Staying at Kuramathi Maldives (Hotel Review)
If you’re looking for a Maldives island that has it all – stunning beaches, crazy-beautiful vegetation, amazing food, and tons of things to do – Kuramathi is probably the place you’re imagining.
It’s big, lively in the best way, but still gives you those peaceful postcard moments.
What surprised me most is how perfectly everything comes together here: long nature trails, cosy bars, great snorkelling, and so many restaurants that you genuinely won’t manage to try them all in one stay.
And even though the island is one of the larger ones in the Maldives, you never really feel the crowds. Just plenty of space to explore, relax, and enjoy your own little slice of paradise.
But I won’t spoil everything just yet – keep reading to discover what staying at Kuramathi is really like.
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking.)
Location & Getting There
Kuramathi is tucked away in the beautiful Rasdhoo Atoll, about 56 km west of Malé. You can get there by seaplane, which takes around 20 minutes, or by speedboat.
We went by speedboat, which took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It was nice to just sit back and watch the water. Since we had already traveled to another resort by seaplane, it was also fun to experience the slower, more relaxed way of getting to the island.
The pick-up was super smooth and easy as well. Coming from another resort, we were guided to the Kuramathi information point at the airport, where the staff took care of our speedboat check-in and then accompanied us and the others to the boat.
Accommodation
When we arrived, we were greeted by staff members playing traditional drums, along with a really yummy welcome juice and some refreshing towels.
After the formalities, like getting info on all the facilities and filling out the guest form, we were taken straight to our home for the next couple of nights.
Kuramathi is one of the Maldives’ biggest island resorts, stretching over about 2 km long and half a kilometer wide, with plenty of accommodation scattered across the island. It’s big enough that you can get around using buggies, which is super convenient.
There’s a wide range of accommodation for every budget, from cozy Beach Villas to luxurious Overwater Villas with private pools and Pool Villas.
We stayed in a Pool Villa, which was the perfect base for our few days on the island.
Pool Villa
The Pool Villas sit right at the edge of the beach and are accessed through a private courtyard.
Inside, the villas are furnished with a huge king‑sized bed facing the veranda, a TV, a small sofa, and a walk-in wardrobe.
The bathroom is just as nice, with a big freestanding bathtub, twin vanities, a rainfall shower, and a separate outdoor shower that gives you that tropical open‑air feeling.
My absolute favorite part, however, was the sundeck with sun‑loungers, deck chairs, and our private 18 sqm infinity pool facing the beach and the ocean. Guess where we spent most of our time. 😉
Since we were on the western side, we could also enjoy the most stunning sunsets right from our pool — it was just incredibly memorable and beautiful.
Restaurant & Bars
Kuramathi has plenty of options when it comes to dining. Besides the three main international buffet restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the island also has nine à la carte restaurants serving a variety of cuisines to suit every taste.
Depending on where your villa is, you get assigned a main restaurant — ours was Farivalhu, and it was really lovely.
There are also six bars scattered around the island, serving you everything from classic cocktails to tropical drinks — or, in our case, iced coffee.
I wish we could have tried every single restaurant and bar, but of course, there wasn’t enough time. That said, we did go back to the spots we really enjoyed, so here are the places we tried and can definitely recommend!
Farivalhu
I’m not a really picky eater and I always manage to find something as a vegan – and Kuramathi was no exception.
I was actually pleasantly surprised at how many vegan options were available, especially since they don’t explicitly mention offering vegan dishes.
The buffet is international and really big, with lots of Asian-inspired dishes – think vegetable sushi, curries, dals, and more — so it was really easy for me to find something delicious. On top of that, there were plenty of fresh salads, breads, and fruits for dessert.
Breakfast was a highlight, too. They even had scrambled tofu, which I hadn’t tried before and loved, and on the last two mornings, I asked for vegan pancakes, which they happily prepared for me.
While the dishes aren’t specifically labelled as vegan, only vegetarian, you can ask the helpful staff for more information on the ingredients or, as mentioned, make special requests.
Your choices might be a bit limited if you’re staying 2–3 weeks, but if you’re not picky or just spending a few days here during island hopping as we did, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your cravings.
Of course, the buffet also has plenty for everyone else, with a wide variety of seafood and meat dishes.
Palm
Palm is Kuramathi’s Mediterranean à la carte restaurant, serving classics like pasta, pizzas, salads, and other Italian-inspired dishes.
When we arrived, I mentioned that I’m vegan, and the staff immediately pointed out what they could prepare for me, which made things really easy.
I ended up ordering the Spaghetti aglio e olio with a green salad, and they were honestly so good — super garlicky, just the way I like it. My partner had a Malaysian-inspired pizza, which he really enjoyed as well.
Make sure you leave a little room for dessert, because the ice creams and sorbets here are fantastic. I tried the typical Maldivian screwpine sorbet, which has a very unique flavour, and I ended up loving it. It’s definitely something you don’t get to try every day!
Siam Garden
Siam Garden is Kuramathi’s dedicated Thai restaurant, and it turned out to be our favourite place to eat on the island. It’s located right in the middle of the island’s lush nature, which gives it a really special and calm atmosphere.
