Thulhagiri Island Resort

The staff made the evening feel especially welcoming, and I really appreciated how much work had gone into it. Christmas dinner was a lovely experience, with a warm, festive setting full of thoughtful little details. Every course tasted fantastic. We had such a good evening, and I want to thank everyone who helped make it memorable.

The food was the strongest part of our stay at Thulhagari Resort, with plenty of choice and excellent quality at every meal. Reception staff were friendly too. But the room and some practical details let the place down for a resort rated five stars. The bed was very hard, the air conditioner seemed old, and there were no Muslim showers in the bathroom. Toothbrushes and toothpaste were missing as well. Our garden room looked pretty, but getting around outside at night was difficult. The beachside area had poor lighting, and the path to the beach was dark and overgrown. Transfers were another problem: we waited an hour at the airport, then had to leave early without breakfast for the speedboat. The ride from Thulhagari took only 15 minutes, but cost a lot. There were good parts, but these are areas the resort needs to improve.

The snorkeling trip was one of our favorite parts. We went several times to a reef 20-30 minutes away and spent about two hours there, seeing turtles, sharks, and lots of fish. It would be nice if the trips rotated between different reefs during the week. The reef around the island is damaged, partly because people walk on it. A local turtle sometimes shows up, and little sharks swim close to shore, but the reef itself isn’t anything special. We spent a week at Thulhagiri in November, our first time in the Maldives, and found it stunning. The island is small enough to walk around in about seven minutes. Our beach bungalow had a private stretch of beach right outside. We were first given a room in front of the pool, but asked to be somewhere more tucked away. Reception quickly showed us another room and let us choose. They also kindly offered a free upgrade to a Premium Water Villa, which we declined. Going barefoot made the stay feel relaxing and restorative. The food was very good, with lots of Asian options and something for different tastes. Breakfast had plenty of variety, including eggs and omelettes cooked fresh. We chose all inclusive, enjoyed the cocktails, and found the beach bar waiters exceptionally kind. Restaurant service felt a bit cold, and some waiters seemed friendlier to people who tipped. We noticed the difference, though it didn’t affect us directly. It’s close to Malé airport, which suited us. There are excursions including dolphin cruises, snorkeling, night fishing, a Malé tour, a local village visit, diving, and water sports. We also had a very good hot stone massage at the spa, with a beautiful view. I’d happily come back. It was a dream holiday for us.

Snorkeling was a real highlight for us. We saw loads of colorful fish and, with some luck, a sea turtle too. The spa treatments were very professional and left us feeling completely relaxed. Our water bungalow was modern, spotless, and had an amazing ocean view. Service was excellent throughout, with every staff member friendly, attentive, and willing to go the extra mile. There was a great range of food made with fresh ingredients, and it all tasted delicious. An unforgettable vacation, highly recommended.