On the occasion of the International Friendship Day at the end of July, Maldives presents a list as to why it is one of the top destinations to choose when planning an international trip with friends.

This International Friendship Day venture out with your friends to the South Asian island nation of Maldives. Whether the group chooses to stay on a plush resort, a hotel in capital city of Male, or in a simple guesthouse on an island in an atoll far away, there is a lot that one can simply choose from in this beautiful nation.

Here are some of the reasons why one should pin it right at the top of one’s bucket list when resorting to go an adventure with one’s gang.

Soak in the Spiritual Side of Life

A spa in Maldives is an experience and a journey that is sure to touch one’s soul. With sprawling garden spas, massage rooms merged into their lush tropical surroundings, or one built on stilts over the crystalline waters of the lagoon, Maldives’s resort spa is sure to delight visitors.

After indulging in a relaxing experience in the spa, get ready with your buddies to treat your taste buds to the numerous high-class fine-dining options that the resort offers, which includes- Michelin-starred private dinners and an underwater dining experiences.

Explore the Fun Side of Life

Wherever one chooses to venture in Maldives, entertainment and daily excursions are sure to be on the menu.

Sandbanks that dazzle under the midday sun and experiencing local island towns is part of half-day or full-day excursions. In addition, a barbeque on the beach for lunch is often thrown in to get that additional punch to the day’s experience. Night fishing or dolphin watching, swimming with whale sharks and manta rays are some of the activities that one can indulge in the sea, while on land there are numerous sports activities like beach volley, tennis, volleyball and badminton.

If one stays in a guesthouse on an inhabited island, one will have the chance to meet Maldivians, experience local culture and cuisine, and join in what the islanders do for relaxation that is playing football in the late afternoon, or relaxing over a hot black tea and eating ‘short eats’ in a seaside café.

Seek the Thrilling Side of Life

Though one won’t have to worry about the availability of water-sports wherever one chooses to holiday in the nation, one should however be mindful that some resorts prefer to offer their guests complete tranquillity without the sound of motorised engines that propel many a ride on the water. Surprisingly though, these resorts do offer relaxing canoe rides, wind surfing, snorkelling and diving.

If one’s group is made of adventurous junkies who are serious about thrills, they should choose one of the resorts or a guesthouse on an island that offers – bouncy banana rides, or skimming the lagoon at high speeds on a wakeboard. For the serious water sports enthusiast, there is kite surfing, parasailing or just navigating around the reefs on a catamaran.