Exclusive, private and intimate, Hurawalhi Island Resort is only 400 metres long by 165 metres wide, with 90 villas scattered across a clear lagoon or nestled into the sands along an exquisite beach. Superbly designed and spacious, with sumptuous linens and bleached wooden floors, half of these private abodes feature infinity pools where guests can cool off whenever they desire, drinking in those ethereal shades of blue that make the Maldives unlike anywhere else on earth.
In this Maldivian fantasy, the sand is pure white and your conscience will be as clear as the balmy waters of the Indian Ocean, for Hurawalhi’s eco-friendly credentials are far from tokenistic. The resort is serviced by its own water bottling plant, all restaurants offer only organic and biodynamic produce, while 30 per cent of the island runs on sustainable solar energy powered by solar panels – though no one said eco-friendliness had to be ugly, with the power generation transformed into a design feature by New York-based architect, Yuji Yamazaki. Even at Duniye Spa, where the focus is on a natural, holistic, personalised approach, there are no nasties in the ingredients. Whether you choose a massage or a facial, all treatments at this over-the-water idyll are carried out using only organic, preservative and chemical-free products.
It’s easy to fall in love with the languid pace of island time, though if it’s a bustling metropolis you’re after, all you have to do is dip your head beneath the ocean, where the thriving reefs and shallow channels of the Lhaviyani Atoll result in an abundant amount and variety of marine life. Snorkel the house reef or head out to explore Lhaviyani’s 50 dive sites, glimpsing turtles, reef sharks or majestic manta rays – there are 418 in the local waters alone and most measure up to 2.3 metres in size. Guests can learn about these fascinating creatures and Hurawalhi’s research and conservation efforts with Manta Trust at Hurawalhi Marine Biology Center, led by a resident marine biologist and run in close cooperation with Prodivers Maldives.
Even those who prefer to stay dry won’t miss the chance to marvel at the marine life for at Hurawalhi, the dining options include on the beach, over the water, and even under the water at 5.8, the world’s largest all-glass undersea restaurant. Named for its depth of 5.8 metres beneath the sea, diners don’t merely have a box-seat to the scene-stealing view of the marine life – they are also treated to imaginative modern cuisine, wine and service, and the experience rates high on romance, with every table set for two. Unparalleled, extraordinary and utterly original – discover for yourself why Hurawalhi Island Resort is a sanctuary for travellers seeking luxury, innovation and barefoot bliss.