Fushifaru, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives - Explore & Book

"Our first glimpse of Fushifaru is from the sky. It’s a tiny speck in a turquoise world. We circle it in mere seconds, then swoop down, skimming across the water as our seaplane skids to a halt. What a way to arrive. It’s the colours that hit you first. The blues of the ocean are blinding, and the water completely translucent, revealing coral and tropical fish in rainbow shades. A boardwalk leads to the island – a perfect curve of silky white sand, at the centre of which sits a clump of lush palm trees. Smiling staff donning bright Hawaiian shirts usher you in, then pass you freshly felled coconuts pierced with metal straws for sipping on their juices. Award-winning Fushifaru is a small island (we swam the perimeter in 30 minutes), owned by a Maldivian, so everything feels personal and authentic. You’re assigned your own butler on arrival, restaurant staff know you by name, and the island never appears crowded – we often had the entire east beach to ourselves. Some villas face the sunrise, others the sunset, and the plushest ones are on stilts above the water. You might snorkel in the morning, pausing for a swing in the hammock strung up in the underwater playground, then go for a massage in the afternoon, before trotting barefoot to the pool bar for sundowners. And if you get bored (you won’t), the watersports centre offers everything from dolphin cruises to reef dives. The island feels luxe and exclusive yet laid-back too. And it works for couples and families alike. You’ll wish you were shipwrecked here forever – it’s another world. Highs Rooms are very reasonable for a Maldivian resort of this calibre - make use of their excellent special offers and you'll get hugely reduced prices (far lower than those advertised) The journey alone is unforgettable: you arrive by seaplane and get amazing aerial views of the atolls and reef systems The resort is bijou and boutique, so it feels intimate and personal but not remotely stuffy – and kids are warmly welcomed All villas have outdoor or semi-open-air bathrooms which are completely private and feel very tropical The staff are exceptional – they get to know you by name and are fun and friendly Lows There’s no house reef, so you’ll need to get a boat to neighbouring islands to go diving, but Fushifaru's large lagoon has some good snorkelling spots (we saw a ray) and underwater playgrounds As with all resorts in the Maldives, extras - activities, food and drink, seaplane transfers – can be pricey The beach villas' enclosed open-air bathrooms are warm - consider a water villa if you prefer an indoor bathroom (with A/C and the option to slide open the door to the ocean)" - Lucy Richardson