Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
maldives, maldives · ★★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
Anantara Kihavah is genuinely one of the Maldives' most complete honeymoon resorts — and it earns that position through specifics rather than price alone. Situated in Baa Atoll (a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), the house reef here is exceptional: you can step off your overwater villa deck and encounter turtles within minutes, and from June to November the nearby Hanifaru Bay hosts the world's largest aggregation of manta rays and whale sharks. The four-restaurant lineup — including SEA, an underwater dining room — means no menu fatigue over seven nights. Best for couples who want serious marine life, genuine butler service, and variety in dining. Skip it if you prioritise pool size over ocean access, or need a purely adults-only environment — families do stay here. The price range spans entry overwater villas to sprawling beach pool villas; set your budget expectations accordingly.
- ✓Prioritise spa & wellness
- ✓Want direct beach access
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
60/100
At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
Book the Over Water Pool Villa. It gives you a private plunge pool cantilevered over the lagoon, a glass floor panel in the bathroom so you can watch fish while you shower, and direct ladder access to the house reef. Request a villa on the western jetty arm for sunset views directly from your deck. The upgrade from standard overwater to pool villa is worth every dollar for the privacy and the sunset orientation — the eastern villas face the sunrise, which is beautiful but means your evening deck time is in shadow.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| 7 nights Over Water Pool Villa | $4,200–$8,400 |
| Seaplane transfer (per couple, return) | $1,100–$1,300 |
| Dining — 7 days (lunches, dinners, drinks) | $1,400–$2,800 |
| Couples spa treatment (90 min) | $350–$500 |
| Private sandbank dinner | $400–$600 |
| Hanifaru Bay excursion / diving (2 dives) | $200–$400 |
| Total (estimated, excluding flights) | $7,650–$14,000 |
Book Your Stay
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Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Seaplane Arrival & Settle In
The seaplane from Velana International Airport takes about 40 minutes and lands directly in the Kihavah lagoon — book the earliest available flight (departures typically start at 6am) to maximise your first day. Your butler will meet you at the jetty. Order the grilled lobster from in-villa dining, open the complimentary sparkling wine, and do nothing else. The jet lag will hit by 9pm.
House Reef Morning & SEA Dinner
Snorkel the house reef at 7am before the wind picks up — visibility is sharpest in early morning. Your butler can arrange fins and masks the night before. Spend the afternoon at the Anantara Spa for a 90-minute Baa Atoll Signature couples treatment using locally sourced coconut oil. That evening, book SEA, the underwater restaurant: reserve a table for 7:30pm and ask for the window seats facing the coral garden. It fills up fast — book on day one.
Hanifaru Bay Excursion
Between June and November, Hanifaru Bay is 20 minutes by speedboat and offers snorkelling with manta rays and occasionally whale sharks in their hundreds — it's one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters on the planet. The resort runs guided excursions; book through your butler. Outside this season, join the resort's manta night dive at nearby cleaning stations instead. Return for a late lunch at Manzaru restaurant on the beachfront.
Sunrise Fishing & Lazy Lagoon Day
Rise at 5:30am for the traditional sunrise fishing trip — your butler arranges a local dhoni boat. You'll likely catch snapper for breakfast. Back by 8am, the rest of the day is yours. Float in your private pool, order room service from PLATES, and watch the technicolour reef fish from your glass-floor bathroom. This is the day for doing absolutely nothing and not feeling guilty about it.
Dive Certification or Reef Dive
Kihavah's dive school offers PADI open water courses in calm, warm water that beginners find reassuring. Certified divers should join the morning two-tank dive — the coral gardens in Baa Atoll are in genuinely healthy condition and frequently produce reef sharks, eagle rays, and napoleon wrasse. Afternoon: kayak around the island perimeter. The circuit takes about an hour and gives you perspective on just how small — and perfect — the island is.
Private Beach Dining & Sunset Cruise
Ask your butler to arrange a private dinner on the sandbank 10 minutes from the island — it's a strip of white sand in the middle of the ocean, lit by lanterns, and the resort can do this with a day's notice. Before dinner, take the sunset cocktail cruise: a 90-minute dhoni journey through the atoll as the light turns gold and pink. This is the evening to have your butler arrange rose petals and champagne back in the villa for your return.
