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Here’s to honeymoons – ones that can be celebrated every year or every month if you so wish. Here’s to celebrating the exquisite crazies you live with and redefining love and togetherness in whichever way you deem fit – let’s unleash the skinny dips, flower-laden baths, beach-side breakfasts, and the bubbly 🙂
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I know what you’re expecting and I don’t blame you. I can’t help swooning over new places when I start penning an article. But I’ll surprise you – I won’t start this one with a reverie about a sun-hazed paradise that is Outrigger Konotta Maldives. Instead, I’ll preface it with a confession!!
Vid and I never really went on a honeymoon. I don’t know whether it’s because we didn’t have a stressful wedding that needed recovering from or our inherently rebellious spirits but we were both resolutely opposed to the idea of a honeymoon, followed by an inevitable return to ‘regular’ life.
But we try and do something special every year on our anniversary – after all, there are few things that are better than celebrating your partner enthusiastically, every single year. So far we’ve spent anniversaries educating ourselves about wine in Parisian suburbs, driving around olive groves in Italy, hiking in the rolling hills of Scotland, and exploring historic Spanish towns. Each holiday has been special but we’ve spent most of those holidays on long drives, reading about historical attractions, and discovering cultural idiosyncrasies. But this year, I decided to surprise Vid with something unique – an impossibly romantic getaway on a tiny island in the midst of the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean.
At the beginning of this year, we decided languor would be our mantra for the year – we would relish every second and try to appreciate the thrumming rhythm of slow life. Keeping this in mind I wanted something well and truly spectacular on this anniversary. And what’s more romantic than being marooned on a tiny private island, positioned strategically between Asia and Africa. A tropical getaway boasting of golden sands with tides lapping at the shore – is there any better way to cut oneself from the daily grind?
Outrigger Konotta Maldives: Resort and Rooms
The journey to Outrigger Konotta Maldives is a long one (1 domestic flight and a boat ride from Male Airport) and the staff seem to be aware of that. That might be why we were greeted with smiling faces enquiring about our journey and a board that read “Welcome to Paradise”. And so it is.
We were fully intent on crawling into our bed on reaching the resort but 5 minutes and a welcome drink later, we couldn’t stop ourselves from exploring the island that is part of the southern Maldivian district of Gaafu Dhaalu. It’s hard to say no to sparkling turquoise waters, lingering waves, sun-kissed beaches, and verdant greenery that make up this tiny island paradise.
We opted for a signature overwater villa – no doubt you’ve seen photos of these villas, surrounded by azure waters, plastered all over Pinterest. Let me tell you something – they’re every bit as dreamy as they look on the internet. Each unit, surrounded by crystal-clear waters, could well be a microcosm of the universe for a couple on a romantic getaway.
The luxurious villas have everything one might need – spacious living rooms, oversized bathtubs, generous wardrobes, coffee machines, king-sized beds, flat-screen televisions, and an inimitable patio, kitted out with an infinity pool, dreamy gazebo, and a distinctive hammock suspended over the Indian Ocean. It’s the perfect sanctuary for a couple, one you needn’t leave for the length of the holiday if you don’t want to. You can order gourmet food and delicious cocktails in the villas and you can even go snorkelling and explore the house reef just under the villas. If you want, you could spend your entire holiday without bumping into another soul, in a world entirely your own.
As for us, we spent countless hours gazing at the variegated shades of blue from the comfort of our infinity pool, reading books amidst billowy white curtains, napping on our hammock, or just relishing the rhythm of mellow waves.
Nights were reserved for stargazing. Outrigger Konotta Maldives is just 30 kms away from the Equator and the remote location ensures the absence of light pollution. No wonder then, the chances of seeing a star-spangled sky and the elusive Milky Way are very high. We didn’t see the Milky Way but here’s what we DID see:
Dining
As you can probably tell by the photos, we spent a lot of time cocooned in our li’l private paradise. But we explored the entire island when we finally ventured out of our villa. This isn’t a hard task – it’s possible to walk around the entire island in less than fifteen minutes. The size is what makes this private island resort really special and ensures a relaxed and pristine vibe, wherever you go.
