“If you want to actually relax on a vacation, then Maldives is the place to be” said my friend when I told her of my upcoming family trip to Maldives. I wasn’t sure what she meant then, but afterwards, I understood. There are a few reasons that make a Maldives truly hassle-free and relaxing experience.

Visa-free for Indians & all nationalities!

While other countries like USA, Japan, Germany enjoy the privilege of visa-free entries in many countries around the globe. For us Indians, this is a rarity. And Maldives is one of the few places that provides visa-free entry for Indians and all nationalities!

We only need to fill an IMUGA form before entry. And that’s all. A Passport is all that is required to enter. So, cuts out on all the various visa related effort – filling forms, justifying the travel, showing bank balance etc… We got a 90-day visa on our entry very easily.

“Tourist visa is granted for all nationalities on arrival to the Maldives. As such, a foreigner travelling to Maldives as a tourist does not require pre-approval for the visa. However, the person must satisfy the basic entry requirements to get immigration clearance upon arrival.” – Source: Official Website

Luxury, all-inclusive packages

A lot of the resorts offer all-inclusive packages which means no budget planning to be done once the trip is booked. Apart from a few extra activities that we may want to take up like scuba excursions or deep dives or cruises, everything else is included in the package. One can eat, drink and partake in the various free activities at the resort. Alcohol is also included in the all-inclusive package.

Private beach with spectacular lagoon, No sightseeing required

Apart from the resort activities and a few scuba excursions or cruises – there isn’t much to do except relax on the beach and swim. Have delicious foods. Maybe walk the length of the island. Chat with the local staff at the resort. And spend a happy time with your friends, family or solo.

Often trips become hectic and tiring when we try to pack a lot of activities within a few days. Especially, sightseeing far-off places. Here there is no such thing. We are on a private beach and that’s about it.

Some travel sites suggest hopping islands and exploring different lagoons – but still the danger of being on the move too much on the trip is comparatively lower.

Open Sky, Clean Air & Water

One of the first things we noticed when we landed on our private island of Kanifushi is how pristine the air was. Sure, the resort emits some AC pollution but with the lack of any vehicles and any industries of any kind whatsoever, the air is as pure as it may get in today’s world. The wonderful blue lagoon water also gives the same feeling of clean water.

And the resort, being swanky sorts, provides very good quality food. With vegan movements and an Indian influence, the resort we stayed in – Atmosphere – had really good vegetarian and healthy food options.

Open sky, Clean Air and Water, Good food! All we can ask for 🙂

Active Days in the Open

Inevitably, we spend time on the beach and in the water, amidst nature and being active. This gives a good adrenaline boost. The urban folk, who spend a lot of time indoors in offices and homes, this kind of vacation is sure to give a good dopamine burst in the brain.

Here’s my vlog about how spending time in nature aligned this luxury trip with my spiritual quest: