Some people just love to make an entrance when they arrive at a hotel, so imagine the impact you’d make if you skydived into it?
Thrillseekers can do just that at the recently opened Ifuru Island Maldives resort. Guests have the chance to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the sublime archipelago as they freefall over coral reefs and onto the gleaming white soft sands. Ifuru has its own airport and teamed up with World Champion skydiver Will Penny to create the Maldives’ first permanent skydiving dropzone.
The resort is situated in the serene Raa Atoll, a 40-minute flight north of the capital, Male. The elegant barefoot luxury resort offers not only eye-popping adventure but also plenty of tranquillity.
As Ifuru is happy to welcome families, I’m visiting with my husband and seven-year-old, Amelia. Initially, we wonder if it might be a struggle to keep our little one entertained, but we are pleasantly surprised by the array of activities on offer for children.
There’s an all-day play centre with table tennis and PlayStations, plus two kids’ clubs (Coconut Kids Club and Little Explorers Club) for ages three to 12, with activities galore ranging from treasure hunts and face-painting to marine biology lessons. That means ‘us time’ is on the table for worn-out parents.
MailOnline Travel’s Carol Driver checks into Ifuru Island Maldives resort (above) with her husband and seven-year-old daughter, Amelia
Ifuru Island Maldives is situated in the ‘serene’ Raa Atoll, a 40-minute flight north of the capital, Male
Guests at Ifuru Island Maldives can skydive into the resort – see the four images above. Ifuru has its own airport and teamed up with World Champion skydiver Will Penny to create the Maldives’ first permanent skydiving dropzone.The skydiving season is early November to late March
Other activities on offer include sunset cruises, diving, snorkelling, and watersports including standup paddle boarding.
One morning, we head out on a 40-minute boat ride to sea-snorkel and see bannerfish, surgeonfish and clownfish. And a friendly pod of dolphins joins us on the way back.
The resort has 147 rooms perfectly positioned to take in jaw-dropping sunsets over the Indian Ocean.
Carol and her family checked into a ‘beautiful traditional-meets-modern sunset beach villa’. The picture above shows a version of her room type that comes with a private plunge pool
Beach life: Carol describes the sand at the resort as ‘powdery and pristine’
Seas the day: The resort ‘has 147 rooms perfectly positioned to take in jaw-dropping sunsets over the Indian Ocean’
The resort has an all-day play centre with table tennis and PlayStations, plus two kids’ clubs (Coconut Kids Club and Little Explorers Club) for ages three to 12
![Carol reveals that you can 'tuck into seafood tempura, black Angus beef, and chocolate mousse cake at The Waterfront [restaurant]' (above)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/08/09/84561117-13391771-image-a-6_1715155888836.jpg)
Carol reveals that you can ‘tuck into seafood tempura, black Angus beef, and chocolate mousse cake at The Waterfront [restaurant]’ (above)
Ours is a beautiful traditional-meets-modern sunset beach villa – with a king-size bed and a small sofa bed for Amelia. There’s plenty of space and storage, and it boasts a huge outdoor bathroom complete with a standalone tub, shower and toilet (expect a few friendly lizards).
The glass sliding doors lead to a secluded sunlounger area, from where we can walk – sinking our toes in the warm, powdery, pristine white sand – to the sparkling sea. All that can be heard is the sound of the crystal-clear water – bliss!
For a spot of pampering, Amelia and I head to the exquisite Xanadu Spa where we’re both massaged in a dreamy setting. I also book in for my first-ever sound healing therapy session, which leaves me feeling completely relaxed.
Carol writes: ‘We spend hours swimming, walking along the perfect beaches and savouring I-don’t-ever-want-to-leave moments’
Above is Ifuru’s eye-catching Barbie-style lifeguard station. Stays at the resort start at £750 per night, based on two people sharing a Sunset Sky Suite and inclusive of an ‘Exclusively Yours’ premium all-inclusive offering
Dining options at Ifuru are as varied as the activities, with a choice of four bars and six restaurants. Most encircle the lively area around the resort’s large beach-front swimming pool, complete with sunloungers and beanbags and set amongst lush gardens fringed with palm trees (look out for the fruit bats).
We’re booked onto Ifuru’s Exclusively Yours dining plan, which means all meals and soft drinks, as well as wines and cocktails, are included.
The Social House is where we tuck into breakfasts of fresh fruits with yoghurts, eggs, pastry and toast baskets, and delicious Maldivian ‘mas huni’ breakfasts – tuna with onion, coconut and chili.
It’s handmade pizza and any-flavour-you-want milkshakes around the pool for lunch, or salads and wraps with mojitos (and great tunes) at laid-back The Beach Club, located on the island’s prime beach area.
For dinner, Palm Grill’s talented chefs whip up rich flavours of prime beef and locally caught fish cooked over a charcoal grill. Alternatively, you can tuck into seafood tempura, black Angus beef, and chocolate mousse cake at The Waterfront, which is on the pier, so make sure to book for sunset.
Unfortunately, our stay coincides with a break for the skydive team (Ifuru has its own runway) so we don’t get to make a grand entrance.
Instead, we enjoy a less-adrenaline-filled break, spending hours swimming, walking along the perfect beaches and savouring I-don’t-ever-want-to-leave moments.