Final Snorkel & Slow Departure
One last dawn snorkel — the house reef is magical at low light. Most seaplane departures are in the afternoon; ask your butler to arrange a late checkout. Use the morning for the cooking class at SPICE, Anantara's Thai restaurant, learning to make two dishes you can recreate at home. Pack slowly, eat lunch at Manzaru one final time, then board the seaplane with the specific thought that this was worth every cent.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
The seaplane transfer costs $550–$650 per person return and only operates in daylight hours, which limits your arrival and departure flight options — you may need a night in Male on each end of your trip.
Hanifaru Bay mantas are seasonal (June–November in peak season); outside this window the house reef is still excellent but the headline wildlife encounter won't be available.
Dining outside of breakfast is entirely a la carte and adds up fast — a dinner for two at SEA with wine will easily reach $400–$600, and that's before cocktails.
The resort hosts families and children; if you want a guaranteed adults-only atmosphere, this isn't the right property. Mornings at the main pool can include children.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon Stay — [Your Names] — Arrival [Date] Dear Anantara Kihavah Reservations & Guest Experience Team, My partner and I are honeymooning at Kihavah from [check-in date] to [check-out date] (Reservation reference: [XXXXXX]). We were recently married on [date] and this trip is our first together as a married couple. We have two specific requests we would love your help with: 1. Villa preference: We are booked into the Over Water Pool Villa category and would greatly appreciate a villa on the western jetty for sunset views directly from our deck, and as far from the main jetty as possible for privacy. 2. Dining reservation: We would like to book a table at SEA underwater restaurant on our second evening ([date]), ideally at 7:30pm with window seating facing the coral garden. 3. Special request: If it's possible to arrange a private sandbank dinner during our stay, we would love to discuss this with our butler on arrival. Even a simple champagne surprise on our villa deck on the first evening would mean a great deal to us. We will be arriving on the [time] seaplane from Male and are very much looking forward to our stay. Warm regards, [Your Names]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Anantara Kihavah worth it for a honeymoon?
Yes, particularly if marine life matters to you. The house reef quality and proximity to Hanifaru Bay (mantas, whale sharks June–November) set it apart from most Maldives resorts. The underwater SEA restaurant adds a genuinely unique dining experience. At $400–$1,200 per night, it's expensive but delivers on the promise.
What is the best villa for honeymooners at Anantara Kihavah?
The Over Water Pool Villa is the sweet spot — private plunge pool, glass floor panels, and direct reef access from your deck. Request the western jetty arm for sunset views. The Beach Pool Villas are larger and more private but lose the overwater magic that makes this resort special for honeymooners.
When is the best time to visit Anantara Kihavah?
November to April is the dry season with calmer seas and clearer visibility. However, June to November — despite being the wet season — is when Hanifaru Bay's manta and whale shark aggregations peak. Many couples choose October–November for a compromise: the tail end of manta season with improving weather.
How do you get to Anantara Kihavah?
Seaplane from Velana International Airport (Male), approximately 40 minutes. Trans Maldivian Airways operates the floatplanes and seating is assigned by the resort. The transfer costs around $550–$650 per person return and only operates in daylight, so plan your flights accordingly — avoid late international arrivals.
What does the honeymoon package at Anantara Kihavah include?
The standard honeymoon enhancement typically includes: floral decoration and sparkling wine on arrival, a couples spa treatment (60–90 minutes), one private dining experience (beach or villa), and a keepsake gift. Confirm exact inclusions with reservations when booking — they vary by season and booking channel.
One insider tip for honeymooners at Anantara Kihavah?
Book the SEA underwater restaurant on your first full day — it fills up quickly and you cannot leave Kihavah without dining there. Also ask your butler about the sunrise fishing dhoni trip: it's low-key, wildly atmospheric, and often produces fish that the kitchen will cook for your breakfast. Most guests don't know to ask.
Same Vibe, Different Destination
