Pros

  • Located on a private island with a turquoise lagoon
  • White-sand beaches are especially beautiful, even for the Maldives
  • Three restaurants with solid buffet and a la carte cuisine
  • Two bars and a good selection of all-inclusive cocktails
  • Superb snorkeling and diving in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve
  • Bed-and-breakfast or all-inclusive dining packages available
  • Free Wi-Fi in rooms and most public areas
  • Daily excursions to Hanifaru Bay (a manta ray and whale shark hot spot)
  • Kids club' and babysitting services
  • Coral reef teeming with colorful fish
  • Modern fitness center, tennis, squash, volleyball, table tennis, and bocce ball
  • Nice overwater spa with whirlpool, sauna, and steam room
  • Dive center and water sports rentals (including kayaks, Jet Skis, and windsurf boards)
  • Outdoor pool with children’s section and bar service
  • Water villas and plunge pool rooms available; amenities include tubs, robes, and water
See More Pros

Cons

  • Pricey domestic flight, shuttle, and boat ride to reach the resort
  • Limited nightlife (pro for some)
  • Some rooms are showing wear (discolored tubs, green growth in showers)
  • Limited breakfast buffet options
  • No 24-hour room service
See More Cons

Bottom Line

Located on a private island in Baa Atoll, Kihaad stands out for its rich marine life, good food, beautiful beaches, and family-friendly amenities. Built in 2012, the resort grounds feel upscale and new, but some rooms are beginning to lose their luster. Kihaad’s biggest drawback is its location (a 30-minute flight from Male Airport, plus a boat transfer), but it’s often half the price of similar, more accessible resorts. For something closer to Male, Olhuveli Beach Resort is a good option.

See More Bottom Line

Oyster Hotel Review

KIHAA Maldives Island Resort & Spa

Scene

Beautiful island resort with rustic-chic style

A visit to Kihaad begins with a domestic air transfer to Dharavandhoo Island. The wait is sometimes lengthy, but guests are given access to an exclusive lounge with free snacks, Wi-Fi, and a shower. The scenic, 30-minute flight is followed by a quick boat trip to the resort’s private island, known locally as Kihaadhuffaru. A more direct (and expensive) 35-minute seaplane transfer is also available.

The 600-meter-long island has 118 rooms and is surrounded by a waist-deep lagoon and gorgeous, white-sand beaches. Guests can walk between the three restaurants, an outdoor pool, and sports facilities using shady pathways that wind through a lush jungle interior. A dozen water bungalows and a spa are built over the lagoon on stilts.

Decor-wise, the resort has a rustic island style with an occasional smattering of contemporary furniture. The restaurants, lobby, spa, and main bar feature traditional palm thatched roofs and tall, beamed ceilings. Guests can dine outside under bright orange umbrellas at the main restaurant, which played instrumental tracks to classic pop songs during our lunchtime visit. The lobby has billowy white curtains, tribal-inspired furniture, and a sandy floor (most guests prefer to go without shoes).

Families are welcome here, but the bulk of guests are couples from China and Europe.

See More Scene

Location

On its own private island in Baa Atoll, accessible by a flight and boat ride

Located 120 kilometers northwest of Male in Baa Atoll, Kihaad is one of the more inaccessible resorts in the Maldives. Most travelers catch a 30-minute domestic flight to the local island of Dharavandhoo, followed by a two-minute golf cart ride to a marina and a 10-minute speedboat ride to resort’s private island, Kihaadhuffaru. Recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Baa Atoll has some of the richest marine life in the Maldives. Hanifaru Bay, one of the world’s best places to swim with whale sharks and giant manta rays, is 10 minutes away by speedboat.

See More Location

Rooms

Water bungalows, beachfront rooms, and villas with private plunge pools

Kihaad has 10 room categories in a variety of shapes and styles. Guests can choose from beachfront rooms, two-bedroom family suites, units with personal plunge pools, spacious overwater bungalows, and more. Most rooms start at 828 square feet and include soaking tubs, minibars, tea and electric teakettles, robes, free bottled water, and Wi-Fi. The most common rooms are Reserve and Lagoon Prestige Beach Villas, which have four-poster beds, high-beamed ceilings, chunky, rustic wooden furniture, and water views. Lagoon Prestige Beach Villas have a better location right beside the beach. Some outdoor bathrooms are looking a bit rough, with green shower stains and discolored tubs.  Note that the Garden Villas with Pools and the Family Junior Suites do not have water views. 

See More Rooms

Features

Outdoor pool, overwater spa, fitness center, gift shop, and kids' club

Kihaad has a solid range of amenities. An attractive beachfront pool features a shallow kids’ section, daybeds, and bar service. A kids' club with a playground is available for children up to 12, and a game room has darts, foosball, billiards, and mahjong (a Chinese domino game). A nice overwater spa includes a sauna, steam room, and whirlpool; couples massages are available, and guests can hear the waves below during their treatments. The resort has a modern and spacious fitness center (although it’s lacking in views and ambience). A gift shop, jewelry store, tiny multilingual library, and medical clinic are also available.

