Set amid 12 hectares of lush foliage, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa is the latest tropical hideaway to embrace the Maldives’ sandy shores. The highly anticipated resort opened its doors in July 2009, offering guests a luxurious sojourn against a backdrop of sapphire waters and lush vegetation.

Located in Addu, a heart-shaped atoll in the south of the Maldives, the resort is a 70-minute plane journey from the capital Male’. This newcomer is the largest in the country, giving guests the option of cycling (or taking a buggy) down the sandy lanes that wind between the island’s thick, verdant jungle. Even at close to full occupancy, the size of this retreat means that a sense of seclusion prevails at all times.

Guests can choose from six different styles of villa ranging from the water villas perched above the crystalline lagoon to the tree house villas nestled between banyan trees and coconut palms. All are the last word in luxury replete with outdoor and indoor showers, a deep-soak tub and comfy pillow-topped bed. On-shore villas come with infinity pools while water villas let you to dive straight into the sparkling waters below.

The decor is a unique blend of Middle Eastern, Indian and Indonesian influences – a reminder of the archipelago’s location at the crossroads of all three regions. The palette of colors is earthy with splashes of blue that recall the surrounding sea. All 142 rooms are outfitted with the latest mod-cons: iPods, a Nespresso coffee machine, Wifi, a 40-inch LCD TV and a Bose DVD player. The range of fine wines and gourmet snacks plus the option of in-Villa dining means you’ll never have to leave the comfort of your room.

The outdoor dining options seem similarly endless. Will it be a jungle dinner or perhaps lunch on the Equator? Start your day with a blow-out breakfast choosing between tropical fruits, sumptuous pastries or a more hearty bacon and eggs. Move on to Javvu for lunch; a zesty green mango salad followed by a passion fruit crème brulee prepared to perfection by the French pastry chef. For dinner, head to Dr Ali’s, its coral facade a nod to traditional Maldivian houses. Here you’ll find three separate dining rooms offering cuisines from the Arabian Gulf, the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

For the ultimate indulgence why not head over to Chi, the largest spa in the Shangri-La chain. The spa boasts an exhaustive menu including a signature massage using cowrie shells. These glossy shells are endemic to the Maldives and were formerly used as currency in the Indo-Pacific as well as parts of Africa. It’s hard to miss the rocky ramparts that jut out from between the treatment rooms – remnants of the British naval then air-force base in Addu in the 60s.

Despite its opulence, Shangri-La is a resort with a conscience. All rooms are fitted with solar panels that reduce each villa’s electricity needs by 50 per cent. Water is desalinated and bottled on the island saving the resort 200,000 plastic bottles a year, and an organic garden is under development.

Nature lovers can learn about the Maldives’ environment both on land and underwater by taking a guided walk through the jungle or a snorkeling trip with the resort’s enthusiastic marine biologist. Unlike much of the country’s coral, which was bleached by El Nino in 1998, the reef here was left untouched making the snorkeling superb. Take a cruise at sunset and you’ll meet the atoll’s resident pod of spinner dolphins which twirl and glide through the air to the guests’ whoops, clapping and snapping of cameras.

For those of you who want to travel further afield, the resort organizes bicycle tours of the neighboring inhabited islands giving you the opportunity to cycle through five villages and learn about the Maldivian way of life. However you choose to spend your days at the aptly named Shangri-La, it is bound to be a memorable experience and come home time you’ll have to tear yourself away.

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