Island Luxury Retreat Maalhos strikes a rare balance between sustainable development and cultural heritage, making it a unique and enriching destination on a local island in Baa Atoll. Manta rays await at Hanifaru Bay.
Island Luxury Retreat is a unique property on the local island of Maahlos, in Baa Atoll. The island has its own house reef suitable for both diving and snorkelling, rare for a local island. The local hotel is just minutes from the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Hanifaru Bay, where from late June through to October hundreds of manta rays can gather here, forming manta cyclones.
With only nine rooms and a maximum capacity of 35 guests, the local hotel offers an intimate getaway. The Beach Villas with private pool are steps away from the ocean, with a spacious private sun deck and personal plunge pool. The Sea View Room with hot tub includes a covered deck where guests can unwind after a day diving. All rooms feature air-conditioning, en suite bathroom with basic amenities, TV, water and hot drinks station.
The hotel also offers family versions of each villa, with a second bedroom on a mezzanine or side room complete with twin beds. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel and in all rooms. The in-house restaurant is open for three meals a day plus poolside BBQs, private dinners and Maldivan evening tea. The wellness centre can arrange spa and yoga sessions.
What sets Island Luxury Retreat Maalhos apart from other local islands is the residents. Here, the tradition-rooted yet tourism-savvy community welcomes tourists and has integrated them into local island life. Guests are welcome to walk through tropical paths around the island, and relax at the bikini beach near the Underwater Institute dive centre.
As a Muslim country, alcohol is not available on Maalhos island itself. If pairing with sister hotel Island Luxury Dive Hotel on the Baa Island Hopping itinerary, alcohol is available on board the luxury sailing yacht in Fulhadoo for in-house guests only as part of excursion packages.
The Island Luxury Retreat is situated on Maalhos island, within Baa Atolls UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The local island can be accessible by a number of methods; direct speed boat from Male is the most affordable; otherwise, guests can take a short domestic flight and speedboat or seaplane transfer.
Maldives Passions is onsite at Island Luxury Retreat on Maalhos island. The dive centre is in a prime location for visiting the world renowned Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays and whale sharks congregate in vast numbers during the summer monsoon from late June to November. During the opposite ‘dry’ season, strong currents create exceptional visibility, and the weather is generally calmer above the waves.
A house reef is available throughout the day to both divers and snorkellers. From Maalhos island, there are over 30 dive sites accessible within 45 minutes by dhoni. The atoll offers diverse underwater experiences for both beginners and advanced divers, with stunning hard coral reefs, submerged pinnacles, overhangs, and swim-throughs cutting into the side of the reef. A mix of outer reef, reef passes and thilas dives are available, with up to three dives per day from the centre’s dhoni and night dives available upon request.
The dive centre is PADI and SSI recognised, offering everything from Discover Scuba Diving and Open Water courses through to Dive Master and Assistant Instructor. A full range of equipment is available to rent, and Nitrox can be supplied at supplement cost. Please note diving is not allowed inside Hanifaru Bay itself, only snorkelling, however manta activity in the area is high around this season.
See more of the Maldives on this local island-hopping dive holiday. Enjoy authentic Maldivian hospitality and superb diving in Baa Atoll, with Hanifaru Bay mantas and vibrant reefs just moments away. Find Out More about Baa Atoll Island Hopping
This remote region receives fewer visitors than the rest of the Maldives and stretches from Baa Atoll up to Haa Alifu and Dhallu and includes Lhaviyani and Noonu atolls, as well as Hanifaru Bay, where exceptional numbers of mantas and whale sharks aggregate annually. Find Out More about {acc:title}
