recommending the perfect itinerary and booking all the details. It was a huge comfort to know that we had local experts to help us with anything we needed during our stay. Since all the planning and preparation was taken care of for us, all we had to worry about was enjoying our trip. 

The company’s reviews speak for themselves. Earning a top spot as one of TripAdvisor’s leading tour companies in the Maldives has come from years of hard work and local partnerships. One of my favorite things about Secret Paradise is their focus on sustainable tourism and local experiences. It is amazing to see the impact that the company has had in the local communities. They offer their guests opportunities to learn about the local culture, stay in local guesthouses, and eat the local food. We also loved getting to participate in a beach cleanup and learn more about the country’s efforts to combat global pollution. 

Island Luxury Fulhadhoo Boutique Hotel

Staying at a local island doesn’t mean that you won’t be living in luxury. Secret Paradise has partnerships with inexpensive local guest houses all the way to opulent luxury hotels. This is what we experienced when we stayed at Island Luxury Fulhadhoo Boutique Hotel, their sister company.

Right when we stepped onto the island we were greeted with coconut drinks, freshly made leis, and music from the hotel’s welcoming staff! The hotel is located on the beautiful island of Fulhadhoo. There are less than 400 locals that live on the island and a few other guest houses. This meant that we often were some of the only ones at the beach! The beach was one of the best beaches we have seen anywhere in the world. The crystal clear water and white sand stretched the entire length of the island. If you are looking for a postcard perfect beach, this is as close as it gets! 

The hotel was newly opened and offered the perfect luxury experience on a local island. With only a few rooms, the staff made sure that we had everything that we needed. Two of our favorite features of the hotel were the infinity pool and outdoor showers. The hotel was the perfect blend of luxury with a local island feel. Much The wooden decor was handmade by local Maldivians. The food was incredible and the staff was very welcoming. It felt much more personal than our resort island experience. 

One example of this is the hotel asked us to email them our favorite foods and snacks before we arrived. We arrived to find the mini fridge in our room stocked with our favorite snacks and a beachfront candlelight dinner with our favorite foods for dinner! That was a personal touch that we have not experienced at any other luxury resort we have visited. Island Luxury Fulhadhoo Boutique Hotel offers packages from lodging only all the way to all-inclusive options. View their package options on their website here. 

The hotel staff offers countless activities to experience during your stay. We loved touring the local island, beachfront dinner, live music, karaoke, and sunset beach trips. But our favorite experience on the island was snorkeling and handline fishing! The hotel staff took us in a boat to a nearby reef where we saw some of the most colorful fish we have ever seen. When we loaded back into the boat, they put a piece of octopus on a hook and we went handline fishing for reef fish. When we felt a bite, we pulled the fish in using only our hands. We docked on a nearby beach of an uninhabited island where they started a fire and grilled the fish right there for us! It was an amazing experience and a perfect way to end our experience at Island Luxury Fulhadhoo Boutique Hotel.

Whether you are looking for a luxury island experience or an inexpensive adventure, Secret Paradise has you covered. We loved our experience in the Maldives. It was great not having to worry about the details and get to experience the local side of the country. Em and I loved the company’s emphasis on sustainable travel. We hope to be back soon to experience more of this beautiful island country!  

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