Laid-back luxury in the Maldives

But which resort do you choose?

Following its recently completed multi-million pound revamp, the laid-back luxury resort of Kanuhura makes a good case.

Situated on one of the most unique and unspoilt beaches in the Maldives, Kanuhura is set to reopen its doors on December 1st, following an 18-month closure and bohemian restyling.

The private island resort offers 94 freshly revamped villas and suites, featuring soft lighting and warm timber flooring. All villas are located either along the beach or raised above the turquoise Indian Ocean, allowing guests to step out of their villa onto their own private beach area, or down a wooden staircase straight into the revitalising waters below.

With no fewer than ten restaurants and bars, serving a wide range of cuisines in unique settings, there’s plenty of inventive gastronomic experiences to explore and savour.

Notable venues include A MANO, designed with the aesthetic of local market food stalls, offering a variety of dishes with a focus on fresh produce and exotic local ingredients; FOGO, a Brazilian restaurant with a selection of grilled meats and fresh seafood with a barbeque and kitchen at its core; and the gorgeous CHEFS HERB GARDEN, set amidst a beautiful hanging vegetable garden, where cookery classes are also available.

A spa and wellness centre is also located on site for your indulgence. The Kokaa Spa and Wellness Retreat is an exclusive sanctuary, featuring a nature-inspired décor, delicate scents, and the purest locally-sourced ingredients. It has six single and three couples treatment rooms, an outdoor beachside spa pavilion, beauty salon, sauna, steam room and cold plunge pool, as well as a fully equipped state-of-the-art gym, aerobics and hatha yoga studio.

If all the pampering, relaxing and eating gets a bit tiresome (highly unlikely, we know), then get your blood pumping with one of a number of activities available at the resort, such as snorkelling, fishing or tennis.

Alternatively, set sail for the private island of Jehunuhura, exclusively accessible to guests staying at Kanuhura, where a pristine sandy beach and jungle landscape will give you a true Robinson Crusoe experience. While ‘castaway’ on the island, you can also enjoy a meal, indulge in private spa treatments, or partake in a yoga session. It doesn’t sound like the worst place to be shipwrecked, in our opinion.

Rather uniquely, Kanuhura also has its own Marine Biology Research Centre, dedicated to coral reef ecology and conservation, where guests will be encouraged to participate and interact with the onsite marine biologist to learn about what they do and to raise awareness of ocean conservation.

Unlike many other resorts in the Maldives, Kanuhura is family-friendly. There is a kid’s club that offers daily activities, whilst the resort also has a selection of villas which cater to large and multi-generational families travelling together.

View more pictures of Kanuhura and book your stay with our hotel search tool 

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