Even the restaurants are carefully ensconced in areas that allow guest to sit back and unwind. Nala Rah, the resort’s teppan grill and sushi bar boasts of stunning ocean-views. It’s the perfect place to watch the sun go down while sipping on cocktails or sampling artisan sushi and sashimi platters. At Blue Salt, the resort’s multi-cuisine restaurant, there are no rushed buffets (or the queues that inevitably accompany buffets). All meals are served à la carte. We loved the freshly-squeezed juices at breakfast. As for lunch and dinner, there is a variety of delectable dishes on the menu – cold and warm soups, Sri Lankan and Maldivian curries, grilled meats, and a variety of seafood including lobster. Vid loved the pan-fried calamari with chorizo and the chocolate fondant (he ordered it every night, yep EVERY night!!). I couldn’t get enough of the refreshing watermelon gazpacho and their signature tropical fruit platter.
Activities
Three course lunches were followed by lazy afternoons at the immaculate white beach and the adjoining spa, perfect for a leisurely detoxifying massage (or 3). Vid loved the sunset cruise offered by the hotel on a traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat because we had a fiery sunset and a brewing storm. If you are lucky, you can also see dolphins jumping out of the water 🙂 One afternoon we rented snorkelling equipment, explored the house reef, and made friends with brightly-coloured fish. This proximity to nature would have to be my favourite part of our trip to Maldives.
In this part of the world, every luxurious experience is aptly complemented by nature. Sun-hazed days, cerulean skies, sparkling warm waters, and spectacular sunsets are almost guaranteed, making it a no-brainer for a romantic holiday. But leaving it isn’t that easy. A whirlwind of perfect weather, unhurried couple massages, private picnics, and candlelit dinners later, who would want to leave this utopian island paradise?! 🙁
Highlights
- Curl up on the beach and enjoy a sunrise or sunset
- Go skinny dipping in your private pool because being a little risqué never hurt anyone
- Go for a sunset cruise in a traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat and watch dolphins jump out of the water
- Have a candle-lit dinner on the beach overlooking the ocean
- Run a bubble-bath, complete with fresh flowers, in the oversized bathtubs
- Go for a spot of early-morning yoga on the beach
- Indulge in a calming, detoxing massage at the Navasana Spa
- Witness Indian Ocean’s spectacular marine life and go snorkelling or diving
- Cocktails in your private pool
- Huddle under star-laden skies for a spot of stargazing
Fact File
- Getting There: The hotel’s representatives greet guests at Male Airport and take care of the luggage, check-ins, and other logistics. It takes a short flight (1 hour) and a boat ride (25 minutes) from Male Airport to get to Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort. Both the flight and the boat ride are arranged by the hotel.
- Outrigger Konotta has lounges for guests at both Male and Kaadedhdhoo airports. Tea, coffee, snacks, and wifi (you know me, I’m always looking for fast wifi 😉 ) are available. The hotel’s representatives escort guests out of the lounge minutes before the plane is about to take-off.
- The island resort has both Maldives’ signature overwater villas and beach villas. We have a soft spot for the former but a couple of guests we met preferred the beach villas for their proximity to the beach.
- Overwater villas have coffee machines, oversized bathtubs and showers, hammocks, sun-loungers, and king-sized beds. The infinity pool, kitted with jet massagers, is our favourite part of the overwater villa.
- We suggest opting for the half board package that includes breakfast and dinner. Pay for drinks as you go along. Opt for the all inclusive package if you intend to drink a fair bit on holiday. Room rates start at $600. Book your stay at Outrigger Konotta Maldives here
- Rooms have sockets for both UK and India chargers.
- There are no ATMs on the island. US Dollars are accepted everywhere. Carry US dollars or a credit/debit card.
- Since traveling between islands is very expensive in Maldives and most hotels offer a range of activities, it’s not possible (or advisable) to have much of an island-hopping itinerary or explore the country in the traditional sense of the word – you just need to choose a hotel of your liking and book a stay there. Enjoy all the activities offered by the hotel and relax 🙂
And before you go, here’s a vlog of our stay at Outrigger Maldives:
Do you seek once-in-a-lifetime experiences while travelling? Read our Top 10 Travel Experiences here
Do you love to stay in amazing places on holiday? Check out some of our favourite hotels around the world
We have a longstanding collaboration with Outrigger Resorts and the bunch of super-cool people who work there. But we are two extremely opinionated ninjas – so all views (hyperbolic, good, and bad) are entirely our own. Click on to read our full Disclosure Policy.
