About this hotel
General information
Niva Kurumba Maldives occupies a green island of some 48 acres in North Malé Atoll, so close to the capital that Malé sits on the horizon. It was the first private resort in the Maldives, and it still feels more like a lively island community than a secluded hideaway: tended gardens and an orchid nursery, palm-shaded paths, a white-sand beach and a house reef a few steps from the shore. The resort is part of NIVA Hotels & Resorts.
The island holds 187 rooms, bungalows and villas, seven restaurants, three bars and a shisha lounge, two swimming pools and a seven-day activity programme with a number of complimentary events. Evenings bring live bands and DJs, and Maldivian musicians perform bodu beru, the islands’ traditional big-drum rhythms. Families are well looked after, with a kids’ club and its own programme, and a doctor and nurse are on site. Meal plans run from bed and breakfast, half board and full board to all-inclusive and a Dine Around plan that opens every restaurant and bar.
Location
The island lies in North Malé Atoll, just a 10-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport in Malé; transfers run around the clock, and the resort asks for flight details 72 hours before arrival. That proximity makes the capital an easy half-day outing: a three-hour guided tour of Malé takes in the National Museum, the Islamic Centre, the Friday Mosque built of coral stone and the fish and fruit markets.
Spa
LIME Wellbeing is tucked into the island’s gardens, with eight treatment rooms for one or two guests, a manicure and pedicure room, a relaxation lounge, separate men’s and women’s locker rooms and a yoga pavilion. Massages are given indoors or in the open air, and the menu blends traditional practices with modern techniques: signature rituals draw on locally grown herbs, warm sand poultices and island-made coconut oil, while the Under the Stars ritual for couples is a beachside massage with warm coconut oil worked in with cowrie shells. Products come from Aromatherapy Associates, Obsidian for men and Margaret Dabbs London for hands and feet; there is also a junior spa menu, a mum-to-be massage and private yoga and meditation classes.
Sports & leisure
Active days revolve around the Recreation Centre: a pool for laps, a 24-hour gym with cardio machines, plate-loaded equipment and punching bags, an all-weather tennis court with coaches for private and group lessons, a multipurpose court for basketball, badminton and archery (adults only), and a games room with darts, billiards and table tennis. A weekly timetable of group classes covers mobility, HIIT, step and core sessions on the deck at Thila, aqua aerobics, pool volleyball and water rugby, beach Zumba at dusk and complimentary sunrise Hatha and Vinyasa yoga.
- diving: the Euro-Divers PADI five-star dive centre runs two-tank morning dives, single afternoon dives, night dives and full-day trips to more than 30 sites in North Malé Atoll, among them Banana Reef, Okobe Thila, HP Reef and Nassimo Thila; manta rays can be seen year-round (at Bodu Hithi Thila from January to April, at Lankan Manta Point from June to November), and the 83-metre cargo wreck Maldives Victory rests at 15–35 metres just 10 minutes away; PADI courses for every level, Bubblemaker from 8, Discover Scuba Diving from 10, and free nitrox for certified divers
- snorkelling: the resident marine biologist guides guests over the house reef, home to blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, hawksbill turtles, eagle rays and moray eels; seven resident turtles are recognised individually by the scale patterns on their faces; further afield there are nurse sharks at Shark Point, speedboat trips to coral gardens, eco snorkelling and night snorkelling
- water sports: windsurfing, with lessons for beginners in the waist-deep lagoon, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, water-skiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, tube rides, jet-ski safaris and underwater scooters
- excursions: a sunset dolphin cruise four times a week, sunset fishing for grouper, snapper and jacks (the catch is cooked for the next day’s lunch), big-game fishing, a local island visit, a glass-bottom boat, a private sandbank with a picnic, private boat hire and seasonal surf trips
- marine centre: coral restoration, in which guests attach their own fragment to the house reef and receive photo updates every six months, plus marine talks
- evenings: live bands and DJs at Kandu every night, bodu beru drumming, a Thursday beach party with a DJ and games at Athiri, full-moon barbecues and sunset volleyball
For children
The Kids Club opens daily from 9:00 to 18:00 and runs separate programmes for ages 4–6 and 7–12: hermit-crab races, treasure hunts, sandcastles and a splash pad outdoors; an indoor playground, painting, face painting and towel origami inside; snorkelling lessons, junior kayaking and paddleboarding, Maldivian dance and first words of Dhivehi; and cooking sessions from sushi and pizza to mas huni, the Maldivian salad of tuna and grated coconut. Evenings bring mini discos, karaoke and film nights. Junior Marine Biologist offers four ocean programmes lasting from an hour to a full day, and there are kids’ tennis clinics, a junior spa menu, two children’s pools and babysitting.
