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This Itinerary Begins
With You
At Conte, no two itineraries are the same. Share what matters to you when you travel - your preferences and pace - and we’ll craft a journey that reflects you completely. Thoughtfully designed, expertly delivered, and entirely yours.
MALDIVES
Itinerary Overview
Days 1 - 3
The Blissful Maldives
Days 4 - 7
BEST TIME
BEST TIME
TAILORED TRIPS
BEST TIME
Days 8 - 12
Iconic Experiences of The Maldives
Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle
Highlights of Your Journey
Days 1 - 3
Your Indian Ocean journey begins in the Maldives' pristine atolls before exploring Sri Lanka's ancient heritage and diverse landscapes.
Day one welcomes you to your overwater villa in the Maldives, where 1,192 coral islands form 26 atolls scattered across the equator. The crystal-clear waters and house reefs offer immediate snorkeling from your doorstep, while sunset dolphin cruises reveal pods that have navigated these waters for millennia. Your second day offers pure relaxation with spa treatments over turquoise lagoons, plus sandbank picnics on temporary islands that emerge at low tide. Day three features diving or snorkeling at renowned sites like Banana Reef, the Maldives' first marine protected area established in 1972, where manta rays and whale sharks migrate through channels between atolls.
Days 4 - 7
Days four through seven transition to Sri Lanka's cultural triangle and ancient kingdoms.
Your fourth day flies to Colombo, Sri Lanka's commercial capital, exploring Pettah Market's chaotic energy and colonial Fort district reflecting Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences since the 16th century. Day five journeys to the Cultural Triangle, visiting Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first capital from 377 BC, where the sacred Bo Tree grown from a cutting of Buddha's original tree still thrives after 2,300 years. Your sixth day explores Polonnaruwa's 12th-century ruins showcasing advanced irrigation systems that sustained ancient kingdoms, plus cycling through village landscapes where rice cultivation continues using traditional methods. Day seven ascends Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the 5th-century "Lion Rock" palace built 200 meters above surrounding plains, featuring ancient frescoes and mirror walls covered in centuries of visitors' graffiti.
Days 8 - 12
Your final stretch combines Sri Lankan highlands with a luxurious Maldivian farewell.
Day eight travels to Kandy, the last independent kingdom until British conquest in 1815, visiting the Temple of the Tooth housing Buddha's relic and witnessing traditional Kandyan dancing performances preserving centuries-old culture. Day nine ventures into tea country around Ella, where British plantations transformed the landscape in the 1860s, offering scenic train rides through hills carpeted with emerald tea bushes. Your tenth day returns to the Maldives for underwater dining experiences and water villa luxury, embracing the contrast between cultural immersion and tropical paradise. Day eleven offers final adventures like swimming with whale sharks - the world's largest fish - or simply lounging on pristine beaches where the only footprints are your own. Day twelve concludes with seaplane transfers offering aerial views of coral atolls scattered like emeralds across endless blue, carrying memories of two destinations showcasing both ancient Buddhist heritage and pristine marine paradise in the heart of the Indian Ocean.
Day 1
Your Indian Ocean journey begins in the Maldives' pristine atolls before exploring Sri Lanka's ancient heritage and diverse landscapes.
Day one welcomes you to your overwater villa in the Maldives, where 1,192 coral islands form 26 atolls scattered across the equator. The crystal-clear waters and house reefs offer immediate snorkeling from your doorstep, while sunset dolphin cruises reveal pods that have navigated these waters for millennia. Your second day offers pure relaxation with spa treatments over turquoise lagoons, plus sandbank picnics on temporary islands that emerge at low tide. Day three features diving or snorkeling at renowned sites like Banana Reef, the Maldives' first marine protected area established in 1972, where manta rays and whale sharks migrate through channels between atolls.
Days 2 - 4
Days four through seven transition to Sri Lanka's cultural triangle and ancient kingdoms.
Your fourth day flies to Colombo, Sri Lanka's commercial capital, exploring Pettah Market's chaotic energy and colonial Fort district reflecting Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences since the 16th century. Day five journeys to the Cultural Triangle, visiting Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first capital from 377 BC, where the sacred Bo Tree grown from a cutting of Buddha's original tree still thrives after 2,300 years. Your sixth day explores Polonnaruwa's 12th-century ruins showcasing advanced irrigation systems that sustained ancient kingdoms, plus cycling through village landscapes where rice cultivation continues using traditional methods. Day seven ascends Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the 5th-century "Lion Rock" palace built 200 meters above surrounding plains, featuring ancient frescoes and mirror walls covered in centuries of visitors' graffiti.
