Question 1

How do I get from the airport to Anantara Kihavah?

Accepted Answer

Anantara Kihavah is located on Kihavah Huravalhi Island in Baa Atoll. The transfer is a 30-35 minute seaplane from Velana International Airport. Seaplanes operate during daylight hours only — international flights must arrive in Male with sufficient time to connect. If a seaplane transfer is not possible due to arrival time, a domestic flight to Dharavandhoo Airport followed by a speedboat transfer is arranged at the same rate. The seaplane schedule is communicated to guests the evening before departure from the resort. No-show guests are charged the full transfer amount. Guests are welcomed at the Anantara lounge in the seaplane terminal, which has snacks, soft drinks and a children's play area. Tip: Request the domestic flight plus speedboat combination if your international flight lands after 2 PM — it removes the daylight deadline entirely and is offered at the same transfer rate.

Question 2

How is the house reef?

Accepted Answer

Kihavah has one of the most exceptional house reefs in the Maldives, encircling the entire island. The reef supports more than 300 species of fish and 130 coral species. Marine life regularly encountered includes Hawksbill turtles, nurse sharks, reef sharks, eagle rays, stingrays, cuttlefish, squid, moray eels, parrotfish, lionfish and triggerfish. Coral propagation nurseries have been established on-site to assist reef regeneration following the 2016 bleaching event. Guests can participate in coral planting and adopt a coral rope. Snorkelling equipment, life jackets and kayaks are provided complimentary to all guests. Night snorkelling is available as a guided excursion. Tip: Enter the reef at dawn for the best chance of turtle and shark encounters before other guests are in the water — the early morning is when marine activity is at its peak on the Kihavah reef.

Question 3

What room types are available?

Accepted Answer

Kihavah has 80 villas and residences, all with private pools. Beach Pool Villas are surrounded by tropical gardens with direct beach access and outdoor bathrooms. Beach villas were renovated in July 2025. Sunset Beach Pool Villas have west-facing orientation. Over Water Pool Villas are built over the lagoon with glass-bottom bathtubs, overwater hammocks and panoramic ocean views. Sunset Over Water Pool Villas face west for evening colour. Family villas include a one-bedroom family beach pool villa and a two-bedroom family beach pool villa (412 sqm, sleeping two adults and up to three children). Residences are available for larger groups. Complimentary bicycles are provided, with child-friendly bikes and baby seats available on request. Tip: Reef Pool Villas on the overwater jetty are best for keen snorkellers — the reef is directly below and accessible at any time from the villa steps without walking to a beach entry point.

Question 4

What is the SEA underwater restaurant?

Accepted Answer

SEA is an underwater restaurant and the only underwater restaurant in the Maldives with an award-winning wine cellar. It is situated below the lagoon surface with 180-degree views of the coral and marine life through floor-to-ceiling glass panels. The restaurant serves fine dining menus including caviar. Lunch and dinner sittings are available. SEA is priced at a premium above the standard meal plan and must be booked in advance. Marine life is visible throughout the meal, including turtles, sharks and rays passing the glass. Tip: Book SEA for lunch rather than dinner for the best natural light through the glass panels — the underwater colours and marine visibility are significantly better with the sun overhead.

Question 5

What is the SKY overwater observatory?

Accepted Answer

SKY is the only overwater observatory in the Maldives and offers guided stargazing through a powerful telescope. The observatory is set on a two-storey overwater platform designed in a Thai architectural style with rocking chairs and a bar. Baa Atoll's remote location away from significant light pollution makes it one of the clearest night sky destinations in the Maldives. SKY hosts resident marine biologists who run sunset soirees with champagne and information sessions on the reef ecosystem and marine conservation. Tip: Combine an evening at SKY with the sunset soiree — the champagne reception with senior staff and the resident biologist is a complimentary and genuinely informative experience, not a sales exercise.

Question 6

How is the food?

Accepted Answer

Kihavah has five dining venues: Plates (all-day dining and breakfast with sea views), Manzaru (pool-facing Italian and Mediterranean, one of the longest pools in the Maldives at 49 metres), Fire (overwater Teppanyaki, reopened in January 2024 with an expanded menu), SEA (underwater fine dining, priced at a supplement) and Sky Bar (overwater bar and lounge). The Epigenetic Dining concept, launched in 2024, offers personalised wellness menus. Resident sommeliers assist with wine pairings. Michelin-star guest chefs visit the resort periodically. Tip: Reserve Fire Teppanyaki and SEA on arrival day for your preferred evenings — both venues have limited covers and sell out well in advance during peak season.

Question 7

What activities are available?

Accepted Answer

Water activities: snorkelling (guided and self-guided), diving (PADI), night snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing, wakeboarding, catamaran sailing, big game fishing, manta ray excursions (May-November), dolphin cruises, turtle excursions, sandbank picnics and Bubble Maker dive courses for children. Land activities: sunrise and sunset yoga, Muay Thai classes, trampoline park, beach football, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, life-sized chess, tennis, kids marine biology programme (ages 8+) and the Maldivian Heritage cultural experience programme launched in 2024. A 24-hour resort doctor is on-site. Tip: The Kids Marine Biology Programme is one of the most distinctive activities in the Maldives for older children and teenagers — it teaches reef ecology through guided snorkelling and diving and is not available at most resorts.

Question 8

What is the villa host service like?

