Loama Resort: a Magical Island Full of Stories to be Discovered
So we are here, at the International Ibgahim Nasir Airport in Male, excited and ready to board the Trans Maldivian Airways plane – a small 15-seat sea plane. It's at a pier ready to take us into the air, led by its barefoot crew in crispy white shirts. Everything is so laidback here; there isn't even a door between the cockpit and the cabin. But the journey is totally safe as the company operates the newest and largest sea plane fleet in the world.
After an amazing 40-minute flight, where we enjoyed the view of countless white sand islands surrounded by the incredibly bright turquoise waters of their lagoons, we finally landed at the brand new, small luxury resort, Loama Maldives.
From the air, Maamigili Island, in the remote northern Raa Atoll looks like a cute teardrop, and I felt the urge to run to the very top of it where the white sand meets turquoise water.
But first we were greeted by drummers announcing the arrival of the new guests, and then led to our beach villa by extremely friendly staff.
From the first moment, I realised how special this island is. The nature here is practically untouched, and it's so calm that you instantly feel like you are alone on a uninhabited, lush, green island.
This is a magical place, but not only because it's so beautiful and unspoiled, but also because it keeps some historical secrets. As we were told later by the staff, legend has it that long ago 40 women lived on the island. Why it was only women and what happened to them we don't know… The island keeps its secrets. While building the hotel, they found some very rare household items that belonged to the women. Today, Loama Resort is the only island in the Maldives which operates as a museum. Located in the hotel lobby, the Loama Museum tells the story of the culture of the Maldives with a collection of over 300 artefacts. There are also ancient baths and a traditional Maldivian house at the heritage site.
Besides history, there's also modern art at the only art gallery in the Maldives, featuring a changing exhibition of Maldivian painters.
The teardrop-shaped island of Maamigili is gorgeous and very compact (just 200 metres wide and 500 metres long), which makes it easy to walk around. But it's got everything you might need.
We loved our charmingly decorated beach villa in a rich Maldivian style with an amazing outdoor bathroom.
The food is absolutely delicious here. We loved Thundi restaurant, which offers fusion dining prepared by a Thai chef. The main restaurant, Faaza, with its choice of Western, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine in a vibrant alfresco setting is a very pleasant place for a morning coffee or evening dinner.
Wearing Wawaweewa swimsuit
As for activities, sea, sun and sand are the main ones.
This remote atoll has 88 islands in total, just 15 of them inhabited, mostly by local fishermen and their families. So you can head to one of the islands to see the local life of fishermen and try their food, or choose an uninhabited island for a private picnic organised just for you. A sunset cruise, a dolphin-watching cruise on a traditional "dhoni" wooden fishing boat, or a fishing cruise are the other options.
A spa is always a great idea in the Maldives. The welcoming Loama Spa offers a soothing escape from the everyday, with relaxing beauty treatments inspired by Maldivian culture, and holistic and signature treatments, massages and facials. They use Loama Spa private label products made from natural plant essences and extracts.
After the amazing treatment, I just lay on a comfy sunbed at one of the largest infinity pools in the Maldives looking at the calm Indian Ocean. Its colours range from dark inky blue to azure, ultramarine to navy and blue-green, and dozens of shades in between. It's interesting that, at this island, the ocean is always so calm you can use it as a mirror.
The last activity of the day was yoga at the yoga pavilion at sunset. I was alone, and only the colourful fish swimming around the water pavilion took my attention away from my yoga practice. Namaste.
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