Dreaming of an island paradise, with palm-fringed beaches and turquoise waters? Me too! And I found my paradise playground at Finolhu in the Maldives. A family trip to this beautiful 5* island resort delivered the picture-perfect tropical trip of my imagination, plus fun and adventure I'd not anticipated. It was no surprise to learn that past islanders have included Leonardo DiCaprio and Cara Delevingne, who took the entire island for a five-day stay with her friends.
Situated in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere, it’s a 30-minute seaplane ride north west from Male, the capital and international airport. On the short flight, you look down on sparkling turquoise waters circling the coral atolls below (there are 1,190 of these islands spanning almost 900km of the Indian Ocean, yet less than 200 are inhabited). A view so mesmerising, I'd say it has to be one of the wonders of the natural world.
As we dipped down to land, we skimmed over Finohlu's kilometre-long sand spit, later discovering it's the longest in the Maldives. A short taxi over the waves to the water jetty, and we were welcomed to island life by staff with a refreshing coconut and straw.
Here we met Aflaah, our friendly roohu, or butler – one is assigned to each guest villa – who chauffeured us on a buggy tour of the island before dropping us to our over-water villa. He became our friendly guide for our stay, just a WhatsApp away to help with questions and requests, and one of the many luxe touches at Finolhu that help you make the most of your stay.
Stepping inside our two-bedroom over-water pool villa, the spacious, calm and modern interiors are decorated in shades of white and blue with pops of sunshine yellow – yet the real scene-stealer is the blue of the infinity pool on the deck that blurs into the blue of the sea and sky beyond. We couldn’t resist a spontaneous dip to celebrate our arrival on this beautiful island paradise.
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Once refreshed, we wondered down the jetty to check out the beach, swimming out to play on the the inflatable Wibit course just off the shore at Palm Beach. It was great fun – with a guaranteed soaking, no less – but in these sparkling turquoise waters you can't complain.
At this end of the island you'll also find the water sports centre with paddle boards, kayaks and snorkels (provided complimentary), alongside sailing, jet skis, wake boarding and seabobs, an electric underwater scooter. There's also a 24-hour gym, a large outdoor chess set and the Milk Lab cafe. It became our favourite morning hangout for post-gym iced coffee, also serving delicious muffins and custard shakes which were hard to resist.
We quickly settled into an island routine, with early morning snorkelling along the house reef behind our over water villa. The sea is teaming with wildlife here, so you come up close and personal to the some amazing creatures including black-tipped reef sharks, flying fish and an eagle ray all swimming close to the villa, with dolphins frolicking in the distant surf. It was certainly a moment to remember when a huge sting ray swam beneath us while snorkelling along the reef. (And also reassuring to know that there are no dangerous predators in the Maldivian lagoons, FYI.)
We'd then wander the 900m length of the main island to breakfast at the The Beach Kitchen, next to the main pool and beach bar. This buffet restaurant opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is the main restaurant for the all inclusive package – there's plenty of choice.
Breakfast is a tempting array, where we loaded up with fresh fruits, pastries and yoghurt before a second course at of pancakes and eggs. Each evening, there's a different cuisine theme from Asian to Maldivian and Mediterranean. The alternative, if you're feeling lazy or romantic, is to call for in villa dining or a floating breakfast, which is served on a heart shaped tray floated out on your pool.
Activites at Finolhu
Along with the daily ritual of lounging on the beach or relaxing by the pool, there are plenty of activities or excursions to keep you busy. Being bored is just not an option on Finolhu, from complimentary beach yoga and sunset meditations to paid-for excursions including dive and snorkelling trips.
One of our highlights was the Dolphin Cruise. We headed out by speed boat to a reef 20 minutes away, finding a pod of dolphins on route, who swam alongside the boat. We then jumped in and snorkelled with a guide for half an hour along the edge of a reef, where we were lucky enough to experience swimming with a turtle, and shoals on shoals of colourful fish.