Restaurants & bars
Seven restaurants and three bars are spread across the island, over the water, on the beach and among the gardens; tables at the à la carte restaurants are reserved in advance.
- Vihamanaa — the main buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner: live cooking stations, themed nights, Maldivian curries, mas huni (tuna with grated coconut, onion and chilli) and roshi flatbread
- Thila — contemporary cooking on a deck over the water, for breakfast and dinner: lobster from its own aquarium, a raw bar, meat and vegetarian dishes
- Hamakaze — a Japanese restaurant under a thatched roof on the pier: sushi, sashimi and seafood from the teppanyaki grill, cooked in front of guests; two seatings a night
- Khing Thai — Thai cooking amid dark teak and silk: curries, wok dishes, whole steamed fish and mango sticky rice
- Mahal — Indian dishes: tandoori prawns, thali platters of small dishes, biryani, southern curries and lassi, the yoghurt drink
- Al Qasr — the cooking of the Maghreb and the Levant in a curtained marble hall: mezze for two, seafood and lamb grills, tagines, falafel and hummus
- Café — a relaxed menu by the pool from lunch into the late evening: coconut shrimp, poke bowls, curries and wood-fired pizza
- Kandu — an overwater bar with a sun deck and a shaded pavilion: fresh juices, coffee and sandwiches by day, cocktails, craft beer and live music until midnight
- Athiri — a beach bar on the island’s western, sunset side: cocktails, wine and light bites brought to guests’ bean bags
- Fez — an Arabic shisha lounge with plush sofas, cocktails and live sport on screen
In-villa dining runs around the clock, and Sounds of the Sea is a dinner for two at a single table on the beach, with a butler and a wine for every course; picnics can also be set up on a sandbank. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and Jain diets are catered for with 48 hours’ notice.
Swimming
A white-sand beach circles the island, with a shallow turquoise lagoon and the house reef starting a few steps from the shore. Athiri beach bar sits on the western side, facing the sunset. There are two swimming pools, one suited to laps, and two children’s pools; many of the villas have a pool of their own.
Rooms
The 187 rooms, bungalows and villas come in nine types, set in the gardens and coconut groves or right on the beach, from balconied Superior Rooms to a single 768 m² residence. Interiors are light and contemporary, with natural textures, and every category has an outdoor rain shower.
Each has air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a minibar, a safe, tea, coffee and hot chocolate, an iron and ironing board, L’Occitane bath products, a hairdryer, bathrobes, beach towels and an outdoor rain shower; the villas and beachfront bungalows add a Nespresso machine.
Superior Room
A room set in greenery, with a balcony, large windows and a part open-air bathroom with a bathtub inside and a rain shower outdoors. One queen bed and a daybed; sleeps three adults, or two adults and a child under 12.
Deluxe Bungalow
A freestanding bungalow in a horseshoe-shaped coconut grove a few steps from the beach, with an open-air terrace and an open-air bathroom with a deep tub and rain shower. One king bed and a daybed; sleeps three adults, or two adults and two children.
Beachfront Deluxe Bungalow
A bungalow on the beach itself, a few steps from the sea, with a terrace furnished with a daybed and loungers. A large bathroom with double vanity, tub and shower plus an outdoor rain shower; one king bed and a daybed, sleeping three adults or two adults and two children.
Garden Pool Villa
A villa in a tropical garden with two secluded decks, an open-plan courtyard with a sitting area and a plunge pool. One king bed and two daybeds that work as singles; sleeps three adults, or two adults and two children under 12.
Beach Villa
One of six villas right on the sand: a terrace with an outdoor shower steps from the sea, a living room with a large U-shaped sofa and a private garden with a Jacuzzi. One king bed; sleeps three adults, or two adults and two children.
Two Bedroom Superior Room
Two separate bedrooms joined by an interconnecting door and a balcony with a daybed and seating; the bathroom has a deep tub and an outdoor shower. Two queen beds and a daybed; sleeps six adults, or four adults and two children.
Deluxe Pool Villa
A spacious villa with direct beach access, ocean views to the east and lagoon views to the west, and a private pool in a secluded garden with a daybed and loungers. One king bed, a deep tub and an outdoor rain shower; sleeps three adults, or two adults and two children.
Family Villa
A two-level villa by the beach: downstairs an open-plan living area and covered terrace with a daybed and a pool beneath a thatched veranda, upstairs a bedroom with lagoon views and a bathroom with a deep tub and outdoor shower. Sleeps five adults, or four adults and two children.
Two Bedroom Kurumba Residence
The resort’s single beachfront residence: two bedrooms with their own bathrooms, a living room, dining area, kitchenette and wine cellar, and a wrap-around deck opening onto a private stretch of beach. The rear garden holds two gazebos and two plunge pools; a king bed in each bedroom, sleeping six adults or four adults and two children.
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.