Thulhagiri Island Resort and Spa

From first stepping foot on this beautiful island we knew we were going to experience something special. The accommodation was large clean and comfortable we stayed in one of the beach bungalows. Fantastic views we had a lovely Guy Ahmed who cleaned our room daily and every evening he would make the bed sheet in to a heart shape which was such a lovely touch. Such a happy friendly man and he was very special to us. The restaurant was laid out beautifully and the food was gorgeous we were fully inclusive and we enjoyed everything we had here. They all work so incredibly hard and have smiles on their faces. Our fabulous waiter was Nizram and he was so attentive, helpful and friendly. He wouldn’t even let me carry my own glass gleam the nearby bar. Thank you for being so kind to us. The bar was a lovely place to be where again we were looked after so well by the lovely girls there and barmen. The bbq evening was a beautiful experience and again everyone was very attentive. We had a fantastic time on this beautiful island and it was the most relaxing holiday we’ve ever had. We will be back in a couple of years thank you to all of you on this beautiful stunning island.

We stayed at this island resort during the first week of December and overall our experience was fantastic — the staff, the food, the views, and the snorkeling were all amazing. However, during our late-afternoon walks we noticed a strong smell of burning plastic. At first we thought it might have been an accident, but we continued to smell it on the following days, and eventually we even saw clouds of black smoke rising from the center of the island. If this is the waste-disposal procedure being used, someone needs to intervene immediately. This is unacceptable — especially considering that your motto is “Paradise lovers.”

Just got back, great place to visit, staff were excellent, our waiter Muffeed was so good. Food excellent,Island clean all workers very hard working. The TV in our room broke within an hour a new one had been fitted. Don't expect perfect decor, we stayed in a water bungalow, but I think an odd dink or chipped skirting board adds to a real Maldivian look, I'm not one for surgically sterile resorts. The ocean was crystal clear, snorkeling is a must, we saw Tuna,turtles, reef sharks(black tips) and best of all for me 6 rays in a group on our last day. Entertainment is limited, but don't miss the crab race such a good laugh, my crab winning two races. All in all I would recommend this resort to anyone.

It is rare that I give a 5 star review across the board to any resort or venue. Thulhagiri exceeded all expectations in every category and, for me, it truly was a paradise island. I was very much looking for a restful, warm and peaceful environment, and whilst I found all of that, I also found much more. This is a tiny island, with white powder sand and crystal blue waters; a 'barefoot' island, where you can literally walk everywhere without shoes, flip-flops et cetera. About 160 guests and it takes around 15 minutes to walk around the island, but it never feels busy, noisy and you are not bothered by an animation team, hawkers. There are plenty of loungers, though there are no cushioning mattresses on the beach ones. The island is designed very sympathetically to its location, with vegetation hiding most of the services and retaining privacy for both guests and the staff. Staff are attentive, polite, helpful and any matter is attended to promptly. If you are AI there are additional benefits such as free hire of snorkels, flippers and masks during your holiday. The journey begins from the airport at Male where you are transferred to a speedboat for a 15 minute journey to Thulhagiri. I was impressed with the safety procedures undertaken by the staff during the boat, assisting passengers and lifting the luggage into and out of the boat. Each beachside villa looks out to sea, and there are sandy paths to the rear of the villas, cutting across the island. This way you never see or hear the many services from your beachside resting point. There is a large swimming pool with further loungers around it, but most people sought it for shade, rather than swimming, as the beach predominantly is shallow particularly low tide for around 20 m. In your accommodation aside from the usual, you will find 2 lifejackets. We found these very useful when snorkelling at deeper depths, or beyond the reef. Although I have read reports that there were not many fish, I did not find this to be the case-see pictures below. The baby sharks were a regular feature, easily watched from the swimming pool or pier areas. They are not a problem. We were exceptionally fortunate to be upgraded to a superior water villa for part of our holiday. Tipping is not expected, but much appreciated and many of the staff send money home to families. Turning to the food, it was plentiful and varied at all meals. There were plenty of choices for drinks, served at your table and, although the meals are buffet style, careful attention is paid to the heat of the food, allergies and any special needs. There is a dive centre on the island and they can arrange a variety of trips; snorkelling, diving and windsurfing. The bar on the west side of the island gets a bit busier on the beach near sunset and it is a pleasure to sit and watch the sun go down with 1 of the many cocktails, although you might have to wait a few minutes at this busy time. As there are relatively few guests, it almost becomes a large extended family for the sunset drinks before everyone plods off to get ready for dinner at 7:30 PM. the bar at the lounge as well staffed and my only slight negative is that it is hard to get away from the smokers; no smoking is allowed in the restaurant. I really could spend a lot of time telling you how wonderful this resort is and whilst I did not try the spa, apparently that is wonderful to given other guests' reports. At this point I would like to thank several members of staff we made our stay exceptional; at the bar lounge Susma and Ajuri at the restaurant Na-eem (fruit and dessert) and Hussain ("Chef Big Hat") at reception Thoja and all his team. This is not the place for anyone seeking nightlife, parties, pounding music everywhere, animation teams, gym classes et cetera. In short, I would not recommend this for young children and teenagers. To me that is bliss. I have included lots of pictures including that of the superior water villa, sunsets, wildlife seen, but nothing can truly demonstrate the beauty of this tiny island adequately.

We visited the resort at the end of October and it was our second holiday in this hotel. Having experience from other islands (13 times in Maldives), we can compare Thulhagiri in different aspects. The fact that we returned to the same resort after a year testifies to our great previous satisfaction. We appreciate the efforts of the hotel management to constantly improve the service and appearance of the resort. We noticed some improvements this year and the resort has a very relaxed atmosphere. Since the weather and strong current did not allow us to snorkel every day, we spent more time at the bar. Our favorite Toast from the Sand Bar and Saigon beer made our afternoon more enjoyable. We spent the sunset at the Beach Bar, where we watched the celestial theater with a cocktail in hand. Both bars are managed by a very experienced manager, Mr. Mohamed. Special thanks to very skilled bartender Giham and to smiling waitress Sonu - they fulfilled all our wishes very quickly and efficiently. During our vacation we had the HB+ meal plan, which I can recommend to guests who don't want to overeat but like to enjoy cocktails and drinks in the bars. The meal in the buffet restaurant was even better this year than during our last stay here. There was a wider selection of fruits and we enjoyed the delicious soups. The evening entertainment at the Sand Bar was enough for us. We enjoyed the crab race very much. The crab team guys were very fun and professional. Good job and thanks for our winnings ! Finally this review I would like to thank all the staff for our unforgettable holiday . See you... Katarina & Zdenko from Slovakia