Back on land, there's a tennis court and new padel court, a digital golf studio, an art studio for budding creatives with a resident artist, a kids club for 4-12 year olds and also under construction is a new teen hub with TikTok booth and DJ decks.
The spa is also not to be missed, with jungle theme treatment rooms in individual cabins nestled in the undergrowth. My daughter and I shared a couple's massage – the therapists were excellent and it was as good if not better than any I have experienced in a city spa. We floated back to our villa to chill and make the most of the zen vibes.
Finolhu is an hour ahead of Maldivian time in Male, which gives you a longer day and allows you to enjoy sunset around 7pm – so we swam and watched sunset from the beach most days, before showering and heading out to dinner.
Food & Drink
There are plenty of dinner options to choose from on Finolhu. The Arabian Grill serves meat and seafood grills with Middle Eastern meze and the most delicious breads. Kanousan, the overwater Japanese restaurant offers a feast of sushi and sashimi as well as teriyaki, tempura, miso cod and wagyu beef favourites. This was almost our favourite dinner spot, but it was just edged out by the experience of ‘dining under the stars’ on the beach, where we discovered the slightly sweeter and super delicious Maldivian lobster.
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And if you want ultra-luxe experiences, another luxe dining option is 5 North, located on a platform in the turquoise waters just off the sand spit, where the chef will cook and serve you a private dinner with the twinkling sky overhead and the water lapping around you.
Our other favourite spot on Finolhu was Crab Shack, at the far end of the sand spit. A Dhoni, a traditional Maldivan boat, runs every 30 mins from the main island jetty up to the end of the spit if you don't fancy the one kilometre stroll. Crab Shack is a just that – a low-key lunch spot where you eat the most delicious seafood with sandy feet. Some of our lunch reorders included the tuna poke bowl and the soft shell crab tacos, both delicious! It’s also a great spot for sundowners, with resident DJ Haishan playing the tunes from the campervan DJ deck. The shack also plays host to Friday evening dinners, a white theme party, so remember to pack your dress-to-impress whites.
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At this end of the sand spit there’s also an option to camp away from the resort in a private and secluded bubble tent for two, which feels like you are on your own island. And further beyond in the distance there's construction underway for some new secluded villas with both sunset and sunrise views and 80m length pools – plus a private island retreat sleeping 30, all set to open in 2025.
Who is Finolhu suited to?
This island playground really does cater for all and there's something for everyone enjoy – from couples who want to experience a romantic secluded getaway to families who want to have fun adventures together and groups celebrating special moments.
So when is the best time to visit? Peak season runs from November to April, with Christmas and Easter the busiest times to visit. We stayed in August when the resort is quieter, it's monsoon season and we experienced a mix of bright sunny days alongside cloudy days and and the occasional tropical rain storm.
What makes Finolhu special?
The hotel is part of the family-owned Seaside Collection – and I noticed a difference in the genuine relaxed atmosphere, which appears to make everyone feel at home here, compared to some corporate hotel groups. We found all the staff super friendly, who clearly love their jobs, and are fully dedicated to making your stay as enjoyable as possible. Not to mention, the facilities are excellent – the property upkeep and attention to detail is impressive. There are even tailors onsite to make new cushions when they are discoloured by sunlight, and overnight beach combing that ensures the white sand is pristine as you step out onto it each morning. Paired with some of the bluest water I have ever swum in, and many special memories made to take home, I can attest it's a more than ideal spot to find yourself marooned for a week or more. Now I'm no longer dreaming of my first time experiencing the Maldives, but when I can return to Finolhu.
Price from £3770* per person for 7 Nights with 2 adults in a Private Pool Villa. Special board upgrades available for travel before 30/04/25 and include 30% savings, pool villa upgrade and return seaplane transfers. (*based on a 13th November departure with prices varying )
For more from GLAMOUR's Camilla Kay, follow her on Instagram @camilla.kay.