Gorgeous pictures and stunning couple?
Awww thank you so much Madhumita:)
Wow, Oh Wow, I took 20 minutes to read the article because the pictures are just mesmerizing . I can not take my eyes of it.
I am going back again and again to see the pictures, and a little sad too because I will not be able to click such good pictures whenever I’m visiting Maldives.
I have been ignoring and postponing our Maldives travel from such a long time, but your post has tempted me .
Amazing , really amazing pictures Vid.
Thank you ever so much, Sonal 🙂 You should definitely head to Maldives – it’s an amazing experience!
Love the pictures! Need to plan a trip asap 🙂
Hey Mahak,
You should definitely head to Outrigger Maldives – it’s a magical place
Love that infinity pool … I can only hope to stay in a suite like that someday!
Hey Elaine,
Well, definitely worth-it for a special occasion:)
Cheers
Beautiful pictures guys. A curious question – how many of your travels are sponsored vs self paid? Are most international flights and hotels paid for? Like Maldives, Peru, Norway cruise, Finland trip, Mauritius etc etc.?
Do you get sponsorships from hotels, airlines and tourism boards or travel agencies?
Hey Sandeep – thanks a ton. No we pay for over 95% of our flights. While we accept the occasional press trip but by no means are our travels (or even half of them) sponsored- the two of us always dreamt about taking a round-the-world trip on turning 30 and saved for that instead of a house, car, or jewellery like a lot of our friends. We believe in collecting experiences and memories over possessions. Just hop over to our articles titled ‘our lives are changing’ and ‘who are Savi and Vid’ for more details ?Here are the links:
https://www.bruisedpassports.com/featured/our-lives-are-changing
https://www.bruisedpassports.com/who-are-savi-vid
Wow gorgeous place, pictures and couple. From past 2 hrs I have been admiring your experiences and the clicks. Browsing through your website after a long time I guess? 🙂 Such a treat!!
Kisses
Epsita
http://www.thepositivewindow.com
Thanks a ton Epsita – you should visit Bruised Passports more often 😉 Hugs from the two of us
Lovely post… You guys have me dreaming Maldives since the time you posted pictures on Insta… I was planning a trip myself, so wanted to ask the rates for the domestic flight and the boat ride… I hear those are quite expensive in Maldives! Let me know… Hope you are having a good time in Fiji!
Love
Richa
Hey Richa – it’s best to consult the hotel where you’re planning to stay for those prices. Hotels usually have tie-ups with domestic operators, so they offer best rates as part of a package 🙂 Have fun in Maldives xx
I came to know about your blog today only and believe me it is awesome.I envy u guys.Browsing through your website is such a treat guys.
That Jodhpur article was really helpful as m planning to explore Rajasthan.
Have fun.
Love
Mallika
Hey Mallika,
Thanks a lot. Yes, Jodhpur is magical. If you do end up going there, share your photos with us 🙂
Hey, Savi. Came to know about your story and your website. I am so confused deciding my honeymoon place. Next year going to get married and thinking about going Mauritius or Maldives. What you say? And your pics are amazing.
Hi Hiren,
If you want total luxury and complete privacy, then Maldives is the place to go. However, if you’d like to drive around a bit and indulge in activities, then Mauritius might be better 🙂
Our heartiest congratulations for your wedding next year!
Hi Savi Vid
Lovely pics and lovely couple you two! God bless you and may you keep fulfilling each and every dream of yours. I wanted to ask you if you have suggestions for slightly more reasonable resorts in Maldives as this one is very exp . Thanks in advance and yes thanks for the lovely pics and info on Maldives too
Thanks a million Vibha – would suggest Club Med Kani. It’s really good and you can get some great deal too- more info here 🙂 https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/plan-maldives-holiday-kids-club-med-kani
Amazing posts from you guys..really awesome….I came to know about the bruisedpassports recently from my wife and really excited and started exploring your all posts from past 4 days. Among all I really liked this Maldives article as this is the first point to strike of from my wishlist. Its really helpful for us to know and be prepared for our journey asap.
