Finolhu: My Favorite Resort in the Maldives for Adventurous Travelers

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A whimsical 5-star resort that focuses on stellar overwater bungalows and loads of unique activities.

While my feelings about Finolhu are pretty apparent in the title of this blog post, I think it’s essential to outline all the reasons why I enjoyed my time at this resort so much.

Because I’ll be honest, I am not an all-inclusive kind of gal. While you may be wondering why on earth then I have visited the Maldives as many times as I have (answer: I love a beach and the Maldives have some of the most incredible mega-fauna in the world), I have become well acquainted with the resorts of the island nation. Importantly, I have sussed out the resorts worth visiting if you are an adventurous, independent traveler looking for a relaxing getaway.

Because sometimes, you also want an opportunity to rest and recharge. Ideally, in a place that celebrates the local Maldivian culture, makes an effort to be eco-friendly, and has an abundance of outdoorsy activities to keep you occupied. In which case, Finolhu is the perfect choice for you.

Here’s what you need to know to feel confident in your decision to book your stay at Finolhu.

Who is Finolhu the Perfect Choice For? 

Finolhu is the ideal choice for travelers looking to revel in 5-star luxury without sacrificing their on-the-go travel style. It’s an ideal relaxation destination for people hoping to get close to Manta Rays, embark on incredible snorkeling experiences, and spend lots of time on the beach. Also, a great place for families who want an abundance of activities to keep them entertained. It’s a foodie-haven and a romantic getaway for couples!

Truthfully, this resort checks all the boxes, and I feel that any single, couple, or group of people will have plenty to enjoy on the island. As an added bonus, the island is quite large, which makes it an excellent getaway for those hoping for a longer trip but are worried about feeling too cooped up on a single spit of sand.

Sustainability At Finolhu: How Eco-Friendly is this Resort?

One thing I LOVE about Finolhu is that it is not a part of a huge resort or luxury travel conglomerate. Yes, they are owned by Seaside Collection, a family-run company with a collection of luxury properties (and river cruises) around the world. However, it’s still a small operation with an intimate team working to make your stay special.

I feel like this makes it feel far less corporate than other Maldivan Resorts, and the staff are a lot more comfortable and genuine with the guests.

When it comes to sustainability, resorts in the Maldives, generally speaking, try to do a good job. Finolhu is no exception. They work with Marine Biologists for all of their sea life excursions, they invest in solar, they work to minimize waste by running thier buffets very strategically (and the extra food goes to staff), they source a lot of the food itself directly from the islands, they engage with people from the nearby local islands and support their community.

All around, I found that Finolhu was going above and beyond to really deliver on its promises of being a “green” property.

A Quick Look at Finolhu’s Amenities

Let’s soar on over to the Baa Atoll and take a look at Finolhu’s amenities.

There are certain standards that pretty much every resort in the Maldives meets. They all offer snorkeling excursions (usually to a house reef + some other exciting nearby fauna), many offer a dive center for experienced divers and novices, they all have at least one exclusive dining option for people looking to up their culinary experience, they usually have a pool (often times with it’s own bar), a spa for facials and massage, cooking classes, sunset cruises, rooms that all offer privacy with easy beach access, and then each resort likes to pepper in it’s own flair that makes it a unique travel destination.

These are the unique amenities of Finolhu that make it worth your money.

