Planning a tropical escape? We've just the ticket. The Maldives will steal your heart; with 26 natural atolls, 1200 islets, stunning sand bars and bright coral reefs scattered over the turquoise waters, natural beauty of the destination will take your breath away. You have to make Kanuhura Maldives top of your list for luxury travel destinations. With 5* service, probably the most beautifully designed interiors, a relaxed, easy-going vibe and world class food, this island retreat really has everything. Here's everything you need to know about Kanuhura Maldives:
Kanuhura Maldives Review: The Lowdown
If you're looking a genuine taste of the Maldives, Kanuhura is where to come. Voted one of the leading family resorts within the Maldives, the recently-renovated resort is perfect for families, couples and solo travellers alike. You will be stunned at the natural great thing about the island; among the largest islands in the Maldives, the resort transports you to a total island paradise, complete with lush, green foliage, crystal clear waters and perfect white sandy beaches. Frankly, the true, untouched beauty of maui should be seen to be believed. You'll feel like a character straight from the Jungle Book, believe me.
The resort is unique in lots of ways. Firstly, it's the only resort within the Maldives to boast two totally private, deserted islands. The islands would be the perfect spot for escaping it all; you'll seem like a genuine explorer while you travel across the sparkling waters by dinghy to reach the hawaiian islands. For beautiful beachside lunches, Jehunuhura (only a 5 minute boat ride away) hosts the seculded restaurant Drift Grill, and for untouched natural beauty on the private island, visit Masleggihura, the resort's second deserted island.
Kanuhura Maldives is part of the Sun Resorts group, a high-end property collection, who've six luxurious properties situated in Mauritius and also the Maldives. Boasting impressive beach resorts in the Indian Ocean, Sun Resorts strive to ensure every guest leaves having a holiday a person can have. Right on.
Kanuhura Maldives Review: The Rooms
The rooms at Kanuhura Maldives, ranging from the Beach Bungalow to Retreat Family Beach Pool Villa, are merely divine. Home to 80 villas, all furnished in the island's statement gypset style, each villa boats a personal wooden deck stretching to the beach or over the lagoon. For straightforward beauty, the Beach Bungalow has stunning views within the lagoon, with a stylish design that draws you in. We loved the Beach Pool Villa, for more privacy, with its sensational private pool, beach and ocean views. It's the perfect location for watching the Maldivian Sunset out of your private plunge pool, glass of vino in hand.
If you'd like a real Maldivian experience, pick one of the Water Villas. At 125 square meters and standing on stilts within the lagoon, water Villas offer an incredible view of the ocean. Picture it: using an overwater hammock on your private sundeck, with magnificent ocean views and fish life below. Take things one step further with the Water Pool Villa, that provides a personal sundeck and plunge pool, having a magnificent view of the Indian Ocean.
You can't beat the good thing about the Sanctuary Pool Villa – the island's presidential villa set in its own landscaped area with three bedrooms, a living and dining area, a spacious veranda, a personal pavilon, BBQ area, a private garden and a private pool. As well as for a real family getaway, there's the amazing Retreat Grand Beach Pool Villa, which features a a large private terrace along with a private pool, with two separate beachfront villas set around the pool. Glorious.
Kanuhura Maldives Review: The Activities
You'll be totally spoilt for choice with all the activities available at Kanuhura Maldives. From snorkelling to deep-sea diving, fitness to island excursions, sunset cruises to spa pampering, you can fill every second of the day with fun, exciting activities, if you please. For wannabe mermaids, there's so much to see and do with excellent watersports, fishing, a beautiful lagoon, snorkelling and 40 dive sites nearby. At the SUN Watersports Center, you may enjoy complimentary non-motorized watersports and use of snorkelling equipment, as well as jetskis, waterskiing, catamaran sailing, banana-boating and windsurfing.
For divers, the resort is perfect, as Lhaviyani Atoll is great for from scuba diving excursions to in excess of 40 dive sites and PADI certification courses. Should you fancy exploring the surrounding natural splendor, the accommodation offers all sorts of excursions, including island hopping, dolphin-spotting cruises, manta-ray snorkelling, sunset cruises and appointments with a local villages to see local Maldivian life. It's time to get exploring.
