KIHAA Maldives Island Resort & Spa

A visit to Kihaad begins with a domestic air transfer to Dharavandhoo Island. The wait is sometimes lengthy, but guests are given access to an exclusive lounge with free snacks, Wi-Fi, and a shower. The scenic, 30-minute flight is followed by a quick boat trip to the resort’s private island, known locally as Kihaadhuffaru. A more direct (and expensive) 35-minute seaplane transfer is also available.

The 600-meter-long island has 118 rooms and is surrounded by a waist-deep lagoon and gorgeous, white-sand beaches. Guests can walk between the three restaurants, an outdoor pool, and sports facilities using shady pathways that wind through a lush jungle interior. A dozen water bungalows and a spa are built over the lagoon on stilts.

Decor-wise, the resort has a rustic island style with an occasional smattering of contemporary furniture. The restaurants, lobby, spa, and main bar feature traditional palm thatched roofs and tall, beamed ceilings. Guests can dine outside under bright orange umbrellas at the main restaurant, which played instrumental tracks to classic pop songs during our lunchtime visit. The lobby has billowy white curtains, tribal-inspired furniture, and a sandy floor (most guests prefer to go without shoes).

Families are welcome here, but the bulk of guests are couples from China and Europe.

Located 120 kilometers northwest of Male in Baa Atoll, Kihaad is one of the more inaccessible resorts in the Maldives. Most travelers catch a 30-minute domestic flight to the local island of Dharavandhoo, followed by a two-minute golf cart ride to a marina and a 10-minute speedboat ride to resort’s private island, Kihaadhuffaru. Recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Baa Atoll has some of the richest marine life in the Maldives. Hanifaru Bay, one of the world’s best places to swim with whale sharks and giant manta rays, is 10 minutes away by speedboat.

Kihaad has 10 room categories in a variety of shapes and styles. Guests can choose from beachfront rooms, two-bedroom family suites, units with personal plunge pools, spacious overwater bungalows, and more. Most rooms start at 828 square feet and include soaking tubs, minibars, tea and electric teakettles, robes, free bottled water, and Wi-Fi. The most common rooms are Reserve and Lagoon Prestige Beach Villas, which have four-poster beds, high-beamed ceilings, chunky, rustic wooden furniture, and water views. Lagoon Prestige Beach Villas have a better location right beside the beach. Some outdoor bathrooms are looking a bit rough, with green shower stains and discolored tubs.  Note that the Garden Villas with Pools and the Family Junior Suites do not have water views. 

Kihaad has a solid range of amenities. An attractive beachfront pool features a shallow kids’ section, daybeds, and bar service. A kids' club with a playground is available for children up to 12, and a game room has darts, foosball, billiards, and mahjong (a Chinese domino game). A nice overwater spa includes a sauna, steam room, and whirlpool; couples massages are available, and guests can hear the waves below during their treatments. The resort has a modern and spacious fitness center (although it’s lacking in views and ambience). A gift shop, jewelry store, tiny multilingual library, and medical clinic are also available.

Soft white sand, a shallow lagoon, and clear turquoise water make Kihaad’s beaches especially beautiful -- even for the Maldives. Guests can take their pick from a number of cushioned lounge chairs and palapa umbrellas. An on-site reef is a quick swim from the beach, and during our visit we spotted two dolphins a few yards off shore. The water temperature is perfect -- cool enough to feel refreshing, yet warm enough to slip into without a chill. We couldn’t find a speck of trash anywhere.

The resort’s main restaurant, Hanifaru Bay, serves international buffet cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is impressive overall, with live cooking stations serving pastas, meat, and grilled fish. We were personally fans of the homemade coffee and mango ice cream. Breakfast is free at Hanifaru (though the selection is somewhat limited), and guests can upgrade to an all-inclusive food and drink package. Meals are available at an additional cost from two a la carte restaurants: Spices (South Asian cuisine) and Sarong (Pan-Asian). Food and drink expenses add up fast for non-all-inclusive guests.

For those who like to drink, it’s definitely worth upgrading to the all-inclusive package. Unlike many competing resorts, Kihaad offers a good selection of all-inclusive cocktails that are available at every restaurant and bar on the island (premium drinks cost extra). Free beer, soft drinks, and mineral water are also provided daily in minibars. The resort’s two bars, Toddy and Chiringuito, are situated next to the pool and on the beach. A Wine Lounge is available for private parties and wine tastings.

Plenty of perks are available for those willing to pay extra. Guests can arrange romantic meals on the beach, a deserted sandbank, or in their guestrooms. A number of excursions are available, such as local island tours, dolphin-watching cruises, and fishing trips. One of the top excursions is a snorkeling trip to Hanifaru Bay, a protected area famous for its whale sharks and manta rays (only available in season). For those who prefer not to get wet, daily fish and sting ray feedings provide ample opportunity to see marine life up close. Free Wi-Fi is available in rooms, the lobby, restaurant, and by the pool.

There are plenty of great water activities at (and around) Kihaad. A dive center offers lessons and organizes excursions to nearby dive sites, and a water sports center rents snorkeling equipment, windsurfing gear, kayaks, floats, Jet Skis, and catamarans (lessons are available for an additional fee). An on-site reef with a steep drop is a great place for snorkeling and diving just off the beach. On dry land guests have access to tennis, squash, and volleyball courts, table tennis, and bocce ball. A large and modern fitness center is also available.

Besides eating, there’s not much to do at Kihaad after dark. Once per week the resort hosts a White Shisha night with lounge music on the beach. On select evenings there’s also a Bodu Beru Maldivian event and a Sunset Manager Cocktail Reception with free drinks.