Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Idyllic Maldives… yours to discover…

““I travel because the world is bigger than our backyard” - Anonymous

 

From the nomadic steppes of Kazakhstan to the frenetic streets of Hanoi to the idyllic beaches of Maldives & Thailand, Asia is a continent so full of intrigue, adventure, solace & spirituality that it has fixated & confounded travellers for centuries.

 

You have seen photos of the Maldives before: picture-perfect private villas suspended over striking blue waters, alabaster white sand beaches & spectacular sunsets dipping into the horizon. The scenic beauty of the Maldives is something to behold, something you can't quite understand until you are there in person. Come, let us take you there….

 

Vast Landscapes | Ancient Civilisations | Glimpse of the Future

Asia has contributed a cast of villains & heroes to global history. Most of the significant achievements of the modern world had their infancy in Asia as historic trading routes sliced across epic terrain as expanding empires competed to trade goods & ideas throughout the continent & beyond. Asia’s ambitious civilisations ultimately gave rise to some of the world’s most revolutionary ideas & important technology.

 

Ancient wonders & sacred spaces abound across the continent, from the Great Wall of China & Angkor’s heaven incarnate in the Temples to lesser-known marvels like Bagan’s shimmering spires or downtown Yangon in Myanmar. And Nepal & Afghanistan & the Taj Mahal in India & almost everywhere. For old meets new, explore the backstreets of Phnom Penh, Hanoi's Old Quarter, which have a beguiling blend of traditional architecture, colonial-era gems & a contemporary twist.

 

As dawn breaks, pots of rice bubble over & the smoke of incense wafts from earth to heaven. Barefoot monks embark on their call to alms among the faithful; the muezzin's call reverberates from mosques urging devotees to prayer & family altars are flush with fruit & flowers for the guardian spirits. The region’s great monuments were wrought from divine inspiration. The spiritual side of life in Asia is omnipresent & travellers can boost their karmic balance at meditation retreats or by hiking to a golden temple atop a sacred mountain.

 

From sublime coastlines to snow-capped mountains, the majestic meandering Mekong River winding its way from the densely packed mountains of northern Laos to the pancake-flat rice bowl of the Mekong Delta, to wildlife infested jungle, Asian landscapes hold an immediacy & vibrancy that captivates & enchants. Immense expanses of desert flow down from inhospitable mountains, which in turn give way to seemingly impenetrable forests. In a land where tigers still roam free (though far from noisy tourists) nature continues to be the driving force in many peoples’ lives. Virtually every climate on the globe is represented here; take a trek over the Gobi’s arching dunes or sun yourself on the sand-fringed tropical islands of the South China Sea.

 

In Asia, the future is now. The cities are stepping into the future with one foot dragging in the past. Gleaming skyscrapers, whooshing magnetic trains, shiny smartphones. Bangkok is the gateway to many Asian adventures, where skytrains whisk shoppers from mall to mall & hawkers ply their wares on the steaming pavements below. Singapore is a gleaming testament to Asia at its most efficient. China is charging its way into the 21^st century with its economy developing at a head-spinning pace, while South Korea boasts some of the fastest internet speeds in the world & India is a hub of growing technology.

 

A frenetic buzz surrounds urban Asia: the fashion, culture & business in the Continent’s metropolises easily challenge the biggest European & American cities for their status as global hubs. This ever-evolving modernity can make for some incredibly special travel experiences: watch rice paddies flash by from a high-speed train, pick up a shiny new laptop in a Hong Kong electronics market or go to a robot cabaret show in Japan.

 

Water has sculpted many Southeast Asian landscapes. The jungle-topped Islands are fringed by coral reefs that calm the ocean into turquoise pools. The languorous Vietnamese coastline greets the South China Sea from tip to tail, while inland dramatic karst mountains soar skywards.

 

The traditional ‘highways’ of Borneo are coffee-coloured, jungle-clad rivers. And the volcanoes of Indonesia & the Philippines provide a glimpse into the earth’s volatile heart. With a burning sun & cooling rains, the earth here delivers a colourful palette of fruits, spices once as prized as gold & the Asia staple, rice.

 

Is there any greater place to eat than Asia? Eating here can be both a joyous & chaotic affair: forks are forsaken in favour of fingers or chopsticks & food is enjoyed with unrivalled gusto. The Continent has exported its cuisines the world over: India’s red hot curries, China’s juicy dim sum, Vietnam’s steaming bowls of pho soup & Thailand’s heaping plates of pat tai (pad Thai) noodles - the regional cuisine known & loved across the globe, tells a tale of migration & mixing. Whether settling down for a Michelin-starred meal in one of Singapore’s finest restaurants or pulling up a plastic stool on a Bangkok street, hungry travellers will never be bored by the diversity of Asia’s cuisines.