Accepted Answer

Every villa has a dedicated 24-hour Villa Host. The host assists with restaurant reservations, activity bookings, buggy transport across the island, room preferences and special occasion arrangements. Villa hosts are the primary contact for all in-stay requests. The resort has a high proportion of Maldivian staff, which is noted positively by families and guests interested in engaging with local culture. Tip: Ask your villa host about the coral propagation programme on your first day — adopting a coral rope is a meaningful hands-on activity that takes 30 minutes and is one of the more memorable experiences available.

Question 9

How is the spa?

Accepted Answer

The Anantara Spa is overwater with six treatment suites. The spa specialises in Thai massage therapies and wellness treatments. An Ayurvedic approach is available alongside standard massage and facial menus. Daily yoga and meditation classes are included in the stay. Manzaru pool offers one of the longest infinity pools in the Maldives at 49 metres for lap swimming. Muay Thai classes are available for fitness-focused guests. Tip: Book the couples spa suite for a sunset treatment — the glass-floor panels during the golden hour offer a distinctly different experience from a daytime slot.

Question 10

Is Hanifaru Bay manta ray snorkelling available?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Kihavah is the closest resort to Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and the world's largest known manta ray and whale shark feeding aggregation site. During May to November, plankton build-up draws hundreds of manta rays and whale sharks into the bay. Snorkelling and diving excursions to Hanifaru Bay are operated by the resort. Entry to the bay is managed by the Biosphere Reserve authority and is limited — booking in advance is essential during peak manta season. Tip: Book the Hanifaru Bay excursion before arrival or on the first day of your stay during May-November — government-issued entry permits are limited per day and late bookings in peak season may not be accommodated.

Question 11

How is the Wi-Fi?

Accepted Answer

Free Wi-Fi is available in all villas and throughout the resort. The Baa Atoll location is relatively remote — connectivity supports messaging, video calls and general browsing. An iPad is provided in each villa for in-resort communication and activity planning. Tip: Use the in-villa iPad for restaurant bookings and communication with your villa host rather than your own device — the resort app and messaging system are integrated with the iPad and process requests faster.

Question 12

What is the child policy?

Accepted Answer

Children of all ages are welcome. The Thiththi Boli Kids Club operates for children aged 4-12, open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Children under 4 require a parent or babysitter to attend the kids club. Babysitting is available on request. The Kids Marine Biology Programme is available for children aged 8 and above. Family Beach Pool Villas accommodate two adults and up to three children. Extra beds and cribs are available at additional cost — crib policies vary by room type and must be confirmed at booking. Child-friendly bicycles and baby seats for adult bikes are available complimentary. Tip: Request a crib and any child-specific equipment (high chair, baby bath) at booking stage rather than on arrival — these are subject to availability and early confirmation guarantees the setup is in place before you arrive.

Question 13

What are the main pros of staying at Anantara Kihavah?

Accepted Answer

One of the best house reefs in the Maldives: encircling the entire island with 300+ fish species, turtles, sharks and rays accessible directly from the beach or villa steps. Proximity to Hanifaru Bay: the closest resort to the world's largest manta ray gathering, accessible by short boat trip May-November. SEA underwater restaurant: the only underwater restaurant in the Maldives with a wine cellar, a genuinely unique global dining experience. SKY overwater observatory: the only overwater telescope facility in the Maldives, with one of the clearest night skies in the archipelago. All 80 villas have private pools: beach and overwater categories all include pools. Green Globe Certified: genuine environmental credentials including no tree removal during construction and active coral restoration. Exceptional kids offering: Kids Marine Biology Programme, Trampoline Park, Muay Thai and the Thiththi Boli Club make it one of the strongest family resorts in Baa Atoll. Fire Teppanyaki and Epigenetic Dining: dining variety and food quality above what most resorts at this price point deliver. Resident marine biologist on-site: a level of marine expertise and educational depth not found at most Maldives resorts. Tip: Kihavah requires a seaplane transfer with daylight restrictions — plan international arrivals to land in Male before 2 PM to guarantee a same-day seaplane connection without needing to overnight in Male.

Question 14

Is Kihavah suitable for honeymooners?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Kihavah is consistently ranked among the top honeymoon resorts in the Maldives. The Sunset Over Water Pool Villas are the signature honeymoon accommodation. Special arrangements including bed decoration, champagne, spa treatments and private dining are handled by the villa host. The underwater restaurant SEA and the sunset soiree at SKY are among the most romantic dining and experience options in the Maldives. The remote Baa Atoll location creates a genuine sense of seclusion. Tip: Book the Sunset Over Water Pool Villa for a honeymoon — the west-facing orientation means every evening on the deck ends with a sunset directly over the Indian Ocean, which is not available from all villa positions.

Question 15

What meal plans are available?

Accepted Answer

Anantara Kihavah offers Breakfast Only, Half Board, Full Board plans. Half Board and above include the dine-around privilege across all Kihavah restaurants. SEA and Fire Teppanyaki carry a supplement under Half Board and Full Board. The Epigenetic Dining wellness menu is available as an add-on. In-villa dining is available 24 hours at additional cost.

Date di soggiorno	Numero di giorni prima dell'arrivo
1/11/2026 - 5/10/2026	35
5/11/2026 - 10/10/2026	12
10/11/2026 - 12/19/2026	35
12/20/2026 - 1/10/2027	65

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Anantara Kihavah