Kuramathi Village : A tropical island in a blue sea, with waving palms and cascades of beautiful exotic flowers. Kuramathi Island is a beautiful resort where seekers of paradise escaping the pressures and cares of the world can get away and forget the outside world. This lush green garden bursting with scented frangipanis, delicate hibiscus, bougainvillea and morning glory offers you a glimpse of the Garden of Eden. A gardener' s dream and the ideal holiday retreat.

Kuramathi has retained its natural beauty and is the only island resort to offer a choice of three different places to stay. It is larger than most island resorts-over one kilometre in length-and the three discreet locations each with its own unique character and charm. They are all carefully laid out and spaced so that you might never know the others existed. Wander the narrow winding paths lined with thick foliage that snake their way across the island. A bus is also available to shuttle you back and forth should you feel too tired to take a short hike. Gaze up into the ancient banyan tree and spy the cranes nesting in the topmost branches. Drift along sandy white beaches and dip your toes in the water to cool off on a balmy hot day, or turn to catch the cooling sea breezes. Only then might you chance upon one of the other resorts : the Cottage Club, Blue Lagoon or Kuramathi Village.

The boat or seaplane brings you to the main jetty of Kuramathi Village where you step ashore and leave the rest of the world behind you. Step into the Fungi Bar for a few minutes to rest, enjoy a cool drink and freshen up with a cold towel. Relax. From here on in we' ll take care of everything.

Kuramathi Village also offers one or two little extra surprises you may not have bargained for. A lost pelican flew in one day and has made the resort his home. So happy is he in his new surroundings that he will happily pose for snapshots. And if you're really lucky, while relaxing on the beach you may get to see a few dolphins leaping in the water as they take a shortcut through the channel that separates Kuramathi from Rasdhoo on the other side of the lagoon.