A calm, well-run island in the remote south with surf breaks, a strong COMO Shambhala spa and an all-inclusive plan that keeps the bill in check.
Maalifushi is our pick when a client wants top-tier service without the very top-tier bill. The Simply COMO all-inclusive plan covers meals, house drinks, a set of activities and a massage, which takes the sting out of Maldives menu prices, and the villas are generously sized for the rate.
Thaa Atoll is far south and quiet, surrounded by uninhabited islands. Surfers get Tropicsurf coaching on nearby breaks, anglers get light-tackle and fly-fishing sites within half an hour, and everyone else gets a spa that is one of COMO Shambhala's biggest, with overwater treatment suites.
The catch is the journey: the seaplane takes about an hour, so it is a long day from London and not the place for a three-night stay. There are only a handful of restaurants, which is fine for a week but thinner than the big resorts nearer Malé.
A one-bedroom overwater villa with a private pool, sundeck and full-length windows onto the Indian Ocean.
A one-bedroom suite with its own garden, private pool and direct beach access; a two-bedroom version suits families with up to four children.
Beachfront with its own pool, and room for up to six guests including four children.
An oversized two-bedroom overwater bungalow on its own jetty, with a private pool and sundeck.
A four-bedroom villa with sea views, a media room and a full kitchen, for large families or groups.
Madi is the beachside all-day restaurant, named after the manta ray, with three themed nights a week. Tai is the Japanese restaurant for sushi, sashimi and sunset drinks, and Thila is a sand-floored bar serving the Madi menu. COMO Shambhala Kitchen dishes, with a plant-based lean, are available at Madi and in-villa.
COMO Shambhala Retreat has overwater treatment rooms, an open-air yoga pavilion, a Finnish sauna, steam room, plunge pool, gym and daily classes, plus visiting practitioners and four-day cleanse menus.
Families are well looked after, with baby amenities, extra beds, interconnecting rooms and multi-bedroom villas. The kids programme includes treasure hunts, Maldivian cooking, junior marine biology and boduberu drumming, and there is a PLAY by COMO space.
| Location | Thaa Atoll, southern Maldives |
|---|---|
| Transfer | About 60 minutes by seaplane from Malé |
| Dining | Madi, Tai and Thila |
| Spa | COMO Shambhala Retreat |
| Meal plan | Simply COMO all-inclusive available |
| Surf | Coaching and trips with Tropicsurf |
Thaa Atoll, Maldives
A few of the things we plan for guests in Maldives.
Hanifaru Bay is a small, shallow bay in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. During the southwest monsoon, tides and currents trap plankton in the bay and manta rays, sometimes whale sharks, gather to feed, most reliably July to October. It is snorkel only, with licensed guides and capped numbers. Stay in Baa so you can go when mantas are reported.
The outer reef of South Ari Atoll, around Dhigurah and Maamigili, is known for juvenile whale sharks, which are seen here all year. Boats patrol the reef edge and you slip in to snorkel as one passes. Keep your distance and never touch.
A house reef is the coral wall that rings your island, and the best ones start a few fins from the beach. Expect turtles, blacktip reef sharks and eagle rays. Ask for a guided swim on the first day to learn the currents and exit points.
Eight nights in Sri Lanka with a private driver-guide, from the rock fortress at Sigiriya to the tea estates and the old fort at Galle, then a short flight to Malé and five nights on a quiet island in Thaa Atoll.
Break the flight with two nights on the beach in old Jumeira, then seven nights on a barefoot island in Baa Atoll with a large kids club and a UNESCO biosphere reserve on the doorstep. Good for families.
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.