The menu offers a mix of seafood, fish, vegetarian/vegan, beef, and chicken dishes, along with Thai fruits, tasty desserts, and a selection of Asian herbal teas.
They had several vegan options available, including vegetable spring rolls, fried vegetables, and the most delicious vegan Pad Thai. For dessert, they even offered to prepare mango sticky rice for me, but I was so full I needed to decline.
We genuinely loved our evening here and would go back anytime!
Laguna Bar
Laguna Bar quickly became our go-to spot for cocktails and iced coffee. It’s located right opposite Farivalhu and just steps away from the Infinity Pool — and you can even order your drinks while chilling on the sunbeds.
On the menu, you’ll find a mix of classic cocktails, tropical drinks, fresh juices, and iced coffees — they even have soy milk for coffee, which I really appreciated.
We mostly visited during the day, but one evening we stayed to enjoy the resident DJ, who plays every evening during sunset.
Activities & Excursions
There’s so much to see and do at Kuramathi that you could easily stay busy for weeks!
From water sports like snorkeling, diving, and paddleboarding to excursions and fitness activities, there’s something for every mood. You can also explore the house reef, try out a cooking class, or simply relax on the beach and soak up the sun.
During our stay, we rented a glass-bottom kayak for an hour to paddle around the island. It was actually my first time kayaking, so my partner did most of the work, but it was still such a fun way to explore the surrounding waters and spot fish below.
Another absolute highlight was the Sunset Dolphin Excursion, which ended up being one of the most magical experiences of my life.
Over 1.5 hours, we saw so many dolphins – they even swam alongside our boat for a long time. We finished the evening with a glass of sparkling wine, watching the sun dip below the horizon.
A truly magical and unreal adventure that will forever stay in my mind!
Other Facilities & Unique Features
Pools & Spa
Kuramathi has three main pools in total — one at each end of the island and the Garden Pool in the middle, right next to the spa.
Since we had our own private pool, we mostly spent time there, but if your villa doesn’t come with a pool, you still have plenty of options for a swim.
The spa, located near the Garden Pool, is a peaceful oasis offering massages, facials, and wellness treatments — the perfect way to relax after a day of exploring the island or enjoying water activities.
Sandbank
One of the highlights of staying at Kuramathi is definitely the sandbank. It’s a stretch of pristine white sand surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise waters – perfect for long walks, photos, or just soaking in the view.
It was even voted one of the world’s 50 best beaches!
The water is incredibly calm and shallow, ideal for wading or floating around. Make sure to visit at sunset at least once – it’s stunning, and with the shallow water, you can wade out really far, creating that magical “walking on water” effect in photos!
Vegetation
The island’s flora and fauna are honestly a dream! Kuramathi feels like a true tropical paradise, and I haven’t seen anything quite like it.
Everywhere you look, there’s lush greenery, swaying palm trees, and vibrant tropical flowers, making strolling around the island feel like walking through a botanical garden. The island is even home to a 300-year-old banyan tree — one of the oldest in the Maldives!
The island has several nature trails, including the Botanic Walk, Nature Trail, and Hermit Crab Walk.
I especially loved the Botanic Walk, which is a long, well-marked pathway where you can stroll among herbs, medicinal plants, tropical trees, and vibrant flowers, all labeled with interesting info about their uses and origins.
The Nature Trail winds through a more untouched part of the forest, showing things like seed stations and coconut lifecycles, while the Hermit Crab Walk is perfect for spotting the tiny crabs scuttling along the sand.
The island also runs a Hydroponics Garden, supplying fresh herbs and salads for the restaurants.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a very important part at Kuramathi as well. They have their own eco center, which was established in 1999, to better understand and protect the fragile marine ecosystem.
There, they conduct coral reef research, monitor sea temperatures, and maintain a coral nursery.
The center also features a sperm whale exhibit, other marine and botanical specimens, and a reading corner with nature books.
Other sustainability measures include:
- Coral reef protection – reef monitored, snorkel channels marked, regular clean-ups
- Coral regeneration project – hundreds of coral frames in the lagoon for reef restoration
- Plastic reduction – reusable glass water bottles, refillable toiletries, paper straws
- Waste & water management – composting, grey water reused for gardens
- Eco-friendly transport – electric buggies around the island
- Renewable energy – solar power used across resort buildings
Final Words
Kuramathi is definitely one of its kind in the Maldives. At first, it can feel a little overwhelming – there’s so much to see and do, and the island is huge, especially if you’re staying less than a week.
But even with all the activities, restaurants, and bars, we never thought it felt crowded. The only busy spots are usually the main restaurants, while everywhere else – the beaches, pools, trails, and sandbank – feels calm and peaceful.
The resort truly caters to every budget, so everyone can find their perfect home-away-from-home. It’s perfect for all types of travelers, whether you’re honeymooning, travelling as a couple, or enjoying a family getaway.
Kuramathi offers a great mix of adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty that makes your stay feel truly special.
We really enjoyed our stay on the island, and I personally think it’s one of the most beautiful when it comes to tropical vegetation.
I just wish we’d had more time to try even more activities and restaurants – but I guess that just means we’ll have to come back one day. 😉
Check out my reel for more impressions from my stay!
This blog post was written in cooperation with Kuramathi Maldives and is based on my personal experience.
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