The chic sleep: Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

Arriving at Hadahaa by night is one of those truly magical experiences you never forget – a speed boat slices silently through shimmering waves of plankton, while warm salty air whips through your hair. The hotel is the only property on this tiny, idyllic island, which sits in the remote southern reaches of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. It is a small sandy jewel where guests wander barefoot and it takes just 10 minutes to jog gently around the whole island. My beach villa, along a sandy path marked out by the glow of lanterns, is hidden behind a wall of lush greenery and reveals a small pool and outdoor bathroom. I spend the nights soaking in the large stone bath while gazing at the extraordinary canopy of stars above; during the day, a water villa on stilts is a prime vantage point to observe the myriad ocean wildlife, where I watch rays and reef sharks darting among the coral for what feels like hours. But that is nothing compared to scuba diving along the reef and nearby deserted islands. Then it’s off to unwind with a treatment in one of the spa’s private cabanas, set in serene tropical gardens. For dinner, a pop-up restaurant appears on the beach, where traditional seafood curries and barbecues are served by candlelight. It’s the sort of place where a day feels like a lifetime and you think up ways to return before you’ve even left.

For the ultimate diving experience, discover the bio-fluorescence of sea organisms in the reef during the night. Watch sleeping parrotfish or coral polyps feeding on plankton that rises from the depths after dark.

As one of the most pioneering eco resorts in the Maldives, expect a roster of experiential trips such as expeditions to uninhabited islands to clean up marine debris and rubbish, or sustainability talks on how to protect the atoll’s fragile coral reefs.

Against a perfect Maldivian sunset, take a special boat trip to a deserted island paradise for a picnic supper – a blissful option for honeymooners, but also an amazing way to satisfy a child’s thirst for adventure.

Watch turtles lay their eggs and the tiny hatchlings make a valiant race for the open ocean in the moonlight with the resort’s resident marine biologist as part of the Park Hyatt’s Turtle Quest program.