See More Features

Beach

White-sand beaches, comfy lounge chairs, and an off-shore reef

Soft white sand, a shallow lagoon, and clear turquoise water make Kihaad’s beaches especially beautiful -- even for the Maldives. Guests can take their pick from a number of cushioned lounge chairs and palapa umbrellas. An on-site reef is a quick swim from the beach, and during our visit we spotted two dolphins a few yards off shore. The water temperature is perfect -- cool enough to feel refreshing, yet warm enough to slip into without a chill. We couldn’t find a speck of trash anywhere.

See More Beach

All-Inclusive / Food

All-inclusive buffet cuisine and a la carte dining

The resort’s main restaurant, Hanifaru Bay, serves international buffet cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is impressive overall, with live cooking stations serving pastas, meat, and grilled fish. We were personally fans of the homemade coffee and mango ice cream. Breakfast is free at Hanifaru (though the selection is somewhat limited), and guests can upgrade to an all-inclusive food and drink package. Meals are available at an additional cost from two a la carte restaurants: Spices (South Asian cuisine) and Sarong (Pan-Asian). Food and drink expenses add up fast for non-all-inclusive guests.

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Drinks

Two bars and a good selection of all-inclusive drinks

For those who like to drink, it’s definitely worth upgrading to the all-inclusive package. Unlike many competing resorts, Kihaad offers a good selection of all-inclusive cocktails that are available at every restaurant and bar on the island (premium drinks cost extra). Free beer, soft drinks, and mineral water are also provided daily in minibars. The resort’s two bars, Toddy and Chiringuito, are situated next to the pool and on the beach. A Wine Lounge is available for private parties and wine tastings.

See More Drinks

Services

Off-site excursions, private dinners, room service, and free Wi-Fi

Plenty of perks are available for those willing to pay extra. Guests can arrange romantic meals on the beach, a deserted sandbank, or in their guestrooms. A number of excursions are available, such as local island tours, dolphin-watching cruises, and fishing trips. One of the top excursions is a snorkeling trip to Hanifaru Bay, a protected area famous for its whale sharks and manta rays (only available in season). For those who prefer not to get wet, daily fish and sting ray feedings provide ample opportunity to see marine life up close. Free Wi-Fi is available in rooms, the lobby, restaurant, and by the pool.

See More Services

Physical Activities

Scuba diving, snorkeling, water sports rentals, and sports courts

There are plenty of great water activities at (and around) Kihaad. A dive center offers lessons and organizes excursions to nearby dive sites, and a water sports center rents snorkeling equipment, windsurfing gear, kayaks, floats, Jet Skis, and catamarans (lessons are available for an additional fee). An on-site reef with a steep drop is a great place for snorkeling and diving just off the beach. On dry land guests have access to tennis, squash, and volleyball courts, table tennis, and bocce ball. A large and modern fitness center is also available.

See More Physical Activities

Entertainment

Sparse entertainment, other than occasional theme nights on the beach

Besides eating, there’s not much to do at Kihaad after dark. Once per week the resort hosts a White Shisha night with lounge music on the beach. On select evenings there’s also a Bodu Beru Maldivian event and a Sunset Manager Cocktail Reception with free drinks.

See More Entertainment

Things You Should Know About KIHAA Maldives Island Resort & Spa

Also Known As

  • KIHAAD Maldives

Address

Kihaadhuffaru Island, Baa Atoll 6040, Maldives

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

KIHAA Maldives Island Resort & Spa

Scene

Beautiful island resort with rustic-chic style

A visit to Kihaad begins with a domestic air transfer to Dharavandhoo Island. The wait is sometimes lengthy, but guests are given access to an exclusive lounge with free snacks, Wi-Fi, and a shower. The scenic, 30-minute flight is followed by a quick boat trip to the resort’s private island, known locally as Kihaadhuffaru. A more direct (and expensive) 35-minute seaplane transfer is also available.

The 600-meter-long island has 118 rooms and is surrounded by a waist-deep lagoon and gorgeous, white-sand beaches. Guests can walk between the three restaurants, an outdoor pool, and sports facilities using shady pathways that wind through a lush jungle interior. A dozen water bungalows and a spa are built over the lagoon on stilts.

Decor-wise, the resort has a rustic island style with an occasional smattering of contemporary furniture. The restaurants, lobby, spa, and main bar feature traditional palm thatched roofs and tall, beamed ceilings. Guests can dine outside under bright orange umbrellas at the main restaurant, which played instrumental tracks to classic pop songs during our lunchtime visit. The lobby has billowy white curtains, tribal-inspired furniture, and a sandy floor (most guests prefer to go without shoes).

Families are welcome here, but the bulk of guests are couples from China and Europe.

