Hurawalhi Resort Maldives

After a 16-hour journey to the Maldives, our stay at this resort never took place, as after viewing the villa we immediately decided not to proceed and arranged accommodation on another island. The island is presented on the hotel’s official website as an idyllic, untouched tropical setting. However, the official imagery does not clearly disclose that large concrete breakwaters are installed around parts of the island, positioned directly behind the beach and in front of certain villas, significantly altering the natural lagoon environment expected at a luxury resort. Upon arrival, we were assigned Villa 129, which has a large concrete breakwater directly in front of it, blocking direct sea access and materially changing the expected experience at a luxury Maldivian resort. If we had wanted to swim in the sea, we would have had to walk around a substantial mass of concrete barriers and enter the water in front of another villa to the right. This was unacceptable to us, as privacy — both ours and that of other guests — is one of the defining values of this type of exclusive resort. Importantly, neither we nor our travel agency were informed in advance about a breakwater in front of the villa. We would never have agreed to this type of accommodation had we been properly informed beforehand. No alternative villa, mitigation, or meaningful solution was offered. Inside the villa, promotional images (including those of Villa 129) still showed the beach area without the breakwater, creating a clear discrepancy between marketing materials and the current reality. We understand that breakwaters may be necessary due to erosion or environmental protection. However, in a high-priced luxury resort, such material elements must be clearly disclosed in advance and communicated transparently to guests and booking partners. Out of principle — and because the stay did not correspond to what was presented — we left the resort immediately and relocated to another island. For a property positioning itself as luxury, this lack of transparency is unacceptable. We do not recommend this hotel.

We have just returned from a week's stay at Hurawalhi. We stayed from 17th FEB to 24th FEB 2026 in Ocean Pool Villa 250. This is our 7th trip to the Maldives since 2017, and Hurawalhi was always on our "to-visit" list, so glad we finally got round to coming here. What attracted us to Hurawalhi, is that the island is a good size, not too small, and not too big, and perfectly walkable throughout. It's a natural island, with lush foliage, which provides decent shade along the pathways. Of course, the main draw was the resort being Adults-only. We've stayed at quite a few different resorts, but we really wanted one with peace and serenity (i.e. no screaming kids at breakfast), and this being our first Adults-only resort we've stayed at in the Maldives. We loved our ocean pool villa, and we spent most of our stay just lounging around our lovely deck, using the pool, and of course, snorkeling straight from our villa, to the reef which is just a short swim away. The unique location of the villa, being able to see the sun rising on one side and setting on the other, just makes it even more awe-inspiring. The iconic attraction of Hurawalhi, would of course be the undersea restaurant 5.8. We dined here for lunch during our stay, and it is really something you should do at least once. We would like to applaud the culinary team for their flexibility in allowing us to change the raw starters from the Sea menu with the cooked starters from the Land menu instead. 5.8 only consists of 10 tables, so bookings can be very tight, so we would advise that you book ahead so you can secure at least one seating during your stay. We very much enjoyed our lunch, and the experience itself is unlike anything we've experienced before, it was surreal. With only 90 villas, the only time you see other people would be during meal times, mostly it just feels like your own private island. We were on the half board plan, so did most of our dining at Canneli. We must say the buffet dinners were very good, changing themes nightly, and the quality of food was really much better than we expected. Furthermore, we would see Chef Murugan and Chef Kumar daily, both very hands-on, sometimes cooking at multiple stations. Breakfast was always very good too, eggs were always done right, the DIY orange juice and sugar cane machines were a nice touch, where you can make your own drinks. We saw dolphins swimming by in the distance nearly every morning during breakfast, which just makes breakfast that little bit more special. The reef is also very accessible, and suitable for both beginners and advanced snorkelers. The drop-off is just a short swim out from the ocean pool villas, and marine life is varied and colorful. Our seaplane transfer both to and fro from the resort was done seamlessly, though it must be stated, because some visitors do not understand this, that the resorts do not control the timing of the seaplanes, it's completely out of their hands and handled entirely by Trans Maldivian Airways. Must be said that we have noticed that TMA have become more efficient over the years since we started visiting the Maldives. Special thanks to the wonderful staff that made our stay memorable, first and foremost, our charming and charismatic host JoJo, super efficient with all our requests, we knew from the start we were in good hands. Our hardworking housekeeper, Shiham, who knew our preferences by day one, always on time for our daily scheduled cleaning, keeping our rooms fresh daily, and keeping our mini-bar/water bottles topped up without fail. The gracious Cashmir, the Asst. Bar Manager at Coco Bar, who would always take the time to walk over and have a chat whenever he sees us. Ruwindi at Canneli, with the beautiful smile that greets us first each meal time, and remembers our names and room number. Kudos to the chefs and the culinary team at Canneli, for an overall great dining experience. Last but certainly not least, resort manager Bahauddeen, whom we had the pleasure of chatting with on several occasions during our stay. He was there to welcome us when we first arrived, and he was there to have a final word with us before our departure. Thank you for listening to our suggestions and concerns. It's always reassuring to see management being proactive and in-tune with the guests. This is our 7th visit to the Maldives, so we're probably harder to please, since we've already experienced quite a few other resorts, and have quite a lot to compare with. It's easier to get a 5-star review out of a first-timer, because Maldives will just wow you and overwhelm your senses. We aren't so easy to please, because we've already been to the Maldives 6 other times. We're pleased to say that Hurawalhi exceeded our expectations. Comparisons are inevitable, but we would say Hurawalhi is right up there with the best of them. We came to Hurawalhi with cautious optimism, not quite sure if reality would live up to the hype. We are pleased to say, we loved our stay here, and if we can find the right deal, we will most definitely be back to Hurawalhi in a heartbeat. Thank you for having us, we had a fabulous time!

