About this hotel
General information
Thudufushi is a small island in South Ari Atoll ringed by white coral sand and a shallow turquoise lagoon, with a reef close enough to the shore that most guests come for what lies beneath the surface. Its 69 villas and suites are spread between the beach, a sandbank and a wooden walkway running out over the lagoon. Interiors take an Italian line: made-to-measure rattan furniture, contemporary Italian lighting and handcrafted parquet floors.
Part of the Diamonds Resorts collection, the island is known for its marine laboratory, run with the University of Milano-Bicocca, where resident marine biologists lead snorkelling trips and evening talks and involve guests in coral restoration. Stays are offered with breakfast or on an all-inclusive basis; there is a resident doctor on call around the clock, a Spherique boutique, a tailoring service and live music in the evenings.
Location
The resort occupies Thudufushi island on the outer edge of South Ari Atoll. A seaplane flies here from Velana International Airport in Malé in 25–30 minutes; seaplanes operate in daylight only, roughly from 07:00 to 16:00.
Spa
Serena Spa draws on Ayurveda, European aromatherapy and Southeast Asian traditions, using herbs, oils, spices and flowers in its massages and treatments. Treatments from the menu can be booked in advance online.
Sports & leisure
Sheltered by the outer rim of the atoll, the island is surrounded by a colourful coral reef that is easy to reach from the shore. The IDive centre is a PADI Gold Palm resort running courses for beginners and experienced divers, with Scubapro equipment and nitrox free of charge. The resort’s marine biologists take guests snorkelling with whale sharks, manta rays and turtles, host marine-biology evenings and run hands-on coral restoration sessions.
- water sports: windsurfing, canoes, kayaks, waterskiing and Laser sailing
- guided reef snorkelling, snorkelling boat trips, boat hire and deep-sea fishing
- gym, yoga, Pilates and aqua gym
- beach volleyball, table tennis, darts, table football, billiards, board games and Nintendo Wii
- island hopping and private excursions, evening entertainment and live music
Restaurants & bars
Four restaurants and two bars; the over-water restaurant is part of the all-inclusive package for water-villa guests.
- Maakana — the main restaurant by the beach on the south side, facing the ocean: buffets at breakfast, lunch and dinner, a grill with the day’s catch, pizza and pasta, local dishes daily and homemade gelato; a Maldivian dinner under the stars on Fridays
- Aqua Over Water Restaurant — à la carte over the lagoon on the west side, pairing modern European and Asian cooking
- Kakuni — seafood and lobster dinners on the beach by moonlight, by reservation
- Farivalhu — dinner for two in a traditional palm-thatched Maldivian hut in the tropical garden, where guests cook local dishes alongside the chefs
- Veli Beach Bar — tropical-fruit cocktails, light meals and snacks through the day
- Aqua Over Water Bar — an open-air bar above the water for cocktails, wine, beer and champagne
Swimming
The island is fringed by white coral-sand beaches and a shallow lagoon, and the house reef lies close to the shore, so snorkelling starts straight from the beach. Beach villas open directly onto the sand, the sandbank suites have their own stretch of beach, and steps lead from the water-villa terraces into the lagoon. Only the two two-bedroom villas at the end of the walkway have a pool of their own.
Rooms
69 villas and suites on the beach, on a sandbank and over the lagoon — from beach villas with open-air showers to water villas with a jacuzzi and two two-bedroom villas with a pool at the end of the walkway.
Every villa has individual air conditioning, a ceiling fan, a direct-dial telephone, Wi-Fi, tea and coffee, a minibar replenished daily, a safe, a hairdryer and a bidet, with fresh beach towels daily and twice-daily housekeeping; water villas add an Apple iMac with music and films, a walk-in wardrobe, bathrobes and toiletries.
Beach Front Villa
A villa on the front row of the beach with direct access to the sand, a double bed and a veranda with a terrace, armchairs, a coffee table and sun loungers; the open-air shower is steps from the sea.
Sandbank Junior Suite
A suite on a secluded sandbank with its own stretch of beach, a separate living room with a sofa bed and a large sunset-facing veranda; open-air shower, for up to four guests.
Beach Front Junior Suite
A suite facing the shallow lagoon with a wooden deck veranda opening onto the beach, a double bed and a sofa bed; a large bathroom with twin basins and an open-air shower, for up to four guests.
Beach Suite
A shoreline suite with its own beach area, a spacious living room with a sofa bed and a large ocean-view veranda; open-air shower, for up to four guests.
One Bedroom Water Villa
A villa over the lagoon with a four-poster king-size bed, a living area with a sofa bed and a generous terrace with steps down into the water; the shower opens onto the terrace, for up to four guests.
Jacuzzi Water Villa
One of seven over-water villas with a large terrace, a private jacuzzi and direct access to the sea; a living room with a sofa bed and a small corner bar, for up to four guests.
Two Bedroom Pool Water Villa
One of two villas at the very end of the walkway: two double bedrooms, a living room with a sofa bed and a corner bar, and a large shared terrace with a pool; for up to six guests.
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.