Kurumba Maldives

Surveying the white-sand beach from the courtyard of your 1,100 sq. ft. private villa, you understand the power and beauty of living so close to the ocean. And in such exceptional circumstances - the resort is an island to itself, rising out of the blue depths on spires of brilliant coral.

Just 48 acres, lush Kurumba Maldives is home to 180 bungalows and villas with rich wooden floors, timber ceilings, and antique-style furniture. Some villas have private pools, and all lodgings feature a second open-air shower. There are nine restaurants specializing in cuisines from Indian to Italian, but you'll also be tempted to sneak away for a candlelit dinner on the beach.

Other indulgences include a signature foam exfoliation, body massage, and skin nourishment ritual at the resort's spa. For an equally therapeutic experience, take the plunge and join a reef dive in the warm Indian Ocean, where guests can renew their marriage vows in a unique way - by diving to an undersea altar.