TRAVEL Escapes

At 7pm sharp, Adi was at the door. We were ready to experience Deep End. In the Maldives, and in Taj Exotica, you are always surrounded by wood, from the furniture and villas to the green environs. Such a privilege not to be trapped in concrete. Deep End is the only restaurant built on top of the water, in a ring shape. The tables are arranged around an opening in the floor which allows you to watch baby sharks swimming… incredible! The restaurant serves a regular and a vegetarian set menu. The latter offers a light tomato soup and delicious garlicky asparagus risotto. Whilst the seafood soup and reef lobster grill are just as delightful! We followed up with the rich and creamy chocolate mousse with olive oil-based ice cream – one tasty culinary surprise! Sleep cannot be more comfortable than in the bed of a five-star resort. We woke up the next day all fresh and energised. The extravagant floating breakfast arrived perfectly on time. We jumped in the water and took great Insta pictures. The breakfast options range from porridge to omelette and eggs benedict, Maldivian Massuni and tuna curry, to masala dosa, Korean rice and beef bowl, bread, waffles, and a great jam selection as well as fresh fruits. To enjoy this amazing selection to the max, we had to reschedule our first activity of the day.

Snorkelling is a must. Using the snorkelling kit provided to all guests by the resort’s diving centre, we took the fixed ladder down to the lagoon. The water was crystal clear, and the fins made swimming easy. The lagoon is home to a rainbow of fish, it was amazing!

Our next lunch took a massive luxurious twist when the F&B manager suggested trying the ‘200-dollar Pizza’. At the pool restaurant, with milliondollar views, the executive chef personally laid it down at our table. A colony of the world’s most premium ingredients. A quattro of duck and foie gras from France, Wagyu beef carpaccio and black olives from Australia, prosciutto and black truffle from Parma, Italy, and finally homegrown reef lobster, are laid on a crispy base covered with a generous layer of cream cheese and garnished with Iranian caviar and edible gold leaves with a drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar. A complimentary sparkling beverage accompanied the incredible meal to leave us in total awe!

Another extraordinary food feat we tried was the jaw-dropping Lobster Burger. On a huge wooden board, the burger comes with fries, onion rings, and both green and coleslaw salads. This burger is bursting with tender flavourful lobster meat, and is one gigantic meal for two (or more). What an experience! Other activities to put on your list include the discovery drive to watch baby black tip sharks feed on tuna chunks, as well as the guided snorkel trip which is a truly indescribable experience - one glance under the water is enough to capture your emotions.

We also witnessed the stingray feeding on the resort’s beach before we headed back to the speedboat docked at the jetty for the perfect Sunset Cruise and dolphin watching. At Taj Exotica Resort & Spa many of our dreams came true; seeing a pod of wild dolphins was the most soul-elevating gift. With a sunset worth a thousand words – this is one place that will always hold a special place in our hearts.

For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.tajhotels.com/en-in/taj/taj-exotica-maldives/