• A Massive Sandbank.
• The Largest Private Lagoon in the Maldives. The way the island of Finolhu is shaped creates a massive calm lagoon in between the long sand bank and the endless curve of the overwater bungalows.
• An Incredible Spa in Serene Settings. Highly recommend the Balinese Massage at Fehi Spa. There is also a sauna that’s totally free for all guests to use!
• Beautiful Outdoor Yoga Center. If you’re interested in wellness during your vacation, Finolhu offers one of the most serene yoga areas in the Maldives. They also do daily yoga on the sandbank for an even more grounding experience. The gym is also worth mentioning; it’s better equipped than any other rec center I’ve used.
• Lagoon Dining Platform. Finolhu has a private dinner option that takes you out on the open water (the Lagoon so it’s nice and calm) for the most relaxing of dinners.
• Dive Center with LOTS of Excursions. I’ll get into this a little more later, but I was very impressed with the knowledgeable biologists at the center and how many excursions were offered.
• The Crab Shack. An incredible toes-in-the-sand dining experience on the far side of the sand bank isolated from the rest of the island.
• Option to Overnight in a Beachside Bubble. This is just one of MANY unique experiences that Finolhu offers. They have situated a transparent bubble room on the far end of the island (totally private) for the ultimate stargazing experience.
• Weekly “White Party” With Free Snacks, Cocktails, and a DJ for Mingling. Or don’t mingle, the choice is yours. Either way, it’s a really fun experience with nighttime entertainment.
• A Truly Iconic Teen Center. Finolhu is one of a few islands that created a space specifically for teens. Not a cheesy one either. There’s a pretty cool hangout room with musical instruments, games, and a coffee bar.
• Pickleball, Tennis, and Futball (Soccer) areas. In case you want to be really active.
• An Art Center. If you have kids or want to try your hand at painting, pottery, etc, there is no more idyllic place to give it a go than this lovely outdoor art center on Finolhu.
• An on-Island Clinic/Doctor. Hopefully, you won’t need it, but most islands require you to transfer back to Male in the case of any illness or injury. Fortunately, Finolhu has its own doctor who can handle most issues without an interruption to your vacation.
• Milk Lab. It’s like a little island Starbucks. Also, has great protein shakes.

Honestly, I could go on and on. For such a small island, there was a seemingly endless list of things you *could* do, and they do it all well. I could most definitely spend 1-2 weeks on this island and not feel even the slightest bit cooped up. That’s not something I could say about a single other Maldivian resort.

Why Choose Finolhu AKA What Sets This Maldivian Resort Apart From The Rest 

Let’s talk about the real reasons that Finolhu is one of the only resorts in the Maldives that I would recommend wholeheartedly to other travelers.

1. Hanifaru Bay + Snorkeling

Hanifaru Bay is the single best place in the world to snorkel with Manta Rays. I wrote a whole blog post that details how to best swim with Mantas in the Maldives if you want more information on the Marine Bioreserve (*coming soon*).

Finolhu is very close to Hanifaru Bay. In fact, it’s one of the closest resorts, which makes planning this excursion with their marine biologist team quite easy. It only takes 40 minutes to reach the marine bioreserve by speedboat. Then you can be swimming in a clouds of Mantas.

Hanifaru Bay aside, Finolhu also has some of the best snorkeling of any resort I’ve visited in the Maldives. Straight from our overwater bungalow in the off-season we saw Eagle Rays, Reef Sharks, Dolphins, Sting Rays, Eels, and loads of large colorful fish. We took an excursion to search for Turtles (found them) and Dolphins (found them), which we saw from above and in the water!

If you want to truly experience the underwater world, Finolhu is a great choice of resort.

2. Abundance of Activities On the Island 

I already touched on this aspect a lot in the “amenities” portion of this blog post, but I was really impressed with the sheer amount of things to do on the island! We only stayed for three days and I felt like I didn’t even get to scratch the surface.

In comparison, after three days on other Maldivian Islands, I was a little bored and more than ready to leave.

3. A Laid Back Atmosphere + Stunning Coloful Design  

I have to mention the design of everything on this island. If you visit a few resorts in the Maldives, you’ll notice they often fall into the trap of minimalism. I’m assuming in an effort to appeal to all tastes. But really, it’s just kinda bland and boring. Finolhu is bold and colorful and absolutely stunning. From the turquoise tiles in our room to the stunning pops of color all throughout the property (like the hot pink VW bus DJ Booth), it was a welcome change of pace.

4. Incredible Eats for Isolated Islands  

The Maldives aren’t really known for their culinary excellence when it comes to resorts. But Finolhu is. Probably because rather than bringing ingredients from abroad, they focus on local items whenever they can. Most meals are eaten buffet-style at the Beach Kitchen, but that in no way sacrificed quality. There was always a huge selection of items, including real Maldivian food (rare to find on resort islands).

They even introduced neighboring country cuisines like Indian and Sri Lankan, so you can try all kinds of new things.

