Close your eyes and imagine a tropical paradise. A private over-water bungalow perched above tranquil turquoise waters on a secluded island. Add all the gourmet food and drinks and activities you could want and you have Club Med Kani in the Maldives.

That relaxed feeling is immediate as you step off the boat and onto the long pier that juts out into the Indian Ocean. Beyond the twinkling lights of the Welcome Tree, staff wait with trays of juices and nibbles. Kani is on the Maldives archipelago, south-west of Sri Lanka. The resort is a 35-minute speedboat ride to the private atoll.

It's a picture postcard, the glorious swimming pool looking onto the clear turquoise waters of an ocean dotted with catamarans and windsurfers. This is a resort focused on luxury, while also catering to the holidaymaker who wants to dive in headfirst.

On its own private island atoll of swaying palm trees and pristine white beaches, Kani is one of the most luxurious Club Med villages. The resort reopened in 2005 after
a multi-million-dollar refit and now 75 over-water bungalows fan out over the lagoon.

Secluded beaches all round the island make it a haven for romantic dips or moonlit strolls. The village fits in perfectly with Club Med's new upmarket campaign. Over the past two years Club Med has launched or reopened 10 resorts and renovated six properties as part of its bid to appeal to the sophisticated traveller. Australian general manager Heidi Kunkel says: ‘We're adding a new level of refinement to our resorts in response to a shift in the market that has seen consumers demand a more sophisticated holiday with more freedom of choice.'

From the sumptuous gourmet meals served up three times a day at two restaurants, to the outdoor health spa, you'll soon be lost to your former life as you stop for a quick swim before breakfast, then plan your day around cooking classes, yoga or massages.

Lagoon suites are at the top end of the accommodation options at Kani and another 20 luxurious beach villas have private landscaped terraces on the beachfront with its open air bathrooms made of glass and stone. But the amenities in the 143 superior rooms are just as impressive, offering ocean views from the vast king-size beds, and patios that allow views through the coconut trees to the sea.

Of the extensive list of free activities on the island, snorkelling is perhaps one of the most popular and there are two hour-long trips a day. You can try sailing or kayaking or take a health and beauty workshop.

All the activities on Kani are taken by Club Med's international staff who each speak at least two languages. They help create a social atmosphere that's never forced.

Unlike other Club Med villages, Kani doesn't have a dedicated Kids Club, but children are still welcome. All activities assume no basic prior knowledge of the sport so anyone
can take part, including kids.

But if you really want to get away from it all, choose one of the exotic day trips by seaplane or speedboat to destinations including Male, the Maldives capital; Rihiveli, the pearl of the Maldives; the fisherman's island of Guraidhoo; and the tiny desert island of Filidhu Atoll, known for its breathtaking snorkelling.

Be sure to book a half-day excursion to Male to soak up true Maldivian culture. The tour stops by the fish market and the local market at the northern waterfront, the golden dome of the Islamic Centre and the 400-year old Friday Mosque - the world's largest and oldest coral stone building.

The bustling port seems a world away from life at the resort, but it isn't hard to get back into the swing of the laid-back pace of Club Med life with an aromatherapy massage at the Kani spa. The spa is made up of several small private huts surrounded by foliage and a man-made waterfall.

What makes Club Med holidays so attractive for so many people is that everything is paid for in advance. Once you arrive, the whole family can participate in most activities and enjoy gourmet meals and most drinks at no extra cost - so you don't have to be worried about constantly pulling out your wallet for everything.

But it's the panoramic views - which can be enjoyed from all parts of the private atoll - spanning the horizon that make this island paradise a destination of absolute bliss. You'll be certain to leave this slice of heaven with a huge smile. It's little wonder the resort's new signature line is ‘Club Med - where happiness means the world.'