About this hotel
General information
Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa has the private seven-hectare island of Faarufushi to itself in Raa Atoll, in the northern Maldives. A 1.2 km ribbon of white sand runs around the island, and the surrounding lagoon of some 100 hectares holds one of the finest coral reefs in these waters. The resort belongs to the Italian group The Emerald Collection and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
The architecture is quiet and contemporary — stone, wood, clean lines and muted natural tones that let the setting lead. There are 80 villas, 38 on the beach and 42 over the water, and seventy of them have a private pool. Every stay runs on the resort's Deluxe All-Inclusive formula: breakfast, lunch and dinner in all restaurants, à la carte venues included, plus drinks, the minibar, Wi-Fi, non-motorised water sports and the kids' club; in-villa dining is charged separately.
Location
Faarufushi lies in Raa Atoll, in the northern part of the Maldives. From Velana International Airport in Malé it is about 45 minutes by seaplane, or a 40-minute domestic flight to Ifuru followed by a 5-minute speedboat ride — the handier option for evening international departures. Same-day seaplane transfers work for international flights landing by 3.30 pm Malé time and for departures from 9 am onwards.
Spa
The Emerald Spa sits in the green heart of the island, its eight air-conditioned treatment pavilions raised off the ground like tree houses. Alongside them are couples' rooms, dedicated Thai and Ayurvedic massage rooms, a beauty room, a steam room with outdoor plunge pools, a relaxation area, a yoga pavilion, manicure and pedicure stations and a shop. Treatments draw on Thai and Balinese traditions and use Elemis products; the signature massage pairs Balinese Taksu technique with chakra balancing. The spa is open daily from 9 am to 8 pm.
Sports & leisure
The PADI 5 Star dive centre stands by the arrival jetty, a few steps from the water, running dives and PADI courses; turtles, spotted eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, sharks and shoals of tropical fish are regular sightings.
- a beach water sports centre: Hobie Cat, kayaks and windsurfing at no charge under the team's supervision; jet skis and other motorised sports at extra cost
- complimentary snorkelling gear and a guided group snorkel twice a week
- an air-conditioned gym with Technogym equipment and personal training
- a tennis court and a padel court on the marina jetty, free during the day
- a yoga pavilion, and excursions, some of which are included on longer stays
For children
Dolphin Kids Club takes children aged 3 to 12, with a multilingual team running creative, educational and active games indoors and out. The club is part of the Deluxe All-Inclusive plan.
Restaurants & bars
The island has five restaurants and two bars; the à la carte venues are open to guests in every villa category on reservation.
- Aqua Restaurant — the main restaurant, on the beach facing the lagoon: buffets at breakfast, lunch and dinner with Mediterranean, Japanese, Italian, Chinese and vegetarian stations
- Beach Club Grill Restaurant — lunch right on the sand: pizza and pasta, fresh fish, seafood, meat and vegetables from a stone grill
- Carnivorous Restaurant — beachfront dinners in the manner of a Brazilian churrascaria, with Peruvian dishes on the menu
- Le Asiatique and Teppanyaki Grill — dinner upstairs above the Beach Club Grill in an air-conditioned room: Japanese, Chinese and Thai cooking, plus a teppanyaki grill where chefs cook on the hotplate in front of guests
- Mediterraneo Restaurant — an overwater restaurant serving à la carte Mediterranean dinners
- Eclipse Bar — an overwater bar at the tip of the jetty beyond Mediterraneo, for cocktails, wine and snacks at sunset
- Sunset Pool & Bar — the poolside bar on the main beach, with cocktails, daytime snacks and easy music
Swimming
A 1.2 km white-sand beach encircles the island, with loungers, umbrellas and beach towels for guests. The main pool lies by Sunset Pool & Bar on the beach, seventy villas have their own infinity pools, and the water villas step straight down into the lagoon and out towards the house reef.
Rooms
The island has 80 villas of seven types — 38 on the beach and 42 over the water along the jetty — all looking out over the Indian Ocean. Interiors are minimal: stone, warm wood, glass and soft pastel accents.
Each villa has a king-size bed, satellite flat-screen TV, telephone, an air-conditioned bathroom with walk-in shower and a bathtub for two, an outdoor shower, separate WC and bidet, a dressing room, hairdryer, bathrobes, safe, tea and coffee facilities, a minibar restocked daily, air conditioning, ceiling fans, a desk, Wi-Fi and twice-daily housekeeping.
Beach Villa
A beach villa with an open-air bathroom, a furnished patio and a shaded timber deck framed by greenery and facing the sea. One king-size bed; sleeps up to four.
Beach Villa with Pool
A front-row beach villa with vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a 4 × 6 m private infinity pool between the door and the sea, plus a covered patio with lounge furniture. One king-size bed; sleeps up to four.
Two Bedroom Family Beach Villa with Pool
A family beach villa with a master bedroom, a children's bedroom and two bathrooms, covered and open patios, a garden and a 4 × 6 m infinity pool opening onto the beach.
Water Villa with Pool
An overwater villa along the jetty on the sunrise side, all warm wood and glass, with a bathtub, a furnished deck and an 8 × 3 m infinity pool, and steps down into the lagoon. One king-size bed.
Sunset Water Villa with Pool
The same overwater villa on the sunset side of the jetty, with a furnished deck, an 8 × 3 m infinity pool and steps into the lagoon. One king-size bed.
Superior Water Villa with Pool
One of only three villas at the far tip of the jetty, with direct lagoon access, broad timber decking and a 4 × 10 m infinity pool; inside are a dining area, a walk-in wardrobe and snorkelling gear.
Two Bedroom Presidential Beach Villa with Pool
The only villa of its kind, on the island's north-west shore where the greenery meets the sand: two bedrooms, living and dining areas, vaulted timber ceilings, a 12 × 5 m infinity pool, a Jacuzzi, indoor and outdoor dining spaces and an outdoor shower.
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.