Dhawa Ihuru part of Banyan Group

We didn’t stay at the hotel itself (we stayed on a neighboring island), but we visited for snorkeling and dinner. Snorkeling was excellent! It’s close to the shore, with plenty of fish species — even squid. You can swim around the island in about 40–60 minutes, depending on the current. The full loop is around 1 km. There’s a lovely lagoon near the bar, perfect for a relaxing swim. We only came for dinner once, and compared to the neighboring island where we dined regularly, the food quality here was noticeably lower. However, everything was fresh and the selection was sufficient — you won’t go hungry. I recommend coming here for dinner during buffet nights on the neighboring island (Tues, Thurs, Sun, I believe) to really notice the difference. Interestingly, both islands shared the same head chef at the time of our visit (David). The accommodation looks simple and modest — small bungalows, nothing fancy. You can't walk around the entire island along the shore, and the view is somewhat spoiled by netting placed every 5–10 meters. The staff is amazing. The island also has a spa and a kids’ club. The island is just a 20-minute boat ride from the airport, and naturally, you can see Malé in the distance.

Honey moon 22-27 July 2025 Beautiful resort, we felt right at home. Breathtaking sea view. Excellent food and beautifully cooked pasta. Continental specialties. Professionalism and attention to guests. Courtesy, humility, politeness, and helpfulness like never before. Thanks to all the staff at the dining room, bar, and reception. Thanks to Aini, Giulia, Hannah, Ziyaad, Adam, Mihaadh, Eni, Widia, Maaniu, Husham, Don, Afraah, Pradeep, and Rohit for making our honeymoon a success, as well as the guy who offered us coconuts in the garden and all the staff! A heartfelt thank you from the newlyweds Franco and Lina

This beautiful boutique island surrounded by its own lagoon is only a 25 minute speedboat ride from Male International airport. Our holiday was organised through Angelfish Travel based in Kent, UK. They are experts on the Maldives and Dhawa Ihuru came highly recommended and the perfect fit for our needs. You are greeted at the jetty and offered cold flannels and a cold drink. Check-in is seamless before you are shown to your villa. Villas are sea facing, some have rain showers, some jacuzzis, all have outside bathrooms. The room itself is tastefully decorated with a super king size bed, aircon, daybed, table and chairs, flatscreen TV, suitcase storage area, safe, drawers, wardrobe and mini bar. The mini bar contains soft drinks, beer and wine. There are also branded spirits, snacks and chocolate included in the AI package and replenished daily. The beach can be accessed directly from your villa. There is a deck area with table and chairs, parasol, swing bed, lounge bed and two loungers. The villas are serviced twice daily to a very high standard. There is one bar and one restaurant. The bar offers the usual beer and wine plus a reasonable selection of cocktails included in the AI package. The restaurant is a mixture of buffet and table service on set menu nights. All food is cooked to a high standard and well presented. The island itself is small (no water villas here) and very well kept. The sand paths and beaches are cleaned daily so the island is always pristine. Ihuru is a snorkelers paradise. The house reef here is excellent with easy access around the island, all clearly marked. Great for novice and expert snorkelers alike. There is also a PADI dive centre plus a water sports area where you can get snorkelling equipment free of charge. Above the dive centre and water sports area is a gym. The spa is located internally on the island, meet and greet is relaxed and attentive before you are escorted to your private garden treatment room. I definitely recommend visiting the spa during your stay. Male and its ever growing surroundings can easily been seen from the island. There are new resort islands appearing all around the Maldives which affects the currents, we found the sea to be quite rough at times. That’s progress for you but doesn’t detract from the beauty of Ihuru itself. So if you’re looking for a little piece of paradise, quiet and unpretentious you might want to add Dhawa Ihuru to your shortlist. We were so glad we did, we thoroughly enjoyed our time here.