About this hotel
General information
Dhigufaru takes its name from the Dhivehi for “a long reef”: a slender island in Baa Atoll ringed by a wide turquoise lagoon and a reef that runs far beyond the shore. Each side of the island has its own mood. To the east lies Boaku, a sheltered cove where the water settles into a natural pool and the sun rises; to the west is Veli, a broad, gently shelving beach of white sand made for sunsets; along the northern edge runs Aanu, a band of beach rock that shapes the island and shields it from the swell.
The resort’s 83 villas are set around the island’s rim and out over the lagoon, so every one of them opens to the water. Dhigufaru balances lazy beach days with an active streak: its own dive centre, water sports, fishing and boat trips across a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Stays are offered room only, with breakfast, half board or full board. Weddings and proposals are arranged on the island, with planners, photography and video.
Location
The resort occupies Dhigufaru island in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. By day, a seaplane flies in from Velana International Airport in Malé in about 40 minutes; alternatively, an evening domestic flight reaches Dharavandhoo airport in around 20 minutes, and the resort’s speedboat covers the last stretch in 30 minutes.
Spa
Funa Spa covers 241 m² of the island. Its treatment rooms are private cabanas in a secluded garden behind the main spa building, and every treatment can also be brought to the villa. There is a reflexology room that also offers manicures and pedicures, a spacious sauna and steam room (book a private session or simply drop in) and a salon for hair styling and facials for women and men.
Sports & leisure
Ocean Dimensions, the in-house PADI dive centre, runs certification courses and recreational dives for beginners and experienced divers across the reserve’s dive sites. A broad reef keeps currents out of the lagoon, and its shallow water and light winds suit water sports, from water skiing, windsurfing and tube rides to canoeing and snorkelling. Snorkelling trips also head to Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays and whale sharks gather to feed on plankton.
- three styles of fishing: a relaxed sunset trip, game fishing in open water on a purpose-built boat, and traditional Maldivian fishing with live bait
- speedboat outings: dolphin watching, sunset cruises and stargazing cruises
- visits to a small inhabited island, and picnic dinners on a deserted sandbank
- Thundi Recreation Center by the pool: gym, billiards, table football, table tennis, chess and board games
- a multi-purpose court for tennis and futsal by day or evening, plus beach volleyball
For children
Baraveli Kids Club goes beyond a crèche: children explore the island and learn about the plants and wildlife of the Baa Atoll reserve. Childcare staff run programmes for different age groups, and the club has a library of books and toys, a safe indoor play area and its own children’s pool.
Restaurants & bars
The island has three restaurants, two bars and round-the-clock in-villa dining.
- Dhandifulhu Restaurant — the main restaurant with panoramic ocean views: all-day buffets with dishes from around the world, a Maldivian night of local food and traditional entertainment, and its own bar
- Athiri Grill — a relaxed grill on the beach: seafood and meats from the grill, salads and sides
- Muraka Fine Dining Restaurant — an intimate over-water restaurant with Maldivian and international cooking, also used for private celebrations
- Thundi Pool Bar — beside the Bageecha pool, with three separate lounging huts, its own kitchen for bistro plates, finger food, afternoon tea and cocktails
- Raagudi Bar — a cocktail bar with a large collection of whiskies and champagnes
- In-Villa Dining — a 24-hour menu served in the villa, on the over-water deck or on the beach
Swimming
Sandy beaches wrap around the island: the calm cove of Boaku on the east side, where the water lies still as a natural pool and children can play safely, and the wide, shallow beach of Veli to the west. The Bageecha pool sits by Thundi Pool Bar, several villa types have private pools, and the over-water villas have steps straight down into the lagoon.
Rooms
83 villas on the beach, at the meeting point of beach and lagoon, and over the water — from sunrise- and sunset-facing villas to a two-bedroom family villa and the Sangu Suite with its own pool.
Villas have a king-size bed, dressing table and writing desk, wardrobe, air conditioning, safe, minibar, telephone, Wi-Fi, TV, tea and coffee, a veranda with love seat and coffee table, sun loungers, and a bathroom with twin basins, bathtub, indoor and outdoor showers, hairdryer and bathrobes.
Sunrise Beach Villa
On the east shore by Boaku cove, with direct beach access and a garden-enclosed veranda overlooking the beach and lagoon. King-size bed; bathroom with bathtub and semi-outdoor shower.
Sunset Beach Villa
On Veli beach on the west side, with steps onto the sand and a garden-enclosed veranda facing the sunset over the lagoon. King-size bed; bathroom with bathtub and semi-outdoor shower.
Semi Water Villa
East-facing villa by the Aanu beach rock, with a generous private sun deck and direct access to the lagoon. King-size bed; bathroom with bathtub and outdoor shower.
Pool Beach Villa
Set right at the lagoon’s edge, with a private plunge pool and a sun deck a few steps from the water. King-size bed and a veranda looking out over the lagoon and ocean.
Sunrise Water Villa
A bright over-water villa on the sunrise side, with a private deck, sun loungers and its own steps into the lagoon for swimming and snorkelling. King-size bed; bathtub and outdoor shower.
Sunset Water Villa
Over-water villa facing the sunset, with a private deck, sun loungers and its own steps into the lagoon. King-size bed; bathtub and outdoor shower.
Sunrise Pool Water Villa
Over-water villa above the clear, shallow lagoon on the sunrise side, with a private plunge pool, deck and steps into the water. King-size bed and an ocean-view veranda.
Sunset Pool Water Villa
Sunset-facing over-water villa with a private plunge pool, sun deck and steps into the lagoon. King-size bed and an ocean-view veranda.
Two Bedroom Family Beach Villa
A family villa on the beach facing the lagoon, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a wide veranda laid out like a private home.
Sangu Suite
The resort’s single suite, where beach meets lagoon: a private pool, a deck with steps into the water and a veranda overlooking the lagoon and ocean.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.