A romantic adventure

Armed with snorkelling equipment, bean bags, a glamorous muslin tent and luxury hamper, we head to a private island for a romantic adventure.

While we swim in the water, our talented crew create a cabana with bamboo poles to shade us from the midday sun, and prepare a picnic of champagne, sushi and sashimi.

Looking out across crystal clear waters, we sip bubbly and get to grips with our chopsticks, as small sand crabs gatecrash our private party.

Sleek and laid-back

It’s just one of many romantic moments during our stay at Velassaru.

The resort itself has a laid-back vibe and sleek, modern furnishings with a palette of white and turquoise.

There’s a beautiful infinity pool framed by hammocks strung between coconut trees, but we prefer the privacy of our luxury beach villa with uninterrupted views of the lagoon.

The beach is only metres away, and every day we snorkel along a house reef teeming with tropical fish.

Intimate dining experience

Come nightfall, the 21-acre coral island gears up for intimate dining experiences that make you want to fall in love all over again.

Out of a choice of five restaurants, our favourite is Sand, where we dine under a private beach pavilion lit by torches and candlelight.

While burying our toes in the sand, we enjoy culinary delights such as king prawns and fillet steak from the stone grill, finishing off with an exquisite chocolate dessert.

One night, our seats and table have even been sculpted in the sand, with seawater used as glue to seal our sunken thrones.

With a menu of Australian beef, local reef fish and Maldivian tuna, along with a good bottle of red from Velassaru’s library of fine wines, we’re almost tempted to start building castles in the sand, in the hope we might stay forever.