Dream destination Maldives – My trip to the island of Kuredu

Every travel destination is different and special in its own way! But the Maldives are simply stunning and without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world. Today, travel reporter Steffi takes us to the beautiful island of Kuredu and tells us why this island is so special, what you can experience there, and what points you should consider when planning and booking your trip. Just sit back and let’s immerse ourselves in paradise together for a short time. Have fun browsing!

Arriving in the Maldives

Especially during peak season, several airlines (e.g., Condor and Lufthansa) offer regular direct flights from Germany to Malé. However, if you’d like to stretch your legs during a 10-hour flight, you can also plan a stopover in Dubai or Doha, for example, and fly with Emirates.

Once you arrive on the airport island of Hulhulé, you can continue on to one of the many islands, depending on the distance from your island, by boat (with a traditional dohni/speedboat) or by seaplane (TMA – Trans Maldivian Airways). By the way, there are around 200 inhabited islands within the Maldives.

Malediven-Urlaub-Wasserflugzeug-Anreise

The pilots casually launch the seaplane barefoot, the propellers spin in the sun, the plane takes off, and you’re floating over the colorful atolls. And YES! It was even more beautiful than I ever imagined. I couldn’t stop marveling. Every report, the many commercials, and the countless magazines haven’t lied!

My tips for the seaplane

For safety reasons, seaplanes only fly during daylight hours from approximately 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. (If your plane lands later, an overnight stay in Malé may be necessary.)
In bad weather (storms/severe weather), there are no flights; boats are the alternative.
You should be aware that a seaplane is the most beautiful but also the most expensive option (approximately USD 250-350 per flight).
Pay attention to the baggage regulations. You’re often allowed to take 30kg on long-haul flights, BUT seaplanes only allow 20kg! (everything else is at an additional cost).

Best time to travel to the Maldives

With an average air temperature of 30°C and a constant water temperature of 28°C, the Maldives are perfect for any sun worshipper. But what about the rainy season? This is roughly from April to October. The summer months are monsoon season, which means stronger winds and showers are possible. The best time to travel to the Maldives is therefore from November to April. But please don’t let the rainy season put you off, as the showers are usually short-lived. I was in the Maldives from the end of September to the beginning of October and had absolutely fantastic weather.

Staying overnight on Kuredu

Pure Robinson Crusoe feeling, despite almost 400 overnight accommodations. Sounds like a lot for a small island, right? But it’s deceptive; you still feel alone on the beach and hardly run into anyone. Truly paradisiacal! Now you have the choice. You can choose a bungalow in tropical seclusion (garden bungalows are the cheapest option), a beach bungalow with a sea view, a beach villa, a water villa, a beach villa with a jacuzzi, or an extravagant pool villa.

All categories have semi-open bathrooms so you can shower outdoors. Pure nature! In my opinion, Kuredu gets a plus point for cleanliness! The bungalows are cleaned twice a day, and every morning the beach and paths are swept and cleared of seaweed and leaves.

The Sangu beach villas with a view of the lagoon are exclusively for guests 18 years and older, and the quiet O’ beach villas in the northeast are for guests 12 years and older. Most of the islands are purely resort islands. However, there is the option of staying in guesthouses on local islands (approx. US $50/night, excluding meals).

Examples of other accommodations:

Low price range

Embudu Village*
Reethi Beach*

Mid price range

Vilamendhoo Island & Resort*
Kuramathi Island Resort*
Meeru Island Resort & Spa*
Komandoo Island Resort & Spa*

Luxury Price Range

Lily Beach Resort*
Six Senses Laamu*
Como Cocoa Island*
Conrad Maledives Rangali Island*

My Accommodation

My destination is the island Kuredu Island Resort & Spa* in the Lhaviyani Atoll. The seaplane stops after a 45-minute flight, I get out, and what do I do first? Take off my shoes! The island is a pure “barefoot island”! Perfect, right? In addition to a truly warm welcome committee, I’m greeted with a typical Maldivian drum-beach combo and taken to reception, where a cool drink awaits me.

At 1800m x 325m, Kuredu is a relatively large island by Maldivian standards. I deliberately chose a larger island to first experience what the island feeling is like for me. Walking around the island takes about an hour.

