“Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort” at the very northern tip of the Maldives offers an experience you will remember for a long time
TRAVELOGUE
by Robert Čoban
A seaplane operated by Trans Maldivian Airways touched down on the calm surface of the Indian Ocean just off the island of Gaakoshinbi, where our hotel is located. The company proudly boasts the world’s largest seaplane fleet, with as many as 65 De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft transporting guests from Velana International Airport in Malé to their island resorts. Gaakoshinbi Island, home to “Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort,” lies at the very north of the Maldivian archipelago, on the same latitude as Sri Lanka, from where, as I later learned, many hotel employees in this island nation originate.
The journey to our island took about an hour. After landing and stepping out onto the dock, we were greeted with a welcome reminiscent of scenes from the acclaimed series The White Lotus.
The Maldives were a British colony until 1965 and a sultanate until 1968. Following a referendum in which 93% of voters chose to abolish the monarchy, the republic was proclaimed. The last sultan, Muhammad Fareed Didi, unlike his counterpart in Zanzibar, did not have to flee the country. He left the royal palace and settled in his own home, where he later passed away.
The first hotel on the islands opened only in 1972, and today nearly two million tourists visit more than 100 hotels and resorts annually. Tourism in the Maldives is unique for its “one island one resort” concept. In 2023, the largest number of visitors came from India, followed by Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Among the transitional countries of former Eastern Europe, Poland leads in visitor numbers.
Behind each of the villas on our island resort stood two bicycles. We cycled to breakfast, to the gym, and back to our beach villa. For someone like me, who spends most of the year on a bicycle, this felt like a dream come true.
The resort features 120 superbly designed villas divided into three categories: Beach Villas, Jungle Villas, and Ocean Villas. We stayed in a Beach Villa, complete with a small private pool in the courtyard and direct access to our own stretch of beach. The Ocean Villas are built directly over the water—what has made the Maldives so iconic worldwide. The Jungle Villas are intended for larger families or groups; located inland, they offer spacious courtyards with private pools. The resort’s 182-meter-long swimming pool, stretching from one end of the island to the other, is among the largest in the Maldives.
The cuisine deserves special mention. Breakfast is always served at Raha Market, where you can also enjoy lunch featuring flavors from around the world—I most often opted for my favorite Thai dishes. For dinner, the Japanese restaurant KATA offers excellent sushi and other specialties of the Land of the Rising Sun, while Azure Fine Dining specializes in seafood, though you can also enjoy a fine steak there.
On our first day, our hosts took us snorkeling to see an underwater installation designed by the world-renowned artist Jason deCaires Taylor. Near the beach, there is also an art studio where you can paint your own coconut and create a personalized keepsake that will always remind you of your exotic holiday at Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort.