There are plenty of opportunities to purchase local artifacts from souvenir shops (Male) and the stalls/sellers from various islands that you might visit on excursions. Your resort will almost certainly have a gift shop to purchase from (usually at a much higher price than from local sellers).

So what type of souvenirs & shopping might you purchase? There are all types of craft works on offer – from hand woven mats to wooden boxes and jewellery and more.

Visit the Maldives Shopping Guide to read where to shop.

There are a huge number of resorts in the Maldives to suit a wide range of tastes and budgets. Here, we’ll take you through many of the popular destinations.

Angsana Resort & Spa Maldives
Visit Angsana’s Website | Check Availability and Prices

Angsana is located in the Ihuru islands (North Male Atoll) and is a short 14 km distance from the capital of Male.

The resort contains 45 villas – some of the nice features of these include thatched roofs, individual private gardens and pleasant verandas. Guests can choose between deluxe beachfront villas and standard beachfront villas.

Ihuru has a great reputation for having some of the finest house reefs in the Maldives and so is a good destination for those wanting to do a bit of diving and snorkelling.

The spa at Angsana offers a wide range of treatments including facials, massages and various others.

Asdu Sun Island Maldives
Visit Asdu’s Website | Check Availability and Prices

Asdu Sun Island is a three star resort with 30 rooms located in the Kaafu (Male) Atoll.

While it may not be one of the more luxurious choices, Asdu Sun Island does offer the usual range of activities including diving, canoeing, snorkelling, fishing and more.

Additional facilities include a reading library where guests can take out books to read by the beach plus a video hall and internet surfing.

Bandos Island Resort Maldives
Visit Bandos’s Website | Check Availability and Prices

The Bandos resort has 225 guestrooms of varying types – guests can choose from standard, deluxe, garden villas, Jacuzzi beach villas, and water villas. The resort is located in the North Male atoll.

Bandos first opened in 1972 although it has grown considerably since then to become one of the largest Maldives resorts with facilities to match. For example, just some of the facilities include tennis courts, a coffee shop (and five restaurants), a disco & bar, gym & sauna, pool room, a couple of swimming pools, beauty salon as well as a spa offering massages.

The diving facilities are good with a diving school offering diving courses.

Banyan Tree Maldives
Visit Banyan Tree’s Website | Check Availability and Prices

The Banyan Tree is another luxurious resort set in the North Male atoll. The resort offers five different types of rooms from standard to ocean view villas. There’s a choice of four restaurant and bars, a very good spa, and excellent recreation facilities including diving, snorkeling & deep sea fishing to name but a few.

Baros Island Resort Maldives
Visit Baros Island Resort’s Website | Check Availability and Prices

Located in North Male Atoll, Baros is just a 20 minute speedboat ride from Male airport. The resort offers three types of accommodation - water villas, baros villas and deluxe villas.

There are several bars & restaurants offering a wide selection of continental & oriental cuisines.

The recreational facilities at Baros are huge, and aside from the standard diving & snorkelling options offered at practically all resorts, Baros offers several additional services – badminton, aerobics and cycling are just a few of these.

Bathala Island Resort Maldives
Visit Bathala’s Website | Check Availability and Prices

Certainly one of the smaller resorts located in the Ari Atoll, Bathala is well regarded by divers.

The 4 star resort contains 37 cottages and is better suited to those who do not plan to do much other than laze away.

Biyadhoo Island Resort Maldives
Visit Biyadhoo’s Website | Check Availability and Prices

Biyadhoo is located on the Kaafu Atoll (South Male Atoll) is a four star resort containing a total of 96 rooms. The resort is highly regarded as a good place for diving and snorkeling. Certainly an island for those looking for water sports and activity in addition to the spectacular scenery that the Maldives offers.

Boduhithi Island Resort Maldives

This club style resort with over 80 rooms is a particular favourite with Italian clientele. As you would expect, this means a high number of available activities and all the fine Italian dining you can handle. The staff are also predominantly Italian.

Boduhithi is located in the North Atoll (Kaafu) and has an official rating of four stars.

Bolifushi Island Resort Maldives - www.bolifushi.com

Located in the South Male Atoll, about 12km Southwest of Male this 4 star rated resort has three types of rooms – Boli, Beach Villa and Water Villa.

The facilities are good and offer diving, snorkelling, scuba diving and plenty of other activities. There is also good Spa.

Club Med Farukolhufushi Maldives - www.clubmed.com

Set in the North Atoll, this island resort is very good for scuba diving and watersports. The 4-star resort offers a wide range of facilities and 150 rooms. There are two room types – superior, and superior with balcony.

Tuition is available for water-sports including windsurfing and sailing while other activities on offer including kayaking, beach volley, soccer, water-polo and more. The resort also offers a swimming pool, spa, arts/crafts workshop, a TV/pool room and more.

Coco Palm Resort & Spa Maldives - www.cocopalm.com

This five star resort is located on the private island of Duikolu (Baa Atoll) and is approximately half an hour via sea-plane from the Capital of Male.

The accommodation is highly luxurious and there are four types of rooms from beach villas to the incredible lagoon palace suite.

The resort offers several restaurants and bars, all set in highly tranquil locations and also has a highly recommended spa.

Activities and diving are also available with a diving school and plenty of sports such as water-skiing, canoeing, surf-biking, sailing & more. Tennis, badminton, volley ball are also on offer and the resort has a gym too for the health conscious.

Cocoa Island Maldives - www.cocoa-island.com

Cocoa Island is a five star resort in South Male Atoll and is approximately 30 minutes from Male via speedboat.

The rooms are of a high standard and come in varying types including one and two bed villas, dhoni loft suites and dhoni standard suites.

The main activities on offer are diving, water-sports and island hopping.

Dhonveli Beach & Spa Resort Maldives - www.dhonvelibeach.com

Not surprisingly, “Dhonveli” in Maldian stands for “crystal white sand”. This is a five star resort with five different types of rooms that is located on the North Male Atoll.
The resort has one main restaurant, the Banana Garden Restaurant but also offers a sunset bar & coffee shop.

There are several of the usual indoor and outdoor recreational facilities available, including “big game fishing” and “adventure cruising”. Floodlit tennis/badminton, carom, table tennis are a few of the more traditional activities on offer and the resort has a gym and spa too.

Ellaidhoo Tourist Resort Maldives

Located on the North Ari Atoll is the four star Ellaidhoo resort. It’s quite a distance from Male (over an hour by speedboat although only 20 minutes via seaplane). Ellaidhoo is one of the smaller resorts and the whole island is around 300 metres long and 280 metres wide.

There are 156 rooms split up into standard, superior and deluxe. The dining facilities include the restaurant, coffee shop and bar.

Diving & recreation activities are available and these include island hopping, snorkelling safaris, morning fishing, an excursion to Male and more. There is also a Spa.

Embudu Village Maldives - www.embudu.com

This four star resort is set in Kaafu Atoll and the island is just 300 metres long. There is a very easy-going feel to the island. There are 118 rooms divided between standard, superior and water bungalow rooms.

As you would expect, the main activities in Embudu are diving, water sports and a feast of additional activities normally found in Maldives reorts.

There is a restaurant, bar and coffee shop serving a variety of food and beverage.

Eriyadu Island Resort Maldives - www.aaa-resortsmaldives.com

Set in the North Male Atoll, Eriyadu is a four star resort that contains 57 superior rooms only. It’s a 45 minute transfer via speedboat from the capital Male. It’s a 4-star resort.

There is a restaurant, bar and coffee shop available for guests and there are good diving facilities available as you would expect.

Filitheyo Island Resort Maldives

Situated on the Faafu Atoll, Filitheyo is a five star resort with 125 villas of different types.
Filitheyo offers a main restaurant, a couple of bars and a coffee shop and several of the standard diving & recreational facilities are available including cultural shows and live music too.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives - www.fourseasons.com/maldives

Set in the North Male Atoll, Four Seasons is a spectacular five star resort with 106 rooms of various types (from standard beach villas and beach bungalows with outdoor showers to water villas).

The resort offers three restaurants and two bars and some of the features include a healthy offering of vegetarian food as well as themed nights.

The facilities & recreational amenities are very good – as well as the standard Maldives offerings guests can try their hand at aerial excursions, catamaran sailing, big game fishing and island hopping.

The resort is a half hour transfer via speedboat from Male.

Full Moon Resort Maldives

The five star Full Moon resort is located in the North Male Atoll and is a 20 minute speedboat ride from Male.

There are 156 rooms – from deluxe and cottage rooms to water bungalows and water villas. The architecture has a very traditional, wooden feel and the accommodation is very comfortable.

No less than five different restaurants offer a huge selection of international cuisine and keep the guests pallets delighted at all times. There are also three bars and a coffee shop.

While most Maldives resorts have their own spas, the Full Moon spa is actually located on a separate island – a delightful touch.

A good range of activities and recreation are also on offer.

Hakuraa Club Maldives

On the Meemu Atoll lies the four star Hakuura Club offering either beach or water bungalows. The resort is 130km from Male. A good range of activities and recreation are offered.

Halaveli Holiday Village Maldives - www.halaveli.com

This is a three star resort in the Ari Atoll offering a range of beach bungalows. The transfer from the airport is half an hour by sea plane or 1.5 hours via speedboat. Dhon transfers are available but take 360 minutes.

There is a main restaurant and bar offering a wide range of cuisine. A fair standard or recreation and diving facilities are also available.

This is a fair option for those with a tight budget that are looking for a Maldives experience. While the rooms are not exactly cheap, they are more affordable than the four and five star options available.

Helengeli Tourist Village Maldives - www.helengeli.net

Helengeli is a four star resort that’s based in the Kaafu Atoll. There are 50 beach villas available and offers the usual choice of recreation and activities. To name a few, they include Spa, restaurant/bar, internet facilities, freshwater pool as well as dhoni/speedboat/seaplane hire. There is also a dive school.

Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa Rangali Island Maldives - www.hilton.com

The luxurious five star Hilton is not for those with a fragile budget! Located in the South Ari Atoll, the resort is 90km from Male airport.

There are 150 rooms divided into standard/deluxe beach villas, water bungalows, and sunset water villas.

The main restaurant is the Atoll restaurant containing two open kitchens. The sunset bar & grill is a lovely addition built over the water with stunning views of the lagoon. You can even have a private barbeque specially made by a resort chef.

Some great recreational & diving activities are offered including swimming pool, tennis courts, fitness rooms & spa and a huge range of water & other sports.

Holiday Island Maldives

Located in the South Ari Atoll, Holiday Island is a four star resort containing 142 super deluxe beach bungalows. It’s a two hour speedboat ride from Male.

There are a range of restaurants to choose from offering both western and oriental delicacies as well as a bar and coffee shop.

Holiday island offers the standard range of activities including diving, snorkelling, water skiing, floodlit tennis, a gym and more.

Huvafen Fushi Maldives - www.huvafenfushi.com

Huvafen Fushi is a five star resort on the South Ari Atoll and it takes approximately 30 minutes to reach from Male (speedboat). The resort is actually set within its own lagoon and is quite a spectacle. Like most five star resorts it’s not for those on a budget.

The facilities and recreation options are highly impressive with 3 restaurants and a bar for residents as well as a yoga pavilion, outdoor salt water pool as well as a fibre-optic lit indoor pool. A gym is also available. Activities include canoeing, windsurfing, sunset sailing, diving and the fun tube.

There are several different types of rooms at Huvafen Fushi including lagoon bungalows, ocean bungalows as well as beach & deluxe bungalows.

Komandoo Island Resort Maldives - www.komandoo.com

The four star resort of Komandoo is set in Lhaviyani Atoll and is 40minutes away from Male (via seaplane). There are 45 rooms and the resort offers several activities including scuba diving, windsurfing, canoeing, sailing and excursion trips available.

Komandoo also has a main restaurant and two bars.

Kudahithi Island Resort Maldives

This is a tiny three star island resort that contains only seven rooms. The Kudahithi island can be walked in circumference in under ten minutes.

There are very few facilities – this is a place for those who want to come for the peace, quiet and beauty of the Maldives alone. Diving is possible through another resort.

The restaurant at Kudahithi Island Resort serves predominantly Italian cuisine.

Kuramathi Blue Lagoon Maldives - www.kuramathi.com.mv

Set in the North Ari Atoll, Kuramathi Blue Lagoon is a four star resort is a four star resort offering 56 rooms (20 beach bungalows and 36 beach bungalows). It’s a 25 minute transfer by seaplane (105 minutes by speedboat).

Kuramathi Blue Lagoon has a good range of the standard facilities found in many of the resorts including a sauna, spa & Jacuzzi, pool, disco, water sports & diving.
Also try Kuramathi Village and Kuramathi Cottage & Spa.

Kuredu Island Resort Maldives - www.kuredu.com

On Lhaviyani Atoll lies the four star Kuredu Island Resort. The resort is approximately 80 miles from Male and is a 40 minute journey by seaplane (4 hours via speedboat).

There are a total of 330 rooms in Kuredu Island Resort and these are split into the following – beach bungalows, beach villas, Jacuzzi beach villas, sunset water villas and water villa suites.

Kuredu has an excellent reputation as one of the best islands in the Maldives for Diving. It also has a wealth of additional activities and facilities for all visitors.

Dining is also a pleasant experience with several choices of restaurant & bars offering a wide range of cuisine.

Kurumba Maldives - www.universalresorts.com

A five star resort located in the North Male Atoll and is a 15 minute speedboat ride from the capital. This popular Maldives resort has a total of 180 rooms (various bungalows and villas).

Dining facilities are excellent in Kurumba Island Resort Maldives – six restaurants are offered as well as two bars to keep guests highly satisfied in terms of choice of food as well as ambience.

Further facilities & activities include gym, sauna, spa, water-sports/diving, various excursions, kids clubs and more.

Laguna Maldives - www.universalresorts.com

Laguna is a small island that’s well known for its snorkelling. Located in South Male Atoll, Laguna is a four star Maldives resort offering a choice of deluxe villas, deluxe bungalows or water suites. There are 115 room in total.

It’s a 20 minute speedboat ride to Laguna Maldives via speedboat.

Laguna is a five star Maldives resort that offers guests a choice of five restaurants/grills as well as four bars. The resort also offers excellent facilities as you would expect from a five star Maldives resort – these include superb facilities for snorkelling & water-sports and a first class spa. Multiple excursions are also on offer.

Lily Beach Resort Maldives - www.lilybeachmaldives.com
Lily Beach is located on the South Ari Atoll and is a half hour speedboat ride from Male. It’s a four star resort that offers a good choice of activities and excursions. As you might expect, the water-sports are good and there are also opportunities to engage in beach volleyball, surf biking, carom and much more.

There are three main choices of rooms available in Lily Beach – deluxe suite, water villas and superior rooms.

The resort offers a restaurant, coffee shop and bar. Guests can also enjoy the disco/live band, cultural shows (Bodu beru) and beach games.

Lohifushi Island Resort Maldives - www.lohifushi.com

Lohifushi Island is in the North Male Atoll and is a half hour speedboat transfer from Male. It’s a four star resort and is well respected for good diving & snorkelling – excursions to nearby islands are available and the resort offers a good choice of water sports as well.

The resort contains 130 rooms that are split into standard, superior, deluxe and suites to suit a variety of tastes and budgets.

Facilities are good – along with the usual high quality Maldives resort offerings there is also a squash court and sports centre.

The main eatery is the Banyan restaurant but Lohifushi also has no less than four bars available to guests.

Makunudu Island Maldives - www.makunudu.com

This four star resort offers 26 beach bungalows and is located in North Male Atoll (55 minutes speedboat ride from Male).

Decent activities and facilities are available to guests – along with diving and surfing, residents can also partake in dolphin watching and picnicking on a private island.

The main restaurant is Ara Iru and there is also a bar at Makunudu Island.

Medhufushi Island Resort Maldives - www.aaa-resortsmaldives.com

This is a five star resort with very good facilities that is a 40 minute seaplane transfer from Male. Medhufushi is located on Meemu Atoll and contains 120 rooms.

The resort offers a good range of facilities including diving, windsurfing & many other water-based sports as well as a disco, fishing trips and excursions.

Meedhupparu Island Resort Maldives - www.aitakenspenceholidays.com
In Raa Atoll lies the four star Meedhupparu Island Resort. The transfer from Male is 40 minutes by seaplane and the resort offers 215 beach bungalows and an impressive list of activities.

Meeru Island Resort Maldives - www.meeru.com

Meeru is situated in North Male Atoll and is a 20 minute seaplane ride from Male (or about 55 minutes by speedboat). This is a four star resort that has 276 rooms of various types (prices at the lower end are for standard rooms while the most expensive is the dolphin suite – about eight times as pricey).

Meeru offers one restaurant, three bars and a couple of coffee shops to guests – so good food is available at practically any time.

The facilities are also good offering the type of activities that you would expect from a good quality Maldives resort. A few of these include scuba diving, spa facilities, internet connections, windsurfing and several excursions and day-trips.

Mirihi Island Resort Maldives - www.mirihi.com

Mirihi Island Resort is located in South Ari Atoll – this is a five star resort with just 36 rooms. It’s a 20 minute sea-plane ride from the capital of Male.

The resort offers two main types of rooms – beach and water bungalows.

A good number of activities and facilities are available and Mirihi offers a good selection of food and drink for visitors. Recreation facilities include watersports, excursions, diving, spa and a fitness centre.

Moofushi Tourist Resort Maldives - www.moofushi.com

Moofushi is a four star resort offering 60 rooms – it’s set in South Ari Atoll. There are 45 beach bungalows and 17 water bungalows available to guests.

There are two main restaurants and two bars. Facilities include a scuba centre, a massage centre and several excursions such as a trip to fisher-mans island & desert island.

Nika Island Resort Maldives - www.nikamaldives.com

Nika Islands is a four star resort in North Ario Atoll. The resort is a half hour transfer by seaplane and has 36 rooms of various types.

The resort offers a restaurant and coffee shop for guests and facilities include an Ayurvedic centre, sports/diving centre, .

Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort - www.olhuveli.com

Olhuveli is set in South Male Atoll and is a 50 minute speedboat ride away from Male. This is a four star resort with 125 rooms – the room types are deluxe room, beach villa, deluxe water villa, Jacuzzi water villa, and honeymoon water villa.

There are three different restaurants, a poolside barbeque and two bars open for guests.

Some of the facilities include scuba diving, snorkelling, catamaran sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and glass bottom boat riding. There is also a sun spa. Excursion opportunities are good and include island hopping, night fishing and big game fishing. Guests can also enjoy the disco, a live band and cultural shows.

One&Only Kanuhura Maldives - www.oneandonlykanuhura.com

Kanuhura is set in Lhaviyani Atoll and is a 35 minute seaplane ride from the capital of Male. It’s a five star resort offering 100 rooms of various types.

The diving facilities and setting in Kanuhura are excellent – the outer reef is incredibly deep and this means that divers are able to experience a highly diverse range of marine life.

The Kanuhura spa is also highly reputed – it offers a health & beauty centre with a wide range of available treatments.

One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives - www.oneandonlyresorts.com

Reethi Rah is a five star resort set in the North Male Atoll. It has 130 rooms of various types (choose from eight types of rooms from beach villa to grand beach suite). Reethi is a 55 minute transfer from Male.

Reethi offers a wide variety of restaurants and bars for guests and resort facilities are also excellent offering a large selection of diving/water sports as well as general activities such as excursions and land based sports.

Palm Beach Resort Maldives - www.palmbeachmaldives.com

This resort is set in Lhaviyani resort and is located 80 miles north of the Capital of Male. Palm beach is another of Maldives lavish five star resorts and guests fly in from sea-plane (40 minutes from Male International Airport).

Palm Beach has a total of one hundred rooms – 55 deluxe, 25 deluxe superior and 20 villas.

Guests can choose from a wide range of restaurants and bars – in fact four restaurants and two bars.

Palm Beach offers a good range of resort facilities including tennis, squash, swimming (pool), beach soccer, volleyball, kite surfing, pool and several water activities. There are also excellent diving facilities with a multitude of diving courses available to guests.

Paradise Island Resort and Spa Maldives - www.villahotels.com

Paradise Island is a five star resort that is set in North Male Atoll and an hours speedboat ride from the airport.

There are a total of 30 rooms split into superior deluxe and water bungalows. Guests can choose from a variety of restaurants for their dining choices and the entertainment is highly regarded with many activities including disco, karaoke, live music, crab racing and more.

Paradise Island also offers a wide range of excursions – aside from many of the standard Maldivian favourites, the resort also offers submarine excursions, water safaris, photo flights and glass bottom boat riding. There are also impressive facilities for water and land based sports.

Ranveli Village & Spa Maldives - www.ranvelivillage.com

A 30 minute sea-plane ride from Male is the four star Ranveli Village & Spa. The resort offers 56 rooms and a wide range of activities including diving facilities, spa, and some land based sports such as table tennis.

Reethi Beach Resort Maldives - www.reethibeach.com

Reethi is a four star Maldives resort that is set in the Baa Atoll. It’s a 30 minute transfer via Seaplane from Male.

There are 100 rooms that are divided into villas, deluxe villas and water villas. The resort has a good offering of dining, excursions and typical water-sports/diving options.

Rihiveli Beach Resort - www.rihiveli-maldives.com

Rihiveli Beach Resort is another of the Maldives four star offerings based in South Male Atoll (45 minute speedboat transfer from the capital).

There are 48 rooms and the diving facilities are rather good with courses available for all levels of divers. There are also many sports and activities on offer to make this one of the livelier choices available in the Maldives.

Royal Island Resort & Spa Maldives

Royal Island is a five star Maldives resort that is set in the Baa Atoll. Guests can arrive via Seaplane (35 minutes from Male) or speedboat (2 hours & 40 minutes).

There are 150 available rooms and the resort offers two restaurants, a coffee shop and three bars for guests.

The resort facilities are very good - guests can use the sauna, steam bath, massage centre, Jacuzzi, & pool. There are a huge number of water sports available for the more adventurous and the diving facilities are also good. Royal Island also offers guests a wide range of excursions – from day & night fishing to island hopping.

Soneva Fushi Resort Maldives

This five star resort is set in the Baa Atoll and is a 30 minute seaplane transfer from Male. There are 65 rooms and these are split into no less than 14 different types.

Soneva Fushi offers a wonderful Spa with a wide range of treatments. The diving facilities are also excellent and a huge portfolio of additional recreational activities are on offer including excursions, fishing, ball games and more.

Soneva Gili Resort & Spa Maldives

The Soneva Gili resort is set in the North Male Atoll and offers 130 rooms to guests. It’s a five star resort with appropriate facilities.

The resort offers first class dining, diving, and entertainment to guests.

Summer Island Village - www.summerislandvillage.com

In the Kaafu Atoll is the three star Summer Island Village resort – it’s a 90 minute boat ride from Male and Summer Island Resort offers guests 108 rooms – either standard or water villas.

Summer Island Village offers guests use of the Serena Spa offering a variety of massages, body works, facials and alternative beauty treatments.

Excursions include a trip to the capital of Male, submarine trip, night fishing, snorkelling and island hopping.

Guests can also participate in sports such as badminton, volleyball and diving.

Sun Island Resort Maldives

Sun Island is located in South Ari Atoll and is a five star resort. Guests can arrive via seaplane (30 minute transfer from Male) or speedboat (2 hours & 30 minutes). The resort has 350 guestrooms of various types.

There are excellent dining options including Italian and Thai cuisine. Sun Island also has an excellent range of facilities and activities including water-sports, live entertainment, excursions & land sports.

Taj Coral Reef Resort Maldives

Set in North Male Atoll, the Taj Coral Reef is a five star resort containing 65 rooms. Transfer is 40 minutes from Male via speedboat. Guests can choose between a variety of Lagoon or beach villas.

Residents can expect a high standard of Indian & international cuisine and Taj Coral Reef has something for everyone, from honeymooners to experienced divers.

There are excellent Spa, massage & beauty treatments available and the resort offers a huge range of activities, excursions & entertainment.

Taj Exotica Resort and Spa Maldives

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa is a five star set in South Male Atoll. Guests arrive via a speedboat transfer that takes 20 minutes and can choose from 55 rooms (various types of Beach & Lagoon villas).

Residents can look forward to the wonderful Taj Mandara Spa for a range of relaxing treatments. There is a PADI certified dive centre, pool, and a good variety of additional entertainment & excursion options.

Thudufushi Island Resort Maldives

Thudufushi Island is a four star resort set in South Ari Atoll. It’s a 25 minute seaplane transfer from the capital. The island contains 47 rooms for guests to inhabit.

Thulhagiri Island Resort Maldives - www.thulhaagiri.com

The four star Thulhagiri resort is in the North Male Atoll containing 17 water bungalows and 55 beach bungalows. It’s a 25 minute speedboat transfer from Male.

The dining at Thulhagiri is highly reputed but guests will also enjoy the wide variety of activities, excursions and water-sports available.

Vadoo Island Resort Maldives

In South Male Atoll is the four star Vadoo Island resort with 31 rooms. It’s a short 15 minute trip from Male via speedboat.

This is a smaller island that can be enjoyed by many different types of visitors from honeymooners to divers. There is a PADI certified dive centre and Vadoo Island Resort also offers additional water sports, excursions and some activities.

Vakarufalhi Island Resort Maldives - www.vakaru.com

The four star Vakarufalhi resort is set in South Ari Atoll and is a 25 minute transfer by seaplane. There are 50 rooms available.

Dining at Vakarufalhi is typically on a full board basis and there is a main (Ilaa) restaurant serving the main meals although snacks are also available at the bar.

There are many activities & recreational facilities on offer – guests can choose from water & land sports, cultural activities, day excursions, snorkelling safari, morning/night fishing, dolphin cruises and general entertainment. It’s also possible to have a wedding. Diving courses are available and there is also a spa.

Velavaru Island Resort Maldives - www.velavaru.com

Velavaru is one of the four star Maldives offerings. It’s based in Dhaalu Atoll and is a 45 minute seaplane ride from Male. There are 84 rooms – beach & deluxe beach bungalows and island beach bungalows.

Guests can dine at the Hathaa restaurant or kick back with a drink or two at the Muraka bar.

Velavaru offers a good choice of water & land sports, diving, a spa and multiple excursions & trips.

Velidhu Island Resort Maldives

In North Ari Atoll lies the four star Velidhu Island Resort with 80 beach bungalows and 20 water bungalows. Guests can fly in via seaplane (20 minutes from Male) or choose to arrive via speedboat (a 2 hour ride).

There are a good range of all-round activities and facilities to please everyone here – from dining to the many activities on offer. A huge range of recreation is on offer – aside from the usual choice of water & land sports, Velidhu also offers bingo, fire limbo dancers and disco nights.

Veligandu Island Resort Maldives - www.veliganduisland.com

Veligandu is in the North Ari Atoll – a four star resort with an excellent reputation for great value. Veligandu is a 15 minute seaplane ride from Male and has 73 rooms split into beach bungalows, deluxe beach bungalows, water villas & deluxe beach villas.

There is an excellent restaurant & bar and Veligandu also offers a good range of activities & recreation. There are many different water & land sports for guests to enjoy as well as island hopping excursions. The diving facilities are good and there is a spa available to enjoy a relaxing massage.

Vilamendhoo Island Resort Maldives

Vilamendhoo is based in South Ari Atoll. It’s a four star resort with 154 rooms – the transfer from Male takes 25 minutes by seaplane.

Vilamendhoo is well liked by divers but other facilities such as water/land sports and excursions are also available.

Villivaru Island Resort Maldives

Villivaru is a 3 star resort that’s located in South Male Atoll. It’s an hour from Male via speedboat and Villivaru has 60 rooms open to guests.

Recreation facilities include diving, snorkelling & other water sports as well as a disco among others.

Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort Maldives - www.vilureef.com

Vilu Reef is Dhaalu Atoll – a five star resort with 101 rooms (four different types). It’s a 35 minute seaplane transfer from Male to Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort.

Diving facilities are very good here and the resort also offers a very wide range of additional activities from water sports to cultural shows and full moon excursions.

White Sands Resort & Spa Maldives - www.maldiveswhitesands.com

White Sands is a four star resort in South Ari Atoll – guests arrive by a 30 minute speedboat transfer from Male.

White Sands Maldives has 141 rooms of various types. The resort offers guests a choice of three restaurants and additional bar/café options.

There are excellent entertainment facilities – an internet café, water sports, diving, pedal boats, multiple excursions and live shows (bands & boduberu).

Along the way, you’ll also find information on where to get the best value on Maldives hotels, packages, and flights and yes, sometimes you can even find good deals to the Maldives islands.

Article list:

Experience a Maldives Islands Vacation

Animals and Plants of the Maldives

The Climate in Maldives

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Video list:

Welcome to the Maldives Islands

The Hilton Ithaa Underwater Restaurant in Maldives

The Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa

Marine Animals in the Maldives

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What To Do Next:

Check availability and prices for Maldives hotels, vacation packages, and flights

[Photo - Beach in the Maldives]

The Maldives enjoy a tropical climate which means its temperature tends to stay between 77 degrees F (25 degrees C )and 89 degrees F (32 degrees C).

The optimum time to go tends to be between December and April (this is supported by the higher prices during these times) because this is when the weather is most calm and has the least rainfall.

There are two monsoon seasons with high rainfall: The first monsoon is in the southwest region from May to October and the second monsoon is in the northeast region from November to April.

Throughout the year lightweight cotton and linen clothing is recommended and then light waterproof clothing is also recommended during the rainy season.

[Photo - Hideaway Beach in Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii]

Kauai, or the Garden Isle as it is known to many, is  one of the main islands in spectacular Hawaii.  The oldest, Kauai was once inhibited by the mysterious tribe known to be connected to the Central Polynesia called the Menehune.   This tribe is only known to have lived only in Kauai.  This strengthens the belief that Kauai has always been an independent kingdom.

During King Kamahameha I’s reign , Kauai  was left as the only island to unconquered by him.  Kauai’s ruler, King Kaumualii, resisted him for years.  King Kamahameha I has twice  geared up to take the island by force through his ships and canoes.  Twice he also failed.    But to stop the bloodshed and uproar that was slowly destroying the beautiful island, the King of Kauai, King Kaumualii, decided to offer it to King Kamahameha I as a peace offering.   Kauai joined King Kamehameha I’s kingdoms as one of his vassals in 1810  but giving back the beautiful island to the Kingdom of Hawaii when he died.

Hundreds of years later at  1778, the island of  Kauai was discovered by a British Captain with the name of James Cook.  He  really intends to sail to Alaska but found himself docking at the  Waimea Bay instead.  The Captain thinks that Kauai was a nice place to stop over.

The natives of the island first considered Captain Cook as someone “sent from the gods”  and was treated like royalty and almost godlike.  The natives waited on him hand and foot and gave in to whatever demands and wishes he has.  But when his boats finally set sail and has encountered problems prompting them to return to the island,  the villagers treatment on him changed to the negative.  They were very angry and they doubt his abilities.  The natives also feels that they have been deceived for if Cook really was a “god” surely he and his crew would not have problems such as the one he was having with their boats.    This anger soon resulted to violence and soon he was murdered.  Captain James Cook now has a monument of bronze that can be found at the Waimea Canyon at the West Side region of Kauai.

One of the main sources of food and employment in Kauai are sugar cane plantations.  Soon, Kauai has become very popular for its sugar cane plantations and has been known as the island wherein the industry of sugar can was born.    Kauai has been known to be Hawaii’s sugar capital up until the collapse of the sugar industry when the tariffs were removed and  they have to compete with cheaper sugar from other countries.  At present, the former farms are now into agritourism wherein they offer educational tours to tourists for a fun learning experience.

To know more about Kauai’s intriguing and mesmerizing history and culture, you may go and visit the island’s Museum located in Lihue.  It’s beautiful displays of artifacts and also photos will give visitors insights about the Garden Isle’s history.  The Gove Farm Homestead Museum  is also a good place to go when one wants to learn about Kauai’s great history.  This architecture was once the home of George Wilcox, the child of the founders and owners of one of Kauai’s  biggest sugar plantations.  These two museums will surely enrich the visitors knowledge about the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii.

[Video - Diving with Sea Turtles in Kauai Hawaii at the Sheraton Caverns]

Water Activities

So you want a dream vacation.  You browse through travel books, surf the internet and ask your friends on what place to go and visit and you finally decide to go to the place they call the Garden Isle.  Kauai Hawaii looks like the right place for you to relax and unwind.  But aside from lounging at the beach, getting that perfect tan and listening to the waves,  Kauai has a lot more activities it can offer for its visitors to enjoy its waters.  Here is a list of water activities you can do in this beautiful island in Hawaii.

Swimming

Kauai offers a lot of places to practice those swimming strokes.  From oceans to lagoons to rivers,  Kauai is rich with all of these water wonders.  Visitors can choose from the Lumahai Beach found in the North Shore region of the island, the Wailua River found on the Coconut Coast, and the Kalapaki Beach and Kauai Lagoons both found at the Lihue Region.  There are also beautiful swimming pools available at the numerous resorts found on the island for those who are not daring enough to take the challenge f swimming in the open sea.

Fishing

Because of the Kauai’s richness in water, both freshwater and saltwater, fishing has been one of the most popular past time of tourists in the island.  Both small mouth bass and large mouth bass can be taken from the island’s inland reservoir.  Other fishes abundant in the area are marlin, aku, ono and ahi.  The private island of Niihau on the other hand  is famous for its giant tuna catch.

Windsurfing

The beautiful island of Kauai offers this great water sport as one of the fun activities tourists can do on its waters.  If you are up for the challenge, head down to Anini Beach Park or the Kalapaki Beach to try your hand at windsurfing.  These two beaches are a great spot for windsurfing especially Anini Beach since the wind here is much more consistent making it perfect for  beginners to try their hand at wind surfing.  Poipu Beach is also a good choice to do some windsurfing in the island.  For the more learned and experienced people of the sport, Haena Beach is the one for you for it offers a more challenging thus more dangerous winds to conquer.

Scuba Diving and snorkeling

Visit the life under the sea in the island through scuba diving.  To get to the best diving location, visit the waters on the Southern Shore where the water is calmer with visibility of about fifty feet.   For those who are not that adventurous but still wants to experience and to see the vast sea life the island has to offer then snorkeling is for you.   There are scuba diving and snorkeling shops all over the island to aid you in this adventure quest.

Boating and Kayaking

If your cup of tea is just mildly gliding and basking in the great view surrounding the waters, then boating and kayaking is for you.  Head to the Coconut Coast of Kauai Hawaii where the Wailua River is found and boating and kayaking is one of the favorite recreational spots of both visitors and locals alike.

Land Activities

Kauai Hawaii is know for its beautiful beaches and waters but there’s more to it than that.  Here are also a lot you can see and do in the lands of the Garden Isle.  Below are the land activities you can enjoy on the island of Kauai Hawaii.

Golf

Serious golf players will enjoy Kauai’s golf courses. Not only are the golf courses here considered as one of Hawaii’s best, they are also considered as one of the most challenging in the area.  Play golf with an awesome view of the ocean or the mountains and be inspired in scoring a hole in one.

Horseback Riding

One of the best and fun ways to explore the Garden Isle is through horseback riding.  Kauai boasts of a lot of scenic trails that visitors can explore like the Hanalei Valley, Haupu Valley, Mahaulepu Beach trails and the Waimea Canyon also dubbed as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

Hiking

Only about 10% of the Garden Isle is accessible by road.  That means that if you really want to explore this majestic island then you have to do it by hiking.  There are three best trails in Kauai:
* The Kukui Trail -  a 5 mile (if counted round trip) trail that drops 2, 000 feet into the magnificent Waimea Canyon.  This trail is also the shortest route if you want to go to the canyon floor.  The Kukui Trail will begin  off the Iliau Loop Trail.
* The Kuilau Trail - a 4.2 mile long (round trip).  This trail will delight your eyes with sights of small waterfalls and nature.   The trail head is located a mile  past the University of Hawaii Agricultural Experimental Station which is located on Route 580.
*The Kalalau Trail – this trail is for the seasoned hikers.  It starts at the Kee Beach at the end of Highway 25.  This trail has the beautiful views of the Na Pali Coast and the Kee Beach.

Camping

Kauai is abundant on camping grounds found at state parks and county parks.  Permits need to be secured before going camping though.  Seven days are needed before your permit for camping at county parks can be released and in turn this permit will allow the owner to camp in one place for seven days.  A fee of $3 is also needed to facilitate this although the permit is free for under aged children (18 below).  Permits for state parks are free and let the user camp for five days.

Sight seeing

There are a lot of places and scenic views tourists can go to in Kauai Hawaii.  There’s the Na Pali Coast’s cliffs that offers a beautiful view of Hawaii.  In Lihue, tourists can take a tour of the Kauai Museum and other colorful Hawaiiana exhibits.  You can also find wildlife sanctuaries in this region.  The National Tropical Botanical Garden is also a must see in Kauai.  It is one of the favorite places visitors go to at the South Shore region.  Also, another hit place in the South Shore is the Spouting Horn, hole in the ocean that spits water into open air.  It is best to visit this place on sunset where the water is a beautiful color of the rainbow because of the setting sun.  At the West Side of Kauai you can find the Waimea Canyon, the place of Captain Cook’s monument.  This monument was built as a tribute to the landing of Captain James Cook, a British Captain that landed on the island in the year 1778.

Festivals and Walking Tours

You’re going to Kauai Hawaii for that dream vacation. You can’t wait to feel the surf, sun and sand in your pale face. You’ve been dreaming of hitting the beach on sunrise, exploring the island’s nature trails and just settling your aching bones to that soft sand. That life is just perfect. What more can be better than that, you thought. Well, there is something better than that and that is visiting Kauai Hawaii for a vacation during one of their numerous fun festivals! Kauai has numerous fun festivals that they celebrate all year round. Here is a list of their festivals for your guidance.

Waimea Historic Walking Tour

A weekly festival that happens every Monday at 9:30 in the morning. This walk tour is a way of going back in time and remembering the time of Captain Cook’s first landing in Waimea.
Aloha Friday

This event is being held every Friday at the West Kauai Visitor Center. There is no admission fee but a reservation is required. This is a workshop about making of Leis, the necklace of flowers being given to one another as a symbol of greetings or Aloha.

Kauai Mokihana Festival

A week long festival that focus on the contemporary Hawaiian culture that is rich in song and dance. Highlights of the festival includes hula competitions for three nights and the Kauai Composers Contest and Concert.

Garden Isle Artisan Fair

This festival is a venue to showcase handicraft products made from Kauai and also Polynesia. More than 40 Artisan join the Festival to showcase their talents and products.

Coconut Festival

Hawaii is always associated with coconuts it being the first choice of fruit to cool when a person is under a hot sun sunbathing and lounging at the beach. The Coconut Festival is a festival that is all about coconuts. The fun days are filled with cultural displays and entertainment with contests, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, games, shopping and food booths.

Eo e Emalani i Alaka’i, “The Emalani Festival”

The day centers around Queen Emma. The festivities will begin at 10 am with live entertainment and tents filled with different exhibits and food sales. Live entertainment is also provided for the festival goers. Around noon, a horse will arrive carrying Queen Emma on its back. Once settled, there will be offering of music and hula that will last all afternoon. The festivities will officially come to a close when Queen Emma leaves again on horseback.

Matsuri Kauai

This festival has a taste of Japanese matsuri being the Japanese word for festival or holiday. This event will include displayes of quilted art or Oshie from the City of Moriyama, Kimono Kitsuke, Origami, Masubi Madness Contest, Bento Sales, Mini Bon Dance, Mochi Pounding, Tea Ceremony, Jorei, Craft Sales and Martial Arts. Songs and dances will entertain the festival goers from performers from Kauai, Japan as well as other islands.

Hawaiiana/ Malama Ola Festival

This is a succession of events that aims to not just celebrate but also to inform and teach the native Hawaiian culture through demonstrations, ceremonies, lectures and entertainment. But aside from the Hawaiian culture, the workshops also cover other cultures such as Filipino, Chinese, Japanese and Indian topics like spiritual healing, meditation, acupuncture, massage, breathing, self defense, martial arts and yoga.

A mix of culture and fun, these festivities are sure to make your stay at Kauai Hawaii more colorful and unforgettable.

[Photo - A Typical Hawaiian Luau Feast]

Satisfy your appetite at Kauai Hawaii!  Every place has something different to offer like scenic views, products, culture and most especially food!

Here in Kauai Hawaii all your senses will be delighted. From your sense of sight as it feast on the beautiful views and places the place has to offer up to your taste buds as it savor the yummy food available in the island.  Here is a list of restaurants to check out while on vacation at the Garden Isle.

The Beach House Restaurant

The Beach House Restaurant is known as the Best Restaurant in the Garden Isle.  This title has been awarded consistently to the restaurant by Honolulu Magazine.  Popular not just for its delicious food concocted for us by famous chef Todd Barret but also for its ambiance and scenic view of the ocean and sunsets, the Beach House Restaurant  also boast of staff that embodies the well known island hospitality.

Brennecke’s Beach Broiler Restaurant

Located at the Poipu Beach Park, this hang out is popular for beach front dining but on a more relaxed and casual atmosphere.  Perfect for chilling after a morning stroll on the beach or casual sunset watching over dinner.  Try their specialty like Kauai Asparagus Salad, Ahi Tester, Lemongrass and Kaffir Lime Crusted Sea Scallops, Local Boy Paella and Coconut Butter Mochi Sundae and you’ll go back for an encore!

Duke’s Kauai

Located at the Kalapaki Beach, this open-air beach restaurant is known for its barefoot bar where your sandy feet after a walk in beach is welcome.  Dedicated to Duke Kahanamoku, the surfing legend with a title of “Father of International Surfing.”  It is also known for its Hula Pie.

Gaylord’s at Kilohana

Located at the historic grounds of Kilohana Plantation, Gaylord’s  serves daily and is always a choice for the holiday season.  It is well known for its lamb, venison, seafood, desserts and pasta   Gaylord’s food is especially delicious because of the enhancement of flavors from the spices and herbs found in the Kilohana gardens.

Kalaheo Café and Coffee Company

Found in the mountains of Kalaheo where coffee plantations that stretch up to 4,000 acres, this quaint café specializes in coffee products.  Enjoy their baked goods that are baked daily and savory breakfast, lunch and dinner that are made more special and unique because of their special coffee brews and concoctions.