The resort has an incredible view but most importantly it is the service and the professionalism made my trip memorable and marvellous. Every aspect of it is perfect. To me, I enjoyed sea turtles snorkelling, fly boarding and stand up paddle boarding. It is the first time to try all these water sports and excursion, thankfully the instructors there are nice and keen to help and we made it 😆

Our 11-night stay at Hurawalhi Island Resort from February 6–17 was truly unforgettable—the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and exceptional experiences right from our villa. This is the eighth island we have stayed at in the Maldives, and each one is paradise, but for the diversity of sea life, Hurawalhi exceeded our expectations! We stayed in a Romantic Water Villa (Room 220) on the sunset side, and the location was perfect. With direct steps from our deck into the lagoon and the house reef just moments away, snorkelling couldn’t have been easier. Almost every day, we watched Green Hawksbill turtles grazing on the seagrass right outside our villa. Seeing them so close, so regularly, became a daily highlight and something we looked forward to every morning. Snorkelling from the villa was effortless, even at low tide, and we were in the water multiple times a day. Marine life was abundant: blacktip reef sharks (harmless but thrilling to watch), eagle rays, devil rays, stingrays, colourful schools of fish, and plenty more turtles. One of the coolest sights was watching the rays cruise along the edge of the house reef like a conveyor belt, feeding on plankton in a continuous loop. We also visited Shark Point and had the chance to swim with Nurse Sharks—beautiful, calm, and elegant animals that made the experience unforgettable. 🐬 Dolphins: A Sign of a Thriving Reef While dolphin sightings weren’t daily, we were lucky enough to spot them occasionally along the outer edge of the reef. Each appearance felt genuinely special—quiet, fleeting moments where sleek shapes moved effortlessly through the deep blue before disappearing again. Rather than feeling disappointed, these rare sightings felt like a reassuring sign that the house reef ecosystem is truly alive and thriving. Knowing dolphins pass through these waters added an extra layer of appreciation for the natural balance surrounding the island. The staff truly elevated the entire experience. A special thank you to Zayan, our main point of contact throughout the stay—always friendly, attentive, and quick to help with anything we needed. The bar manager, Tushar, was fantastic; chatting with him felt like catching up with an old friend. He and his team created such a welcoming atmosphere, making every evening feel relaxed and fun. And we have to give a special mention to Adam, our waiter in the main buffet restaurant, who was an absolute delight, very attentive, with a great sense of humour. Speaking of evenings, the entertainment at Hurawalhi was hands down the best we’ve experienced in the Maldives. DJ AJ brought incredible energy, keeping everyone dancing with great music and a lively vibe. Nights around Coco Bar and the pool were full of laughter, live beats, and genuinely happy memories. It added a joyful, social dimension that really made the resort stand out. The resort itself is stunning: small with mature, luscious vegetation, luxurious overwater villas, excellent food, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere throughout. Dining at the 5.8 Undersea Restaurant was mind-blowing—watching marine life glide past while enjoying dinner is something we’ll never forget. Everything felt safe, immaculately maintained, and thoughtfully done. If you love easy snorkelling with daily turtle sightings, outstanding service, and genuinely fun evening entertainment, Hurawalhi—especially Villa 220—is hard to beat. We made so many wonderful memories and can’t wait to return. Highly recommended—5 stars all the way. Regards, Gary & Nic

This is our second visit to paradise! Upon arrival at the airport, we were greeted by our friend Maudey, who was our butler on the first visit to the Island, so nice to meet people, who really care about you! Resort is located 35 min from Male airport. Short flight to the nearby island Kuredoo, 5 min boat ride to Hurawalhi. We were greeted by Resort manager Bahauddeen. Quick check in via app and Dinara, our butler, guided us to our villa! She was always in touch with us, solving our questions, helping in every our request. Very professional, knowledgeable young lady! Thank you so much! We lived in sunset beach pool villa, very clean, well equipped. In front of villa, beautiful beach, coral reef, best place for snorkeling! Food was very tasty, so many varieties! Live music in the evening, DJ at night! The best part of our vacation were wonderful people, who were taking care about all our needs! Many thanks to the whole team! Ruwindi, Barsha, Azid, Casmir, chefs at Canneli restaurant! Hope to see you soon!