For many travellers, the lure of a Maldives holiday is a far ranging one.

It’s well known that some of the world’s finest hotels and resorts are found here, many offering direct lagoon access from authentic over water style villas. Luxury spas are also aplenty and can be found across a wide collection of hotels in the Destinology portfolio.

But if you’re seeking a little more than sun, snorkelling and spa treatments, you might want to leave the luxury of your resort behind and try a little day trip out to Fisherman’s Island.

A trip to one of these islands (there are several) is like an insight into the heritage of the country. If you like, this is the real Maldives, and feels like a million miles from all the glamour of a five star hotel. But equally, we know that’s precisely what some of our customers are interested in.

In total there are over 200 inhabited islands in the Maldives, and numerous ‘fisherman’s islands’ to choose from. Some of these are accessible from the North Male atoll which is home to many of our featured hotels including One&Only Reethi Rah, Banyan Tree Maldives, Kurumba and Soneva Gili by Six Senses.

The terrible events of March 2011 in Japan remind us that we are all at the mercy of the Ocean. Likewise for the indigenous people of the Maldives, the Ocean is their life source. Essentially these remote islands rely on fishing as the primary source of sustenance provision for the locals.

You’ll see people’s lifestyle, culture and traditions as they go about their daily lives. Visitors on arranged trips receive a warm welcome from locals and smiling faces wherever they go.

So, whilst you can soak up a good deal of luxury and enjoy an equal measure of pampering on your Maldives holiday, you might also like to flip the coin and gain a wider appreciation of the country and take one of these interesting and engaging half day trips.