KCL Barbeque and Chinese Restaurant

Enjoy Chinese and Western Cuisine in the Garden Isle with KCL Barbeque and Chinese Restaurant.  Now with two great locations  at Kapaa and Lihue.  Treat yourself with barbequed treats that are reasonably priced you’ll think your eating at  a fast food joint.

Keoki’s Paradise

Aptly located in Poipu,  Keoki’s Paradise is indeed paradise looking and feeling with its great view of lush greens and cool water.  With an ambiance of casualty and relaxation with affordable prices and good food to boot,  this place requires a visit when vacationing at the beautiful island of Kauai.  Styled to look like a dockside boathouse, the place is decorated with surfboards and Hawaiian posters to enhance the relaxing and casual mood.

Lighthouse Bistro

One of the island’s popular restaurants  located at the North Shore at the center of Kilauea.  They serve Pacific Cuisine merged with European taste during lunches and dinners and has live bands and singers 4 nights every week.

So when you finally make that trip to Kauai Hawaii be sure to include these must see and must taste restaurants in your must do list.

[Photo - Kalalau Valley Overlook, Kauai, Hawaii]

The beautiful tropical island paradise of Kauai in Hawaii is located 20 minutes away from Honolulu by airplane. The majestic landscape of Kauai has been formed roughly six million years ago and is considered as the oldest of all Hawaiian Islands. So beautiful and majestic is the island that it was nicknamed the Garden Isle by its visitors. Like most islands of Hawaii, Kauai is one of the last places on Earth to be inhabited by man. Because of this, everything on the island is natural – there are no tall buildings to cover the delicious rays of the sun, no strong lights to mask the brightness of the moon and no freeways with loud fast cars to compete with the serene sound of the waves crashing gently on the shores. Everything on the island of Kauai spells relaxation.

Located at the northernmost part of the main islands of Hawaii, the island of Kauai is composed of five stunningly beautiful regions: the North Shore, the West Side, the Coconut Coast, the Lihue/Kalapaki and the South Shore. Each region is unique in its beauty and splendor that visitors will remember them for their individual experiences and feelings each region has brought them.

On the Region of North Shore, visitors will be amazed as they discover some of the best and breathtaking scenery they will ever see in this planet. The North Shore of Kauai is the home of the Na Pali Coast that up to now stays unexplored and desolate. The Na Pali Coast’s cliffs give a majestic view to its visitors as they rise 4,000 glorious feet above the waters of Hawaii. The North Shore is also the home of the Lumahai Beach and also the little town of Hanalei. The town of Hanalei is one of the first places to be settled in by people specifically the Pacific voyagers.

The Coconut Coast, on the other hand, is one of the little Regions of Kauai but full of Kauai’s rich culture it being home of many sacred sites locally called as heiaus. Mild water sports like kayaking and boating are favorite recreational activities of both visitors and locals since this is the region where the famous Wailua River is located.

At the center of the county’s action is the region of Lihue for this region is the center for business and transportation. In Lihue, visitors can tour the Kauai Museum and other exhibits of Hawaiiana. This region also hosts the spectacular Kalapaki Beach perfect for swimming and getting that perfect tan. It also has the Kauai Lagoons which have two Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf courses and a sanctuary for wildlife.

The South Shore of Kauai is a diversity. It has excellent beaches, nature and sand but at the same time holds bountiful historical sites that will delight the minds of its visitors. The National Tropical Botanical Garden can also be found in the South Shore. Another excellent place to visit in the South Shore is the Spouting Horn which spits salt water as high as 50 feet into open air. This sight is particularly pretty in the sunset where the water turns into the colors of the rainbow.

Last but not the least on Kauai’s regions is the West Side. West Kauai is the home of the remarkable Waimea Canyon where the Captain Cook Monument is found. This monument is in memorial to the landing of British Captain James Cook on the island in 1778. The West Side also houses the sacred Polihale heiau from which it was believed by many Hawaiians that the souls of their dearly departed leave the island off to the setting sun.

The island of Kauai Hawaii is rich not only in beauty and nature but also in culture and diversity. Be relaxed and rekindle that connection with family and nature in this beautiful island paradise in one of the most desired places on Earth, Hawaii.

Coming soon…

Kauai Article List (Including Photos)

Kauai Video List

[Photo - Parrot Fish found in the Maldives Islands]

The islands have an incredible number of colourful, tropical fish and when you visit you’re bound to see many of them. A few of these include Butterfly fish, Dolphins, Angelfish, Parrot fish and Flutemouth. The colors and shapes of some of these fish are as varied and intriguing as their names would suggest. Divers are sure to have an experience of a lifetime in the Maldives.

While there are a healthy variety of birds inhabiting the islands, there are fewer varieties of land based animals. Common to the islands are flying foxes, geckos and garden lizards. There are also a couple of species of snake (not dangerous).

There are over 100 species of birds so expect to see crows, parakeets, and water hens as well as koel birds. Also present are herons, seagulls and noddys.

Contrary to the first impressions of most people, the Maldives islands are not especially hospitable to plants, mainly because the soil does not have the nutrients to support a large and varied diversity of plant life. The main type of vegetation include coconut trees, vines, banyan trees as well as mangroves. Also found are Breadfruit trees and Bamboos. Flowering plants include Bougainvillaea and Frangipani.

What To Do Next:

Check availability and prices on Maldives hotels, vacation packages, and flights

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See our full list of Maldives videos, photos, and articles (coming soon)

[Photo - Atolls in the Maldives seen from a chartered sea plane]

Heavenly turquoise blue waters, lush tropical islands and Robinson Crusoe type isolation – these are just some of the images that come to mind when we think about travelling to the Maldives Islands. In this article series you’ll discover a new world altogether – a beautiful world beyond the imagination of most people. A world where you can be one of a small handful of people that have an island all to themselves.

This world is called The Maldives. And this article series will tell you everything you need to know about these tiny palm-fringed islands.

Location of the Maldives Islands

The Maldives are a group of tiny islands that are set in the Indian Ocean – the closest countries to the Maldives are India and Sri Lanka. There are approximately 1200 separate islands in the Maldives and only about one sixth of these are populated. The capital of the Maldives is Male – the most densely inhabited island. But while Male, it seems, is simply bursting from the seams, there certainly are no space problems on the other islands. Male holds about a third of the Maldivian population while the remaining are scattered around various other islands.

History of the Maldives Islands