Heavenly Hurawalhi Resort, Maldives

by Jennifer Doncsecz

Located about 1000 miles south of India and Sri Lanka and in the middle of the Indian Ocean are the hundreds of atolls that make up the country of the Maldives.   These tiny islands are almost invisible to astronauts orbiting the Earth and are usually not even listed on most globes.  For this destination, tourism is its number one GDP.  The Maldives Islands all feature powder white sand beaches and crystal-clear blue waters that rank among the most beautiful in the world.

Travelers often vacation here because of the many resorts which offer over-the-water bungalow accommodations. The Maldives reopened their borders in July 2020 and have seen a growing trend for Americans to travel there.

One of the most sought-after resorts is the luxurious, adults only Hurawalhi Resort, located on the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll, north of Male’s capital island.  The 90-villa island resort is accessible via a 40-minute seaplane from Male.  What sets this resort apart from the hundreds of others in the Maldives is its 5.8 Undersea Restaurant.  The unique dining experience is 5.8 meters under the ocean and is also the largest undersea restaurant in the world.  This resort also features five other incredible restaurants and a champagne sunset bar at the very end of their over-the-water lagoon villa pier. Because the entire island is the resort, the Hurawalhi offers many activities for those who want to do more than lounge on a beach.  The Hurawalhi offers waterspouts such as PADI scuba, wave runners, a sunset dolphin cruise, paddleboards, and Hobie catamarans.  The fitness area includes a gym, daily fitness classes, and sunset yoga!

The Hurawalhi also has a full-service spa, beauty salon, gift shop, tennis courts, and evening entertainment.

Guests staying at the Hurawalhi can opt for either a stunning over the water lagoon villa, an over the water lagoon villa with a pool, or a beach villa with a private pool.  Each villa features free wifi, snorkel equipment, a restocked minibar, and access to an island host who can set up excursions, spa services, and room service.  The staff at the Hurawalhi live on the small island and pride themselves on getting to know each of their guests.  Their food and beverage plans are customizable. Visitors can opt for a breakfast-only plan, a breakfast and dinner plan, or a full all-inclusive dining plan.  One of the highlights of staying at the Hurawalhi is that it sits perfectly positioned to watch the most incredible sunsets, and so they incorporate many of their actives to revolve around watching the bursting colors in the sky every evening. 

If staying in an over-the-water bungalow has been on your bucket list, the Maldives is a destination that is well worth the long flights. Unlike the islands of the South Pacific, the Maldives offers more affordable all-inclusive resort options as well. 

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