Thank you very much for your fabulous information and surely will remember you once we land in Maldives soil.
Cheers….
Hey Haranath – hope you have a great time in Maldives. Do send us your photos from there, we’d love to share them with our readers 😀
Hi Savi/Vid,
The pictures are gorgeous and so are both of you!
Just needed a little information on the Maldives trip.
Can you please enumerate the expenses incurred in the above trip with a break up of the expenses in accommodation,travel,food etc.
Many thanks,
Nupur.
Hi Nupur,
Flights from Delhi cost around INR 30,000 per person to Maldives and the hotels cost anywhere between $750-$1000 depending on your choice of hotel and meal plans 🙂
You can refer to individual hotel websites for exact rates.
Cheers
Super amazing blog…m a big fan of you guys nw…
Thanks a lot Saurabh 🙂
hey beautiful couple …
reading ur articles have made me addicted so much that I don’t go to a place without referring ur articles on it.
can u plz tell which is more beautiful Maldives or Mauritius.. which place did u people loved more ??
help
Yay – so happy to hear that Riva. Maldives is perfect if you want a secluded romantic break while Mauritius is great if you’re travelling with your family or want to explore cultural & historical sites as well as beaches! 🙂
Hi, just loved ur blog.. We are planning for the same destination and same resort. Kindly, share the information like where to book the package and inclusions/exclusions.
Hey Keshav – we booked everything directly with the hotel – we’d suggest getting an all inclusive package that includes meals as costs can add up very quickly if you pay individually for every meal and there are no other restaurants (except the hotel’s restaurants) on the island 🙂
Thanks buddy.. Your blog is also very helpful.
The Maldives looks like my definition of paradise – better start saving!
Sure Kacie, make the Maldives a part of your wish list and tick it off soon.All the best to you and happy travels!!
OMG!! This place looks amazing!!! I would absolutely love to stay there. I am saving up to go here right away!!! Love all the stars at night, just incredible!!
Hi Natasha, this may turn out to be one of your best decisions ever.Save up soon and then go make this trip to the Maldives-its sure to be as magical for you as it was for us 🙂
Wowzers it is so hard to focus on reading the content – the photos are amaaaaaaazing! You both look like an advert for a Maldives vacation 🙂
Aww thanks so much dear Shoshana, you just made our day.It makes our hearts sing when we get such encouraging feedback from our lovely readers. Big hugs to you 🙂 🙂
oh i so need to go to maldives, the welsh weather has nothing on that place lol
such amazing images, you’re a wonderful photographer
Hey Rachael, the weather is actually amazing and we had a wonderful time there.Do make it a part of your travel list and tick it off sooner rather than later 🙂 Makes us so happy to know that you liked what we clicked.
Looks like you guys had a blast!
Yes Andrea, we actually did.Maldives was beautiful and one of our best trips ever!!
Stunning photos I so jealous I’ve always wanted to go to the Maldives.
Thanks so much Joanna for liking the pics. Just a piece of advice-just pack your bags and go to Maldives!Do what your heart desires-we are so sure you will enjoy the experience:)
WOW! This looks absolutely incredible. I can only wish to go on such a dreamy holiday someday!
Thanks a million Elodie- hope you make it to Maldives soon 🙂
oh my god this literally looks like an actually dream xo
Hey Chloe – Outrigger Maldives actually felt like a dream – one I didn’t want to wake up from 😉
oh wow, I’m so jealous! This looks like such a luxurious resort and the staff surprise was such a nice touch. I’m going to hire a camper van and travel around the Scottish highlands for my honeymoon, not very traditional…
Thanks Jemma – that sounds like the coolest honeymoon ever, can’t wait to see photographs of your adventure 🙂
I don’t know how you could ever have left this paradise on earth! Everything about this resort is perfection from the overwater villas to the infinity pool, gazebo, hammock and being able to just climb down the ladder to snorkel. Thank for the stunning photos, I feel like I’ve had just a little bit of your experience x
Hehe thanks Sarah – I always love reading your comments because you notice the tiniest of details 🙂
It’s nice you try and do something on your anniversary, makes it really special. I would definitely want to have a honeymoon though even if the wedding wasn’t stressful x
Thanks Rhian- we always try to do a lil something to celebrate togetherness but this year it turned out to be truly special 🙂
Oh my goodness this looks amazing, what gorgeous photos! You’re so lovely, it looks beautiful!