Equally, should you just fancy lying at the lake, sipping pina coladas (my kind of holiday) and taking in the sunshine, that's totally fine too. Actually, the island has this type of feeling of peace and serenity about it, you will be forgiven for totally losing track of some time and seeking to get lost in the relaxed, island vibes. For children, there's a great Kids Club, offering a daily schedule of action-packed fun, so everyone is going to be kept entertained around the island.
Kanuhura Maldives Review: The Spa
It will be a crime to go to the accommodation and never try their beautiful spa. The award-winning Kokaa Spa includes a great range of luxury massages, facials and body treatments (actually, one of the longest spa menus within the Maldives), that are inspired by global healing traditions. We loved the Japanese reflexology, which is a real pampering treat for the feet, releasing tension and balancing the body through specialist pressure points.
A totally holistic experience, the spa boasts nine treatment rooms, complimentary steam bath, plunge pool, whirlpool and sauna, yoga and meditation sessions, and fitness classes, including Zumba, Maldivian warrior workouts, Pilates, boxing and water aerobics. The spa utilizes a fantastic, quality range of products within their treatments, including Terres D'Afrique from South Africa; Voya from Ireland and Subtle Energies from Australia, to enhance your spa journey. We never desired to leave the gorgeous serenity of the spa.
Kanuhura Maldives Review: The Food
The food alone at Kanuhura Maldives is worth travelling for. The dining choices are fantastic; they have something for everybody (great for families with children, too) having a choice of eight restaurants and bars. From easy barefoot beach feasting to haute cuisine by candle-light in a secret garden, the accommodation is really as formal as you would like it to be. That is well suited for people like me, that do not like brushing their hair during holiday. The breakfast buffet in a Mano is one of the largest you will find the Maldives, with everything else from freshly-made Nutella pancakes to build-your-own fruit salads and delicious bakery treats on offer.
There's a great deal of variety amongst the restaurants around the island. For grab and go, the Deli offers healthy juices, gourmet sandwiches and fresh salads, as well as tempting homemade frozen treats (the coconut sorbet is my weakness, if you are wondering). You may also pre-order an open-air picnic here, which is super fun for children. Drift beach grill is the place in the future for secluded lunch by the sparkling blue waters, and if you want something really special, organise a personal picnic for any special, romantic excursion or Destination Dining on the beach, where all your Maldives fantasies may come true.
In the night, Bottega is the island's Italian restaurant, serving up the best freshly-made pastas, risotto and antipasti around. I loved the Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare with locally-caught seafood, a lot of fresh tomato sauce and al dente homemade spaghetti. So if you feel a greedy one much like me, you'll love the resort's buffet restaurant A Mano, meaning 'made by hand', that provides an individual touch on global recipes, inside a beautiful location underneath the palms. The restaurant comes alive in the evening, transforming into a lively grocery store with live cookery and boasting a different culinary theme for every night. Wednesday is Seafood Night and that i can happily report it's a total winner.
Veli may be the island's Asian restaurant, having a great location around the beach, overlooking the ocean. The restaurant offers from hand-made sushi to tandoori grilled meats and Yakiniku tables for Korean-style barbecues. Eating Singapore noodles with this feet in the sand? We're sold. For fine dining, the Chef's Plants is really a foodies' dream, having a special candle-lit dinner every evening in the middle of the resort's herb and spice garden. We like the restaurant has no menu, serving only what's fresh and seasonal that day.
Kanuhura Maldives Review: Our Verdict
Kanuhura Maldives is the perfect package of luxury inside a beautiful island setting. The resort includes natural island beauty, fun-filled activities, delicious food (that buffet, oh that buffet) and also the most sumptuous decor, that will give you a holiday to remember for many years. We can't recommend the accommodation enough; Kanuhura Maldives stole our hearts and we're sure it'll steal yours, too.