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First island:
Raaya by Atmosphere
Raaya is located in the Raa Atoll, about 45 minutes
by plane from the capital. The tiny island, measuring
553 metres wide by 1,000 metres long, hosts the
entire resort. It features 163 luxury villas, many of
them built over the sea. Dirt paths run across the
island, and electric buggies serve as shuttles to take
guests to various restaurants, the jetty, or their vi-
llas. Another option is the bicycle—scattered throu-
ghout the island and available for guests to ride.
That’s the island’s entire transport system: no traffic,
no asphalt, no noise, except for the seaplanes that
break the silence a few times a day. The silence is
thick, almost deafening. The first thing you feel upon
arrival is not the heat or humidity, but the absence of
everything else.
Some of the villas are nestled in dense vegeta-
tion, built with materials like wood that blend har-
moniously with the surroundings. The architecture
doesn’t try to stand out—just to exist. Some villas
are located on the beach, hidden among thick fo-
liage and equipped with private pools, while others
are built on stilts like palafittes, suspended above
the lagoon. All are fitted with modern comforts: Wi-
Fi, air conditioning, home automation, open-air ba-
throoms…
I chose one over the water—not for the luxury, but
out of curiosity. Sleeping with the sound of the sea
beneath your feet is an experience that changes the
way you breathe.
SIGNATURE JOURNEYS
Guest reception at Raaya by Atmosphere
Days at Raaya slip by effortlessly. There’s no
rush, no schedule. Just a slow cadence impo-
sed by the environment. In the mornings, you
can step off the terrace of your villa straight into
the lagoon for a swim. After a shower, a walk
along the shore brings you to one of the buffets,
where you have breakfast facing a sea filled
with every shade of blue. That’s where I disco-
vered the true colour of turquoise, with sand so
fine and white it felt like flour. After breakfast,
the day begins—facing a motionless sea.
One of the most intense experiences is snor-
kelling. You can access living reefs right from
the shore. But it’s well worth joining one of the
excursions the resort offers: boat trips that take
you to places you’d never imagine—reacha-
ble only with mask and fins. The professional
guides provide the highest level of safety at all
times. The moment you dip your head beneath
the surface, the world changes. Shoals of fish
in a thousand colours, corals that resemble
underwater trees, rays floating like kites, turt-
les swimming with timeless calm. I spent long
stretches floating without moving, just obser-
ving. The water is so clear you sometimes for-
get you’re even in the sea.
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