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BeachesHoneymoonWellness
Maldives — Barefoot Escape
Seventy-five minutes from Colombo to a lagoon you can see the bottom of.
Length4 days / 3 nights
Group2 travellers
Best monthsNov – Apr
RegionNorth Malé Atoll
The shortest good holiday available from Sri Lanka. Wheels up at Katunayake, wheels down at Velana before you've finished the drink, and on a speedboat within the hour. Three nights is enough here — the point is that there's nothing to do.
What you'll remember
- Speedboat transfer, not a seaplane wait
- Snorkelling straight off the house reef
- A sandbank picnic with nobody else on it
- Sunset dolphin cruise in the channel
The route
Day by day
What actually happens.
Morning departure from CMB, 75 minutes in the air, and a 40-minute speedboat from Velana. You'll be in the water before lunch.
Included
- Return economy flights from Colombo
- Three nights in a beach villa, half board
- Return speedboat transfers
- Guided snorkelling and the sandbank picnic
- Travel insurance for the duration
Not included
- Green tax and resort service charges
- Diving
- Spa treatments
When to go
The dry north-east monsoon runs November to April: flat water, clear visibility, and the best snorkelling. May to October is cheaper for a reason — it's the wet season and the surface chop can close the house reef.
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