Days 5 - 6
Your final stretch combines Sri Lankan highlands with a luxurious Maldivian farewell.
Day eight travels to Kandy, the last independent kingdom until British conquest in 1815, visiting the Temple of the Tooth housing Buddha's relic and witnessing traditional Kandyan dancing performances preserving centuries-old culture. Day nine ventures into tea country around Ella, where British plantations transformed the landscape in the 1860s, offering scenic train rides through hills carpeted with emerald tea bushes. Your tenth day returns to the Maldives for underwater dining experiences and water villa luxury, embracing the contrast between cultural immersion and tropical paradise. Day eleven offers final adventures like swimming with whale sharks - the world's largest fish - or simply lounging on pristine beaches where the only footprints are your own. Day twelve concludes with seaplane transfers offering aerial views of coral atolls scattered like emeralds across endless blue, carrying memories of two destinations showcasing both ancient Buddhist heritage and pristine marine paradise in the heart of the Indian Ocean.
Days 4 - 7
Days four through seven transition to Sri Lanka's cultural triangle and ancient kingdoms.
Your fourth day flies to Colombo, Sri Lanka's commercial capital, exploring Pettah Market's chaotic energy and colonial Fort district reflecting Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences since the 16th century. Day five journeys to the Cultural Triangle, visiting Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first capital from 377 BC, where the sacred Bo Tree grown from a cutting of Buddha's original tree still thrives after 2,300 years. Your sixth day explores Polonnaruwa's 12th-century ruins showcasing advanced irrigation systems that sustained ancient kingdoms, plus cycling through village landscapes where rice cultivation continues using traditional methods. Day seven ascends Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the 5th-century "Lion Rock" palace built 200 meters above surrounding plains, featuring ancient frescoes and mirror walls covered in centuries of visitors' graffiti.
Days 8 - 12
Your final stretch combines Sri Lankan highlands with a luxurious Maldivian farewell.
Day eight travels to Kandy, the last independent kingdom until British conquest in 1815, visiting the Temple of the Tooth housing Buddha's relic and witnessing traditional Kandyan dancing performances preserving centuries-old culture. Day nine ventures into tea country around Ella, where British plantations transformed the landscape in the 1860s, offering scenic train rides through hills carpeted with emerald tea bushes. Your tenth day returns to the Maldives for underwater dining experiences and water villa luxury, embracing the contrast between cultural immersion and tropical paradise. Day eleven offers final adventures like swimming with whale sharks - the world's largest fish - or simply lounging on pristine beaches where the only footprints are your own. Day twelve concludes with seaplane transfers offering aerial views of coral atolls scattered like emeralds across endless blue, carrying memories of two destinations showcasing both ancient Buddhist heritage and pristine marine paradise in the heart of the Indian Ocean.
BEST TIME
TAILORED TRIPS
from £2500 pp, per night
Maldives - Colombo - Kandy - Ella
Days 1 - 3
The Blissful Maldives
Days 4 - 7
Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle
Days 8 - 12
Iconic Experiences of The Maldives
Trip Highlights
Days 1 - 3
Your Indian Ocean journey begins in the Maldives' pristine atolls before exploring Sri Lanka's ancient heritage and diverse landscapes.
Day one welcomes you to your overwater villa in the Maldives, where 1,192 coral islands form 26 atolls scattered across the equator. The crystal-clear waters and house reefs offer immediate snorkeling from your doorstep, while sunset dolphin cruises reveal pods that have navigated these waters for millennia. Your second day offers pure relaxation with spa treatments over turquoise lagoons, plus sandbank picnics on temporary islands that emerge at low tide. Day three features diving or snorkeling at renowned sites like Banana Reef, the Maldives' first marine protected area established in 1972, where manta rays and whale sharks migrate through channels between atolls.
Days 5 - 6
Your final days offer choices between underwater exploration and leisurely beach relaxation, perfectly capturing the Maldives' appeal as both adventure destination and tropical retreat.
Day five provides options for diving expeditions to explore deeper coral formations and shipwrecks, or dolphin watching excursions where spinner dolphins perform acrobatic displays in waters that have supported marine life for millennia. Your sixth day embraces pure beach leisure on pristine coral sand beaches where palm trees lean over turquoise lagoons, offering final moments in paradise before departure from these remarkable islands where traditional Islamic culture adapts to modern tourism while confronting the existential challenge of rising sea levels.
