SHANGRI-LA VILLINGILI

 

Spanning across 54 hectares, The Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa proves to be the largest island within the Maldives, offering guests ultimate privacy and a spread of amenities, tailored for couples, families and the new trend of male-only “mancations” (male-only vacations).  

 

Offering an array of high-octane and adrenaline-fuelled activities on both land and sea, Villingili proves to take luxury to new levels with the only 9-hole golf course in the region as well as exclusive fine-dining options and offshore experiences.

 

Off shore, the hotel provides a dynamic aquatic playground of kayaking, parasailing and paddle boarding to name but a few, all of which are geared towards men seeking exhilarating male-bonding experiences. Additionally, the island is a paradise for experienced surfers, boasting the most consistent surf in the Maldives as well as offering half a dozen great wave set-ups - ideal for a boys’ beach day.

 

For diving enthusiasts, there is an abundance of marine life to be explored alongside numerous exhilarating world class diving locations, such as The British Loyalty Shipwreck which came to rest in 1946 having been torpedoed twice during the Second World War. ‘Mancations’ often involve learning a new skill and at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort beginner divers are encouraged to use the specialist dive pool in the resort to learn the basics and achieve their first PADI qualification. Moreover, there is a special snorkelling garden close to the shoreline where it is not uncommon for swimmers to glide past an unassuming green turtle, manta ray or black-tipped reef shark.

 

Renowned for its beaches and natural beauty, the Maldives is also steeped in rich and fascinating heritage. At Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa guests can embark on a range of tours around the Addu Atoll. Addu is the most populated atoll in the Maldives and offers a unique insight into the local culture during visits to the local Maldivian villages and farms. Highlights include a curated historical tour of Gan Island, which served as a British naval base during the Second World War. Fittingly, ‘Mancations’ often involve exploring military history and the island of Villingili is unique with its option to explore remnants from a Second World War base including pillboxes and ammunition bunkers used by the British Royal Air Force. In addition, the hotel also offers a cycling tour along a 17 kilometres road, the longest in the Maldives, which connects a string of five islands together.

 

For more information go to: www.shangri-la.com/male/villingiliresort/