I had questioned (for all of five minutes) whether the ocean bungalow set-up would work for a group of six friends who rarely share beds. Yet even the near 24-hour travel day (London, UK > Colombo, Sri Lanka > Male, Maldives > seaplane to your holiday home) proved to be a plus, providing ample time to catch up on what had happened in the six months since we last were together.
Where to stay:
Like many other groups of 30-something girls, our holidays typically consist of two- to three-day staycations across Europe, our time largely spent strolling and sipping. And on Jawakara, little seemed to have changed, aside from our pace, any walk broken by requests to snap a nearby ray or green turtle.
One of three of the brand’s five-star resorts that allows kids of all ages, Jawakara isn’t the quietest island — but that also means it’s the destination for groups made up of platonic loves who need regular stimulation. Split across two islands, Mabin and Dheru, it boasts a 5-star PADI training centre, countless water sports, a holistic spa, tennis and padel courts, plus a golf course — all easily accessible on foot or the push bike loaned to every guest on arrival.
Most wholesome, though, was our trip to the Sea Turtle Health Institute (STHI): a joint venture between Jawakara and the Olive Ridley Project that’s devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured sea turtles across the Maldives. It’s the first dedicated facility of this size in the archipelagic nation, and while it also provides internship opportunities for locals, it makes for a fun break from sun-seeking.
Where to eat:
Of course, a floating breakfast is a fun way to privately debrief the events of the night before — although I’d argue it’s more of an Instagram highlight than a trip must. For foodies, though, Asian Pacific restaurant Umi is worthy of at least one dinner reservation, if only for the fresh California rolls.
While all of the islands boast extensive culinary options, be prepared for a few Maldivian delicacies. The Mas-roshi (stuffed tuna flatbread parcels) and fish curry I managed to track down were delicious, but few and far between. Although this is less of an issue at breakfast, Congee and local fruit available en masse.
What to do:
For girl troops most interested in what lies beneath the gently rolling waves, Hurawalhi is the place to head. Beneath our floating residences — although the hotel offers beachfront properties, too — parrot, clown and puffer fish were all easily spotted when snorkelling, as were nursing sharks and sea slugs. This is due to the fact that the 400-metre-long island sits in the centre of an oval house reef, meaning guests only have to paddle a mere 30 to 50 metres across a shallow lagoon before hitting the reef drop-off.
And while our mid-May stay was just outside of manta ray season, multiple eagle rays made an appearance, both near the main jetty and while dining at 5.8, the island’s dining highlight and the world’s largest all-glass undersea restaurant. Here, eels, schools of fish and the occasional extroverted turtle were spied, thanks to the scuba divers who clear the transparent shell ahead of every sitting.