The specialty restaurants Arabian Grill (Middle Eastern food prepared by an Egyptian Chef), Kanusan (Japanese cuisine), and Crab Shack (Seafood) set the bar even higher.

5. An Absolutely Beautiful Island With White Sand Beaches

While all beaches in the Maldives are soft, white sand slices of heaven, not all of them are so beautifully foliated. Palm-fringed, if you will. I was very impressed with how jungley the island still is and how fresh and green the walkways are. This gives the feeling of being in a forest near a beach, rather than on a tiny speck of sand in the Indian Ocean.

While the main island is quite small, the sand bank stretches out long and curved into the ocean, giving you a scenic 1.5 km to walk at sunset or beneath the stars. The immense beach adds to the island’s incredible ambiance and immerses you in nature.

6. Maldivian Culture is Celebrated.

Not just in the food, but that is a big part of it. At other resorts, you would be presented with one or two Maldivian food options and then the classic array of buffet favorites. But not here. There was always a dozen or so Maldivian items peppered throughout the buffet, and Maldivian night brought many, many more.

On Maldivian Night (weekly), local people from nearby islands come with high-end handicrafts to sell and recipes to cook, so that you get a little taste of Maldivian culture on your trip. This is so important and such a good way that the resort helps support the local communities.

How Much Does a Visit to Finolhu Cost You? 

Let’s take a look at the cost of a few different rooms for two at Finolhu.

Keep in mind that while I have included the Booking.com links above, Finolhu gives special perks and deals to guests who book directly with them.

For example, currently they are offering a bottle of sparkling wine, a Selection of Dolphin Cruise or Snorkelling Express, Complimentary one Laundry Bag Service, Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability, 10% saving voucher at our Edition boutique, 10% off PADI dive courses (Excluding discover scuba diving), In-Villa breakfast for our Rock Star and 2-bedroom beach villas until 12 pm, Dedicated Roohu (Butler) who will take care of your every need, and daily Sunrise yoga as per the weekly schedule.

Another added perk of booking direct? You can purchase “Finolhu dollars” in advance at a discounted rate. While obviously, you can still just pay in regular dollars once you arrive, if you are NOT an all-inclusive guest, it does make sense to buy the Finolhu dollars, as it will save you a minimum of 10%.

All-Inclusive vs Half-Board vs Bed/Breakfast

Which is the most worthwhile? Personally, I will forever be a bed & breakfast gal. Especially in beach destinations, where you’ll likely eat less due to the heat, humidity, and the beachiness of it all. Finolhu was more than reasonable in its prices for food and alcohol. In fact, there was wine on Finolhu for $12 a glass. In my opinion, opting for bed and breakfast with the added bonus of some pre-purchased Finolhu dollars is the best bang for your buck when visiting the resort.

Does Finolhu Require a Seaplane Transfer? 

Finolhu is easiest to reach via seaplane. This is how 95% of guests arrive. But if you’re very anti-seaplane, you can opt for a domestic flight (regular plane) + a 30-minute boat ride. This is a much less common route and probably won’t save you all that much money considering the cost of domestic fares.

The seaplane transfer costs around $580 per person, round-trip.

A Glimpse Inside Finolhu’s Overwater Ocean Villa

We stayed in the classic Overwater Ocean Villa and I can confidently say, if you choose this room, you will not be disappointed. A king-size cozy bed is situated facing huge glass doors that open to your own private deck, infinity pool, and then the open ocean. You can watch the waves roll in from the reef straight from your bed in the morning.

Additionally, the space is huge. Outside, you have a deck with lounge areas for both the sun and shade, an outdoor shower to rinse off the sea, and of course, the pool itself. Inside, you have a coffee bar, a sitting area, a desk, and an entertainment center with an excellent sound system. The bathroom has one of those ergonomic bathtubs set up so you can look out into the ocean during your personal spa day. It has an indoor shower and an additional outdoor shower that I used during our entire stay. I’ll just let the photos speak for themselves.

Overall, we loved our time at Finolhu. While I still find that visiting local islands in the Maldives is the best way to experience the country, those looking for a 5-star island escape should confidently book a stay at Finolhu.

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