I t’s a typically Instagram-worthy sunset in the Maldives. I’m sitting on the tiny, white-sand island of Bongo Veli in the Vaavu Atoll and I’m about to dig into a feast on the beach. The picnic-style dinner is soon lit by a thousands of stars, as well as our bonfire.
It’s paradise — practically perfect — but it’s definitely not luxury. Our makeshift table and seats have been made from dug-out sand and our phone torches help to illuminate the delicious meal of grilled fish, pasta, tuna toasties and watermelon. In the distance a traditional dhoni boat awaits our return.
Picture the Maldives and you’ll probably think of sprawling resorts on long stretches of untouched sand with lavish overwater villas that lead directly into the sea. For most of us it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a destination synonymous with well-off honeymooners and price tags that can run into thousands of pounds. According to the travel company Kuoni, the typical holiday to the Maldives — seven nights’ half-board in an overwater villa at a four-star resort, with flights — is around the £2,500pp mark.
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