See More Scene

Location

On its own private island in Baa Atoll, accessible by a flight and boat ride

Located 120 kilometers northwest of Male in Baa Atoll, Kihaad is one of the more inaccessible resorts in the Maldives. Most travelers catch a 30-minute domestic flight to the local island of Dharavandhoo, followed by a two-minute golf cart ride to a marina and a 10-minute speedboat ride to resort’s private island, Kihaadhuffaru. Recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Baa Atoll has some of the richest marine life in the Maldives. Hanifaru Bay, one of the world’s best places to swim with whale sharks and giant manta rays, is 10 minutes away by speedboat.

See More Location

Rooms

Water bungalows, beachfront rooms, and villas with private plunge pools

Kihaad has 10 room categories in a variety of shapes and styles. Guests can choose from beachfront rooms, two-bedroom family suites, units with personal plunge pools, spacious overwater bungalows, and more. Most rooms start at 828 square feet and include soaking tubs, minibars, tea and electric teakettles, robes, free bottled water, and Wi-Fi. The most common rooms are Reserve and Lagoon Prestige Beach Villas, which have four-poster beds, high-beamed ceilings, chunky, rustic wooden furniture, and water views. Lagoon Prestige Beach Villas have a better location right beside the beach. Some outdoor bathrooms are looking a bit rough, with green shower stains and discolored tubs.  Note that the Garden Villas with Pools and the Family Junior Suites do not have water views. 

See More Rooms

Features

Outdoor pool, overwater spa, fitness center, gift shop, and kids' club

Kihaad has a solid range of amenities. An attractive beachfront pool features a shallow kids’ section, daybeds, and bar service. A kids' club with a playground is available for children up to 12, and a game room has darts, foosball, billiards, and mahjong (a Chinese domino game). A nice overwater spa includes a sauna, steam room, and whirlpool; couples massages are available, and guests can hear the waves below during their treatments. The resort has a modern and spacious fitness center (although it’s lacking in views and ambience). A gift shop, jewelry store, tiny multilingual library, and medical clinic are also available.

See More Features

Beach

White-sand beaches, comfy lounge chairs, and an off-shore reef

Soft white sand, a shallow lagoon, and clear turquoise water make Kihaad’s beaches especially beautiful -- even for the Maldives. Guests can take their pick from a number of cushioned lounge chairs and palapa umbrellas. An on-site reef is a quick swim from the beach, and during our visit we spotted two dolphins a few yards off shore. The water temperature is perfect -- cool enough to feel refreshing, yet warm enough to slip into without a chill. We couldn’t find a speck of trash anywhere.

See More Beach

All-Inclusive / Food

All-inclusive buffet cuisine and a la carte dining

The resort’s main restaurant, Hanifaru Bay, serves international buffet cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is impressive overall, with live cooking stations serving pastas, meat, and grilled fish. We were personally fans of the homemade coffee and mango ice cream. Breakfast is free at Hanifaru (though the selection is somewhat limited), and guests can upgrade to an all-inclusive food and drink package. Meals are available at an additional cost from two a la carte restaurants: Spices (South Asian cuisine) and Sarong (Pan-Asian). Food and drink expenses add up fast for non-all-inclusive guests.

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Drinks

Two bars and a good selection of all-inclusive drinks

For those who like to drink, it’s definitely worth upgrading to the all-inclusive package. Unlike many competing resorts, Kihaad offers a good selection of all-inclusive cocktails that are available at every restaurant and bar on the island (premium drinks cost extra). Free beer, soft drinks, and mineral water are also provided daily in minibars. The resort’s two bars, Toddy and Chiringuito, are situated next to the pool and on the beach. A Wine Lounge is available for private parties and wine tastings.

See More Drinks

Services

Off-site excursions, private dinners, room service, and free Wi-Fi

Plenty of perks are available for those willing to pay extra. Guests can arrange romantic meals on the beach, a deserted sandbank, or in their guestrooms. A number of excursions are available, such as local island tours, dolphin-watching cruises, and fishing trips. One of the top excursions is a snorkeling trip to Hanifaru Bay, a protected area famous for its whale sharks and manta rays (only available in season). For those who prefer not to get wet, daily fish and sting ray feedings provide ample opportunity to see marine life up close. Free Wi-Fi is available in rooms, the lobby, restaurant, and by the pool.

See More Services

Physical Activities

Scuba diving, snorkeling, water sports rentals, and sports courts

There are plenty of great water activities at (and around) Kihaad. A dive center offers lessons and organizes excursions to nearby dive sites, and a water sports center rents snorkeling equipment, windsurfing gear, kayaks, floats, Jet Skis, and catamarans (lessons are available for an additional fee). An on-site reef with a steep drop is a great place for snorkeling and diving just off the beach. On dry land guests have access to tennis, squash, and volleyball courts, table tennis, and bocce ball. A large and modern fitness center is also available.

See More Physical Activities

Entertainment

Sparse entertainment, other than occasional theme nights on the beach

Besides eating, there’s not much to do at Kihaad after dark. Once per week the resort hosts a White Shisha night with lounge music on the beach. On select evenings there’s also a Bodu Beru Maldivian event and a Sunset Manager Cocktail Reception with free drinks.

See More Entertainment

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Gameroom / Arcade

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Kids Club

  • Laundry

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.