MALDIVES – SHANGRI-LA’S VILLINGILI RESORT & SPA

SHANGRI-LA’S VILLINGILI RESORT & SPA

Boutique-style environment:

Set amongst wild coconut palms, stunning lush vegetation and nearly two kilometres of beautiful, white-sand beach, this new Shangri-La Resort & Spa offers each guest pampered luxury in a natural yet boutique-style environment. Villingili Island is a 70-minute flight from Malé and just an 8-minute boat ride from Gan Island located on Addu Atoll in the south of the Maldives. The eco-orientated resort will boast lagoon beaches on one side of the island and a surf beach on the other.

Shangri La Maldives

Those who seek a culinary experience are spoilt by the finest cuisine from the Indian Ocean, Asia and Middle East. Cruise on a luxury yacht for a sensational lunch or dine in the forest or on a private sandbank. Spa lovers will also be pampered with the ancient healing traditions at the CHI Spa. An adventure zone for children to give parents ‘time-out’, go cycling on the nearby islands or go diving in the resort’s house reef and snorkelling gardens.

Distinctive Villas:

From private ocean retreats to tropical tree-houses with panoramic views, resort accommodation features five distinct different styles of luxurious villas. Each villa will be equipped with two iPods and a docking station, a 40-inch television, a DVD-player and an espresso machine. Pool Villas, located on shore, feature a private pool, terrace and open-air shower and overlook the beach. There’s a range of Beach Villas including twin Beach Villas – ideal for families and two couples travelling together – located in a garden setting complete with an infinity pool and a large roof patio and sundeck. Perched on stilts above the tree-line, luxury Tree House Villas offer guests a unique view of the surf, lagoons and the island’s lush green surroundings. And, connected to the island by a timber walkway, Water Villas feature a spacious bathroom with an oval bathtub and a day bed where guests can view the ocean from the comfort of their villa. Two Presidential Villas offering the ultimate in luxury complete the collection.

Restaurants & Bars:

Khazaanaage Restaurant & Bar will lead the restaurant selection with three distinctive living rooms focusing on the finest cuisine from the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea and the Arabian Gulf. The ambient chill-out Arabic and Asian lounge music sets the mood for the seductive, intimate and opulent bar. Javvu Restaurant & Bar provides café dining by day and, in the evening, refined Western cuisine – prime steaks and seafood, with a touch of the Mediterranean. The stylish bar offers a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere with ambient music in the day and up tempo electronic and dance music in the evenings.

Beach Villa Bedroom

Fashala Lounge is a contemporary and relaxed lounge with breathtaking views; serving breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails in the evenings. Manzaru Bar is the perfect spot to people watch and relax to chill-out music. This is just the place to lie back and enjoy the views over the lagoon. Endheri Pool Bar is the heart of the resort, an idyllic spot for complete relaxation.

For those who seek dining experiences with a difference, the resort will surprise with special arrangements from a romantic evening on a sandbank to a jungle themed dinner in the heart of the island’s forest.

CHI, The Spa:

CHI, The Spa, is located at the highest geographical point on the resort – 2.3 metres above sea level. Offering innovative therapies and healthy lifestyle programmes, there is a full range of spa products and beauty and body treatments based on the ancient Chinese and Himalayan healing traditions, philosophies and rituals. The resort has a well-equipped gym and fitness centre, tennis courts, a water sports and dive centre with a decompression chamber.

Water Activities:

Water activities available include wave-surfing, scuba diving, kayaking, water skiing, sailing, deep-sea fishing, or a sunset cruise on a luxury yacht. There is a house reef with colourful corals and exotic reef fish. For less experienced swimmers, there are snorkel gardens close to the shoreline.

Water Villa Bedroom

Diving & Snorkelling:

For diving enthusiasts, there are more than 25 dive sites teeming with marine life. There is also the dramatic 140-metre ‘British Loyalty’ shipwreck with its hull resting at 33-metres, just a half-hour boat ride away from Villingili Island. Furthermore, there’s excellent snorkelling around the island. Head out towards the coral reef and meet the colourful residents in the surrounding waters. It’s swarming with exotic reef fish and corals.

Other Activities:

Take the regular speedboat runs to Gan and explore by bicycle the five neighbouring islands connected by a 17-kilometre road – the longest in the Maldives. Set out with a picnic and discover the fascinating lifestyle and culture of untouched Maldivian villages or stop at a coffee shop to chat with the locals over a meal. Book a luxury yacht to enjoy a different perspective of the stunning island views and have lunch on the equator, something very few can say they have done.

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