 

And there is no better way to meet the region's melting pot of people, with their infectious spirit & irrepressible love of life, than with a meal in a market or a drink at a street stall. Despite the rapid development, the street remains the stage for the real-life drama that unfolds each day.

 

Slow boats down the Mekong, motorbike adventures in the jungle & island-hopping in Indonesia were all early highlights, but new frontiers are opening up all the time. The people are irrepressible, the experiences unforgettable & the stories impossible to re-create, but sometime during your journey, Asia will enter your soul.

 

And now, let us move to Maldives. You have seen photos before: picture-perfect private villas suspended over striking blue waters, alabaster white sand beaches & spectacular sunsets dipping into the horizon. The scenic beauty of the Islands is something to behold, something you can't quite understand until you are there in person.

 

Unbelievable Beaches | Underwater World | Resorts for Everyone

Unrivalled luxury, stunning white-sand beaches and an amazing underwater world make Maldives an obvious choice for a true holiday of a lifetime.

 

Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an archipelagic country with a chain of 26 Atolls, in the Indian subcontinent, situated in the Indian Ocean. It lies roughly 500 miles southwest of Sri Lanka & India, about 750 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland. Maldives is about as isolated as you can get & that is just another one of its many allures.

 

Maldives located between the Arabian & Laccadive seas, is home to perhaps the best beaches in the world; they can be found on almost every one of the country’s nearly 1200 Islands (only 200 are inhabited) & are so consistently perfect that it is hard not to become blase about them. While some beaches may boast softer granules than others, the basic fact remains: you won't find consistently whiter-than-white powder sand & luminous cyan-blue water like this anywhere else on earth. This fact alone is enough to bring well over a million people a year to this tiny, remote Indian Ocean paradise.

 

With dozens of Resort Islands, Maldives relies on Tourism as its dominant industry that draws on a large portion of the workforce. The hotels in this region are also spectacular, ranging from underwater hotels to overwater private bungalows to incredibly beautiful Resorts. The other major industry is Fishing & the Island nation exports its sea catches to countries across the world.

 

Cuisine here, relies heavily on the region's available ingredients, which means seafood, coconut & starches feature prominently in many dishes. Tuna, Wahoo & Mahi Mahi are a few of the fish you can expect to find on menus. Other popular dishes include samosas (pastries stuffed with savory filling like spiced potatoes & vegetables), curries & spicy fried fish. Note that because it is an Islamic nation, a vast majority of the population does not drink alcohol. However, no such restrictions exist at most Resorts.

 

For guests at a high-end Resort, there will likely be more variety in terms of food, with dining options ranging from Italian & Spanish to Middle Eastern & Asian cuisine. Regardless, dining in the Maldives is very expensive. And guests looking for a truly unique experience, should consider booking a table at an underwater restaurant. Some options include - the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant in the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort, 5.8 Undersea Restaurant at Hurawalhi Maldives & Subsix at Niyama Private Islands Maldives.

 

With some of the best diving & snorkeling in the world, the clear waters of Maldives are a magnet for anyone with an interest in marine life. The richness & variety is astonishing - dazzling coral walls, magnificent caves & schools of brightly colored tropical fish await you when you get down to the reef. In deeper waters lurk manta rays, turtles, sharks & even the world’s largest fish, the whale shark. The best bit? The water is so warm many people don’t even wear a wetsuit.

 

The Island nation is popular with honeymooners looking for seclusion & adventurers looking to explore the depths of the sea on a scuba diving & snorkeling excursion. Travelers seeking relaxation can unwind at one of the Spas & all visitors should certainly spend a day exploring the capital city - Male. This tropical paradise is warm & sunny year-round & the best weather is between November & April, thanks to little precipitation & warm temperatures. Consequently, as this is also the busiest time of year, the room rates at Resorts are very expensive, in comparison, requiring patience & plentiful cash.

 

Maldives has been an Islamic nation since the 12^th century. With this rich heritage, you will find religious traditions entrenched in the culture. Mosques dot the capital Male & you will see some men & women dressed in very conservative attire.

 

Each stunning Island is unique, offering a variety of adventures & discoveries. Whether you are traveling for a peaceful vacation, a romantic getaway or a family adventure, everybody has the opportunity to enjoy the sunny side of life by the ocean.  Experience the serenity & excitement while you explore & take in everything the alluring Islands have to offer. Your Island sanctuary is waiting, just a wave away. Take the plunge now, smell the fresh salty breezes, let the waves kiss your feet & may the people, places & memories bring you joy. A warm welcome awaits you & The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery to Maldives.

 

 

Come…be inspired & discover the World with us

 

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of this idyllic Island nation. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore options & we will be happy to offer suggestions based on your personal preferences……