Thanks Lianne – we had an amazing time in Maldives and can’t wait to go back 🙂
What a beautiful paradise…stunning photographs 🙂
Hey Jemma – thanks a ton 🙂 Maldives is one helluva paradise
It sounds like you’ve had some lovely holidays together. This one is no different! I love the views and am deeply jealous lol there is something for everyone – sun, views, stargazing, snorkelling, dolphin spotting…
Thanks Jodie – we were surprised by the number of things to in Maldives 🙂
Woweeee! What a place! We’d love to visit the Maldives. We’ve got a proper long haul flight next week….desperate for the sunshine!
You’d love it so much – it’s perfect for families too 🙂
What a stunning place! There is no way I could get in that bath with petals in it though. I don’t do things in baths. I need to buy a little fishing net!!
Hehe – that’s cute. So no Lush bath bombs for you either?
OMG you go to the most amazing places.This must be my favourite so far it looks like heaven.
Thanks Melanie – we’re so fortunate to be able to pursue our passion for travelling 🙂
Such beautiful views and it sounds like absolute heaven not sure I would ever want to eave!
Thanks Rachel – that’s true, we just didn’t want to leave at the end of our holiday 🙂
Oh your pictures are amazing! So vibrant and lovely. You’ve really captured the place so well. I actually really love your blog. I stop by now and again just to see what you’ve posted.
Hey Sarah – thank you so much for that lovely comment. We loved photographing Maldives 🙂
Wow! Now this looks like the perfect honeymoon spot to me! x
Thanks Stephanie – Maldives makes for the perfect honeymoon spot 🙂
honestly you both look like a lovely couple! This place looks very nice, hope to go one day
Thanks for the generous compliment Melissa 🙂
OMG this looks amazing! Maldives is on my bucket list!
Thanks Shannon – Maldives is an amazing place for your bucket list 🙂
I’ve always wanted to stay in an overwater villa – I’m looking for somewhere like this for my honeymoon. Love that you have your own infinity pool too, even though the ocean is on your doorstep. The main pool looks beautiful too and everything looks stunning at night!
Dear Emma it actually was stunning.And take our advice on this-its an ideal place for a honeymoon. You must keep this place in mind whenever you are planning yours.All the best and happy travels 🙂 🙂
What an amazing place to go for a beach holiday! You two look so happy 🙂
Hi Lubka, Maldives is an amazing spot for a wonderful vacation.We enjoyed it thoroughly and we are looking happy because we actually were very happy being there 🙂
Wow, this place looks incredible. I’d love to visit the Maldives – it’s just like paradise! xo
Maldives is like a dream come true-absolutely out of the world place to go to!! Rachel you must put this place on your travel list and tick it off soon.Hope you enjoy it as much as we did:)
This has got to be the most beautiful place I have ever seen, I don’t think I’ve ever read a post that makes me want to go somewhere so much x
Awww Charli, it makes our heart sing to know that you liked going through our post on Maldives..a big thanks to you 🙂 🙂
Love reading all your posts, great job you both!
Well i read about Maldives, Mauritius and Fiji, but one thing i wanted to ask is, Is there an availability/decent options for Vegetarian food at all the three places? We are planning for our Honeymoon in coming March and are very confused about an island tour as we are pure veg. TIA
Hey Shayoni – There’s lots of vegetarian salads and sandwiches available everywhere. A lot of Mauritian curries tend to be vegetarian too
Hey Love ❤️
Read the whole blog as planning for honeymoon. Can you please tell which will be the best place bora bora, maldives, fiji, Slovenia, or Seychelles based on the medium budget.
Love reading your blogs and will definitely share the photos ?
Hey Simran,
It all depends on what you want from your honeymoon – if you’re after lots of activities without spending too much money, then Slovenia might be the best bet 🙂
If you want some luxury and some activities, head to Seychelles or Fiji. If you want pure indulgence then Maldives is the best place 🙂
U guys are couple goals.. this article was so helpful… Now this looks like a perfect honeymoon destination ?