The island offers a fantastic house reef (with a wreck) just 100 meters away and easily accessible via a jetty. Furthermore, the island is surrounded by a beautiful blue lagoon and has a magnificent sandbank, which can be very long depending on the tide. Perfect for a stroll and, of course, for sunsets!

Unique Underwater World of Kuredu

The colorful underwater world is truly gigantic. Sharks, rays, dolphins, turtles, colorful corals, and much more await you. The area around the water villas is the shark nursery, where you can almost always spot baby sharks. Kuredu Island is an absolute turtle hotspot, with a population of approximately 180 green sea turtles.

You can especially observe them grazing while diving or snorkeling. If you’re lucky, you might even spot baby turtles. It’s no coincidence that this is the perfect location for biologists working on the Olive Ridley Project, which is dedicated to the conservation and research of sea turtles. Please treat the animals with respect and consideration.

Activities & Excursion Tips

If you think you’ll get “island fever” or just lounge on the beach and swim, you’re wrong. Because besides white sandy beaches, hammocks, and a beautiful blue lagoon with crystal-clear water, the island has so much more to offer.

In addition to three freshwater pools with beach views and a pool bar (O-Pool/Sangu Infinity Pool: ages 12 and up), there are countless other options. The infinity pool is also relatively new and incredibly well-designed! In the evening, a thousand tiny lights shine in the water, creating the illusion of a starry sky being reflected in it.

Activities

Diving and snorkeling
Tennis, beach volleyball, badminton, golf
Soccer, bike rental
Gym, yoga, Pilates
Water sports center: windsurfing and kitesurfing, SUP, kayaking…
Sailing tours, deep-sea fishing
Island hopping, dolphin tours
Entertainment in the resorts

My highlight was snorkeling with turtles and dolphins. My tips: However, inform yourself about the currents and the tides beforehand. Always use fins and explore the aquatic wildlife on your own. Be careful not to destroy corals, and it’s best to wear water shoes if the bottom is too rocky.

I also have an insider tip for you. Ready? Then look at the luminous plankton in the ocean. The most beautiful natural spectacle I’ve ever seen! Depending on the current quantity in the ocean current, it varies in intensity from day to day and is a phenomenon that is particularly noticeable at night. And for all lovers: here you can not only “HAIR” but also “GET MARRIED”!

Wellness & Spa

Isn’t it possible? It is! Under the headboard of the massage table is a glass panel through which you can watch the fish during your massage. More relaxation really couldn’t be possible! There are a total of 2 wellness & spa areas on the island where you can be pampered.

Food & Drink

A very typical aroma in the restaurants of the Maldives is the sweet, hearty smell of curry. The dishes mostly have an Asian touch. Of course, there are always delicious fresh fish, rice dishes, desserts, and a wide variety of fruits on the menu. Behind this lies incredibly good logistics, as home-grown produce is hardly possible on the islands, and everything has to be “imported” to the islands. must.

Since drinks are also imported, their costs are relatively high. Therefore, an all-inclusive package often makes sense. Kuredu has 4 open-air main restaurants (buffet), several bars, and a great little tea house. Most of the restaurants have sand floors. Would you rather dine in an à la carte restaurant? Then head to:

Francos (Mediterranean cuisine)
The Far East (Japanese/Sushi) or
The Beach (Fish/Seafood)

My tips for booking & Planning

You should definitely consider the following points when planning and booking your trip:

Distance from the airport – to avoid disruptions caused by aircraft noise.
Distance from the house reef (accessible from the jetty or only by boat; not every island has a direct house reef).
Was the seaplane booked?
What are my flight times? Is the seaplane transfer still possible?
If you are sensitive to noise, you should not book an overwater bungalow. You can definitely hear the water lapping.
The service staff always appreciates a small tip. The actual currency of the Maldives is the Maldivian Rufiyaa, but everything in the resorts is paid in US dollars.
Check with the Foreign Office or your trusted doctor about possible vaccinations. Many islands also have an island doctor.

Conclusion on the Maldives

My conclusion on the Maldives? A true paradise! I’d go back anytime! I can understand why the Maldives attracts so many repeat visitors who long for an island. I have to admit, it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Even while you’re there, you wonder what destination could top it. For people who can’t relax too much, I always recommend a larger island with an easily accessible house reef. I also recommend a minimum stay of 7 days. A good combination with Sri Lanka is often also possible.