In November 2025, we hosted an unforgettable group press trip to InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort. The Maldives is flooded with amazing hotels, with around 175 in total, but what really sets InterContinental Maldives apart is its ongoing partnership with The Manta Trust and accessible location for seeing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. With our trip taking place at the very start of peak manta season, we packed our snorkels and set off from Heathrow Airport.
Flying over the island by seaplane, you could immediately make out The Lighthouse, the resort’s uniquely designed restaurant which boasts 360-degree views of the island and serves up perfectly assembled mediterranean dishes. After a long day of travelling, the group checked into our incredible overwater villas, with private pools and direct access to the sea. We were then treated to sunset drinks and the theatrical champagne sabrage, opening a bottle with a sword-like blade, before heading in for a five course Teppanyaki Dinner, featuring scallops, foie gras and wagyu tenderloin.
We started off the next day with a traditional Maldivian Curry as the breakfast special at Café Umi, before an indulgent massage at the overwater AVI Spa. The calming spa, with the soundtrack of lapping waves, is the perfect location for complete relaxation. The afternoon involved guided house reef snorkelling, where we saw an array of colourful fish, starfish and coral, just metres from the shore, before an evening of wine tasting with an expert sommelier. Dinner at the waterside Fish Market restaurant involved hand-selecting and catching lobster from the tank before enjoying an incredible seafood dinner.
Our second morning started off with one of the most picturesque and private breakfast experiences with a floating breakfast of pastries, fresh fruit and pancakes served in our villas. We then learnt how to make a Maldivian tuna curry with The Collective’s head chef and were given a recipe card to take back and recreate the dish at home. After an amazing turtle snorkelling excursion in the clearest blue sea, the evening ended in the calmest way possible with an open-air sound healing session and a delicious al-fresco dinner at the iconic Lighthouse restaurant.
Just as we thought the trip couldn’t get any better, our final day included an educational talk from Meral Hafeez, The Manta Trust’s Project Manager, learning all about the life and biology of manta rays in the Maldives, before we set off in search of the illusive creatures. In anticipation, we jumped on a boat and, within ten minutes, our guide pointed out three manta rays feeding on the very surface of the water. We grabbed our snorkels and flippers and slipped into the water near them. At almost three feet wide and seemingly flying through the water towards you, it truly is the most unforgettable experience. We celebrated with a sunset yacht cruise and a private, pool-side dinner at The Retreat in the evening. The next morning, we waved a very sad goodbye to the resort and were whisked away by another seaplane back to Male, immediately missing the incredible colours of the Indian Ocean and pristine Maldivian beaches.
