Luxury Resort, Maalifushi by COMO, Maldives

Our recent trip to Maldives wouldn’t be complete without a stay at the new COMO resort, which we were looking forward to checking out for a long time. Having now returned to the considerably less glamorous Europe we are happy to report that our eagerness to visit Maalifushi was fully justified.

 The resort was the first to open in the remote Thaa Atoll, with only couple of resorts located further south. It took a long journey to get to Maalifushi, so it was a relief to finally disembark on the main jetty—and begin to take in the island in all its beauty.

The island

Maalifushi feels wilder than some other islands in the more developed parts of Maldives. With the tall palm tree forest, wide beaches and natural reefs it has some of that undiscovered feel, a rarity these days.

It is just one of mostly uninhabited islets, their green silhouettes strung one after another, until the last one disappears in the sea mist haze. The closest neighbour is a picture-perfect green patch of land—and guests can just swim or wade to it over the shallows.

COMO style

This sister resort to the much-admired Cocoa Island, Maalifushi follows the COMO trademark style of eco-friendly, understated luxury.

Its design and atmosphere falls somewhere between the sophisticated minimalism of the Aman Resorts and the Six Senses eco chic—a sweet spot to be in.

White on blue

There are sixty-six villas on Maalifushi. Some are overwater (ideal for couples), some on land, with gardens—these are great for families with small children. All offer seclusion and luxury with laid-back feel. The interiors are designed with oak floors and elegant furniture, and swathes of mosquito netting around the beds.

We preferred the overwater suites and villas; white-painted, full of light, with large sun decks and thatched gazebos outside, their infinity pools reflecting the colours of lagoon and sky.

The beachfront villas are more peaceful and private though—with their jungly little gardens and paths leading to the combed beach.

Island life

Maalifushi is great for couples, but this resort is more family-focused than the Cocoa Island. There are child-friendly beach picnics and snorkelling trips on offer as well as a nice kids’ club.

Still, Maalifushi is mostly about peace and tranquility, and as such it is as serene a destination as you can find. Restorative yoga, top-notch spa treatments, beach-front exercise and the excellent healthy food are all parts of the exquisite body and mind restoration experience.

More info & Online booking