Days 2 - 4
Days two through four immerse you in marine adventures and cultural experiences, from coral reef exploration to traditional island life and culinary traditions.
Day two's snorkeling expeditions reveal coral gardens supporting over 2,000 fish species, including whale sharks and manta rays that migrate through Maldivian waters seasonally. Sunset cruises aboard traditional dhoni boats, whose distinctive curved prows have navigated these waters for over 1,000 years, provide dolphin watching opportunities while celebrating maritime traditions that sustained Maldivian communities long before tourism development.
Your third day explores uninhabited islands where sandbank picnics demonstrate the geological processes that created this archipelago through coral growth and sediment accumulation over millions of years. Day four balances spa treatments using traditional Ayurvedic techniques with cooking classes featuring Maldivian cuisine that blends South Asian spices with fresh seafood, reflecting the islands' position along ancient Indian Ocean trading routes.
Days 5 - 6
Your final days offer choices between underwater exploration and leisurely beach relaxation, perfectly capturing the Maldives' appeal as both adventure destination and tropical retreat.
Day five provides options for diving expeditions to explore deeper coral formations and shipwrecks, or dolphin watching excursions where spinner dolphins perform acrobatic displays in waters that have supported marine life for millennia. Your sixth day embraces pure beach leisure on pristine coral sand beaches where palm trees lean over turquoise lagoons, offering final moments in paradise before departure from these remarkable islands where traditional Islamic culture adapts to modern tourism while confronting the existential challenge of rising sea levels.
Days 4 - 7
Days four through seven transition to Sri Lanka's cultural triangle and ancient kingdoms.
Your fourth day flies to Colombo, Sri Lanka's commercial capital, exploring Pettah Market's chaotic energy and colonial Fort district reflecting Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences since the 16th century. Day five journeys to the Cultural Triangle, visiting Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first capital from 377 BC, where the sacred Bo Tree grown from a cutting of Buddha's original tree still thrives after 2,300 years. Your sixth day explores Polonnaruwa's 12th-century ruins showcasing advanced irrigation systems that sustained ancient kingdoms, plus cycling through village landscapes where rice cultivation continues using traditional methods. Day seven ascends Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the 5th-century "Lion Rock" palace built 200 meters above surrounding plains, featuring ancient frescoes and mirror walls covered in centuries of visitors' graffiti.
Days 8 - 12
Your final stretch combines Sri Lankan highlands with a luxurious Maldivian farewell.
Day eight travels to Kandy, the last independent kingdom until British conquest in 1815, visiting the Temple of the Tooth housing Buddha's relic and witnessing traditional Kandyan dancing performances preserving centuries-old culture. Day nine ventures into tea country around Ella, where British plantations transformed the landscape in the 1860s, offering scenic train rides through hills carpeted with emerald tea bushes. Your tenth day returns to the Maldives for underwater dining experiences and water villa luxury, embracing the contrast between cultural immersion and tropical paradise. Day eleven offers final adventures like swimming with whale sharks - the world's largest fish - or simply lounging on pristine beaches where the only footprints are your own. Day twelve concludes with seaplane transfers offering aerial views of coral atolls scattered like emeralds across endless blue, carrying memories of two destinations showcasing both ancient Buddhist heritage and pristine marine paradise in the heart of the Indian Ocean.
BEST TIME
TAILORED TRIPS
from £2500 pp, per night
Maldives - Colombo - Kandy - Ella
Days 1 - 3
The Blissful Maldives
Days 4 - 7
Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle
Days 8 - 12
Iconic Experiences of The Maldives
Trip Highlights
Days 1 - 3
Your Indian Ocean journey begins in the Maldives' pristine atolls before exploring Sri Lanka's ancient heritage and diverse landscapes.
Day one welcomes you to your overwater villa in the Maldives, where 1,192 coral islands form 26 atolls scattered across the equator. The crystal-clear waters and house reefs offer immediate snorkeling from your doorstep, while sunset dolphin cruises reveal pods that have navigated these waters for millennia. Your second day offers pure relaxation with spa treatments over turquoise lagoons, plus sandbank picnics on temporary islands that emerge at low tide. Day three features diving or snorkeling at renowned sites like Banana Reef, the Maldives' first marine protected area established in 1972, where manta rays and whale sharks migrate through channels between atolls.
Days 2 - 4
Days two through four immerse you in marine adventures and cultural experiences, from coral reef exploration to traditional island life and culinary traditions.