Thanks a lot Dixita 🙂 Maldives is indeed a great honeymoon destination 🙂
Hey Savi and Vid,
Been a huge follower of your blog from a long time.Also, made sure my friends follow you on Insta 🙂
Planning to go to Maldives in Oct… Does the room price advertised on the website of the resort include the ride from Male airport to the resort ? Or did you guys pay an extra amount for that commute?
Hello Sri,
The room prices do not include the local flight – that needs to be purchased separately – at least that was how it was when we went but it’s always best to ask the hotel as they might have some ongoing offers 🙂
Have a great trip!
Hi Vid & Savi,
I have been reading your blog and looking through your insta profile for quite sometime hoping to find honeymoon destination during month of december. Unfortunately I could not come up with any as most of the places are raining during this time. Could you please suggest honeymoon destination for first week of December outside India.
Hey you could visit Lapland if you like cold weather destinations or Vietnam if you like beaches 🙂
We are going to the Maldives for our honeymoon next September. I originally booked in Mirihi, but after seeing your videos and reading your article, we changed our plan to Outrigger 😛
That’s so sweet – send us photos from Outrigger for our @bruisedpassports_bts channel 🙂
Sure! Will do 🙂
After reading your article i will surely plan my next trip of maldives.I always heared about the best destination for honeymoon couple but never thought of planning to go there.
But now i will definetly plan for maldives with my hubby.
Keep posting about such destination places
Your article was very informative, apart from Outrigger is there any Island resort can look into..
Yes there are MANY 🙂
HI. I stumbled upon your experiences on Insta and couldnt help follow your posts and become mesmerized. First off, you guys are a beautiful couple. Please stay that way forever!!! Your experiences did inspire me. I am newly married and looking for a cheap and best honeymoon plan coz I did have a “burn a hole in the pocket ” wedding. Can you guys suggest something nearby India so that the vacation isnt dragged more and budget friendly. Thanks. Much Love!!
HEy Ahmed – thanks a ton for all the love. If you would like a budget friendly honeymoon near India, then check out our posts on Singapore or Bali. That would be ideal. If you want something offbeat, you could consider Vietnam 🙂
Hi Dear ; We are a couple in early 30’s with two kids-8 and 2.6. We are planning to visit Maldives for the New year. Is it a good beach holiday to go with kids or can you suggest a summer place to visit during end of December.
Also pls suggest a good resort in Maldives.
Hey Rohan,
Yes, it can be a great holiday with kids. we’d suggest club Med Kani if you’re travelling with kids: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/plan-maldives-holiday-kids-club-med-kani
So dreamy.. would love to visit Maldives someday. I love your blog, also Savi’s write up on turning thirty is so inspiring, it actually changed my thought-process where i realized life is not just about chasing material happiness and your blog keeps re-affirming that fact, more power to you guys. Also you are so open about your experiences, and so down to earth!
hey Vidya,
Thank you so much for all the love. Happy to know you enjoy our blogs 🙂
The island is very beautiful and very nice. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge here. For get more information check here
Yay! Have an amazing trip. you are amazing! I was trying to find a cheap destination for a week! I am happy to see your blog. Great guide
Hi Vid & Savi,
I came across your post randomly. Such a beautiful write up and it did inspire me to visit Maldives once. I was baffled on reading your post. Btw you make such a lovely pair. Keep posting !
Regards,
Hey Savi & Vid,
I recently came across your work and have been stuck on your website and Instagram feed marveling at your blogs , stories and everything since then. You guys are goals. I echo with you when you say positivity is so important and a happy soul is the new rich. Just wanted to drop by and wish you guys all the very best for your future endeavors.
Much Love!
resorts picture are awesome will definitely plan Your article was very informative resorts picture
How do we make payments to the resorts? In USD?? Or INR would do ( since we would pay on credit/debit cards
USD – just inform your indian bank account before you travel. If international payments are permitted on your account, USD should not be a problem
Hey, thank you for sharing a blog About the best islands in the Maldives for honeymoon thanks to you for awaking the people to explore new places
is september a good month to visit maldives?
Yes – though it can get hot and humid 🙂