Hotel Review: Six Senses Laamu

Today, I’m very pleased to have the lovely Clair Horwood from luxury tour operator Scott Dunn sharing this review of her recent stay at the fabulous Six Senses Laamu with us. Having stayed at a Six Senses resort myself (in Thailand), I can reiterate what Clair says about the resort’s sense of style and luxury, and any of the Six Senses resorts would really make a fabulous choice for a honeymoon. 

Deep in the Indian Ocean, the Six Senses Laamu is the only resort on the virtually uncharted Laamu atoll. A little harder to find than the main swathe of island resorts, the remoteness is a part of the Six Senses Laamu’s charm with untouched, pristine coral gardens to dive or snorkel and the clearest night sky I’ve ever seen. On the beach one evening, we went stargazing with the resort’s resident expert, looking at the rings of Saturn and the moon craters through the resort’s powerful telescope. The tropical island features the Maldives’ largest over-water structure, an impressive feat of architecture that combines sustainable materials, wood and stunning glass woven together as the centrepiece of the resort.  It’s home to a chilled sunset cocktail bar that serves delicious, fruity twists on the traditional mojito and plays host to visiting DJs and mixologists, the main restaurant, a much visited ice cream parlour, and a towering glass wine cellar, Altitude, which houses over 400 bottles. The design has been cleverly thought throughout the resort out by Six Senses. You can’t help but love the fresh feel and quirky design of the over-water villas, each with a huge bed looking over the water, basins encased in vintage looking suitcases, an outdoor rain shower and glass bottomed bathtub! Each villa even comes with a pair of bikes with which to explore the island’s nooks and crannies. The vibe of Laamu is young and active; while I relaxed at the sensational Six Senses spa with a massage in a spectacular tree-house nest perched high in the tropical vegetation, my other half, Michael, hit the surf. The Maldives isn’t the first destination you think of when it comes to surfing, but just beyond the calm waters of Laamu’s lagoon are some of the Maldives most famous breaks, the challenging Yin Yang, and smaller waves for beginners. No wet suits are required with the sea temperature a delicious 29 degrees. Under surf instructor Steve’s tuition Michael was able to ride a few waves before falling off, his pride barely dented.
Need to know
Scott Dunn offers luxury honeymoons to the Maldives staying at Six Senses Laamu from £2,960 per person for a week based on two sharing a lagoon water villa on a bed and breakfast basis, including international and domestic flights and speed boat transfers. For more information contact Scott Dunn’s Maldives specialists on 020 8682 5075, www.scottdunn.com.