Day two's snorkeling expeditions reveal coral gardens supporting over 2,000 fish species, including whale sharks and manta rays that migrate through Maldivian waters seasonally. Sunset cruises aboard traditional dhoni boats, whose distinctive curved prows have navigated these waters for over 1,000 years, provide dolphin watching opportunities while celebrating maritime traditions that sustained Maldivian communities long before tourism development.
Your third day explores uninhabited islands where sandbank picnics demonstrate the geological processes that created this archipelago through coral growth and sediment accumulation over millions of years. Day four balances spa treatments using traditional Ayurvedic techniques with cooking classes featuring Maldivian cuisine that blends South Asian spices with fresh seafood, reflecting the islands' position along ancient Indian Ocean trading routes.
Best Luxury Hotels in the Maldives: Conte's Seasonal Picks for 2025
Como Cocoa Island
South Malé Atoll, the Maldives
COMO Cocoa Island is a serene, boutique resort in the South Malé Atoll of the Maldives, just a 40-minute speedboat ride from the international airport. The resort features 33 overwater villas, all inspired by the shape of traditional Maldivian “dhoni” fishing boats and connected by wooden boardwalks.
COMO Cocoa Island emphasises wellness through its COMO Shambhala Retreat, which offers Asian-style spa treatments, a hydrotherapy pool, yoga and Pilates studio, and regularly scheduled wellness classes. Dining is intimate and refined at Ufaa, with a menu inspired by South India’s Malabar Coast using fresh, organic ingredients.
The Standard Haruvalhi Maldives
Raa Atoll, the Maldives
The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives is a vibrant and playful 5-star resort located on Huruvalhi Island in the Raa Atoll. It has 115 villas, spread between overwater and beach categories, all with private plunge pools and direct access to the lagoon, ocean, or sandy beach.
The design embraces bold colour, fun touches (like disco balls above the baths), and large-scale murals, giving the place a stylish, irreverent personality. Onsite you’ll find six dining venues, including a beach BBQ shack, a traditional Maldivian overwater restaurant, a café, and a glass-bottom overwater bar/club. The wellness offering includes a hydrotherapy spa with a hammam, steam room, yoga studio, and treatment rooms. There’s also a lively social scene: pool parties, DJs, beach bonfires, and evening entertainment.
JOALI Maldives
Raa Atoll, the Maldives
JOALI Maldives is an art-immersive luxury resort located on Muravandhoo Island in the Raa Atoll, crafted around a philosophy of “joy of living.” The resort features 73 villas and residences, including beach villas, overwater villas, and multi-bedroom residences, all with private pools and dedicated butler (“Jadugar”) service.
Amenities are rich, including multiple restaurants (Japanese, Asian-Levant, Italian), a wine cellar, a chocolate and ice cream studio, plus immersive private dining experiences by the sea. Wellness is centered around the JOALI BEING wellness philosophy with a spa, healing rituals, and holistic treatments.
Soneva Secret
Kunfanadhoo, Maldives
Soneva Secret is an ultra-private and exclusive resort located on the hidden island of Kunfunadhoo in the Maldives. The resort’s spacious and luxurious overwater and beachfront villas provide guests with absolute privacy and stunning views of the turquoise waters.
With personalized service and bespoke experiences, guests can enjoy world-class dining, rejuvenating spa treatments, and various water activities such as snorkeling, diving, and paddleboarding. Soneva Secret’s unique design and eco-friendly approach make it an extraordinary destination for those seeking luxury, seclusion, and a once-in-a-lifetime Maldives experience.
Amilla Fushi
Maldives
Amilla Fushi is an exclusive luxury resort in the Maldives, offering a stunning collection of villas and residences set on a private island surrounded by crystal-clear waters. The resort features contemporary design and spacious accommodations, each offering direct access to the beach or stunning ocean views.
Guests can enjoy world-class dining, unwind at the spa, or take part in water activities such as snorkeling, diving, and paddle-boarding. With its focus on privacy, personalized service, and exceptional experiences, Amilla Fushi is the perfect destination for those seeking a unique and luxurious Maldives escape.
Six Senses Laamu
Maldives
Six Senses Laamu is where castaway fantasy meets eco-luxury reality. Tucked away in the remote southern atolls, it’s a place where bicycles replace buggies and shoes are joyfully optional. Villas hover over crystal-clear water or nestle under coconut palms, all crafted from natural materials with thoughtful, playful design.
Manta rays drift below the decks; sunrise yoga and overwater hammocks set the tone. Everything - from the food to the spa to the smiles - feels deeply connected to place. It’s not just a resort, it’s a slower, simpler way of being that stays with guests long after they leave.
