Makunudu Island Resort - The Maldives Classic

If you are craving to experience the classic Maldivian character with indigenous inspiration and touch of local aesthetic, then turn your travelling wheel towards Makunudu Island Resort. You will get to experience a complete Maldivian tradition infused with the style and materials of a traditional Maldivian village.



Maldives is a distinct nation in the Indian Ocean, consisting of 26 atolls and over 1190 islands. Each resort (there are over 100 of them) is situated on an individual private island, allowing for peace and quiet as well as easy access to the water and incredible marine life. Makunudu Island is one of the oldest and smallest resort in Maldives, spreading its rustic charm over six acres. This tiny island almost looks like it might sink under the sheer weight of lush vegetation on it. The property was open to the travellers during 1982. The resort is located on a private island in the North Male’ Atoll, part of Kaafu Atoll. You can reach Makunudu island resort just under an hour; depending on the wind and weather the speedboat ride can be choppy from Male’. The island consists with a jetty and a dock area for its fleet of speedboats and traditional dhoni boats, the latter used for scuba diving and other excursions. Once you have stepped on the island, you will be warmly welcomed by the resort staff members, where they even shake hands with the new visitors. Then the guests are ushered to the restaurant lounge for check-in, where you will be offered a fruit drink, which is so refreshing after the speed boat ride. Once you have filled the gust forms, without any delays you will be escorted to your guestrooms which you have reserved before the arrival.


The guestrooms are built in a form of small bungalows. Makunudu Island contains thirty-six beachfront bungalows with your own private beach area by adding breath-taking view of the lagoon and sandbars. All the bungalows blend into the lush environment in perfect harmony, providing peace and privacy. The low-key bungalows are hard to spot at first. The individual thatched-roof bungalows are hidden amid the jungle like foliage. The island is a perfect getaway for guests, who wants to relaxed by unplugging themselves from rest of the world. There is free WIFI in the bungalows and common areas, but there are no TVs. The bungalows are created by adding Maldivian traditional flavour to its architect with boutique-style décor, textured white walls, dark wooden flooring and varnished timber furniture. Other conveniences which you can find in the bungalow are sitting area for two, tea/coffee maker, minibar, free bottled water, a safe, desk, wardrobe to keep your clothes and a telephone. The high-quality comfortable bed is wrapped up with high thread count bed linen and on arrival you will get stripped two beach towels which placed on the bed. All the bungalows are airconditioned, but if you wish to turn it off then you can always turn-on the ceiling fan. Other than the modern comforts, the island’s pure nature with a fresh breeze wafting from the sea and the gentle swaying of coconut palms will set your mind at ease by providing calmness to your mind. Near the entrance door there is a small holder for messages from the resort’s staff.


The traditional Maldivian style bungalow also consists with an attached open-air private garden bathroom, which looks bit old with its old tiling patterns. It is equipped with a shower, hairdryer and free toiletries. Near the shower area there is a pebble zone with several green plants. Unlike other resorts, in Makunudu you will not find any bathrobes and slippers.

The architect of Makunudu beach bungalows gives you a homey feeling. It feels like these bungalows might have been built generations ago with traditional techniques (such as weaving, tying) and materials (such as thatch, bamboo), but have been upgraded over the years with the contemporary amenities.

The regular guests who used to visit the island know their favourite bungalow and ask to reserve the same year after year. If you are a regular guest then you will receive a bonus, such as fruit & wine. Moreover, long-term guests can purchase memorial boards for their favourite rooms, to which they often come.

There are handful of regular guests who visit this tiny island each year, the reason for their regular visit will charm you as well if you visit the island one time. Makunudi Island’s utter simplicity, gorgeous beaches, thick vegetation and surrounding reef which is so big will capture your heart at once.

Whole island is covered with beautiful greeneries and sandy paths which connect the bungalows to reception, restaurant and bar areas. When you take stroll on these sandy paths, you can always come across White-breasted Waterhen which are common in the island, also tiny walking seashells (hermit crabs use various seashells to cover themselves and walk around). Alongside of the natural sandy paths, when you look closely you can find little plaques with names of newlyweds, regular guests names, anniversary celebrating couples’ names and more.

Thatched-roofed Ara Iru is the only restaurant situated in the island which serves excellent international cuisines, seafood specialties and local delicacies. Ara Iru means ‘rising sun’, where you can actually experience the sunrise whilst having breakfast at the restaurant as the restaurant is located near the beach area. At the restaurant you can enjoy breakfast and lunch in buffet style; dinner will be served in a set menu style. For breakfast you can have from a full English style buffet to Maldivian style dishes. Lunch will consist different salads, soup, meat and sea food items, rice and vibrant dessert items. The set menu style dinner items do vary every day. The bar area is located right next to the restaurant area where you can enjoy ice-cold beer and exotic cocktails whilst having your food. The restaurant offers theme nights and live music twice a week. These thematic options help to prevent permanent guests from experiencing boredom. In the evening you can enjoy the cold breeze of the sea while enjoying your drink by candlelight at the open deck near the bar area. The bar is open till the last customer leaves. The service is friendly and formal.


The bar and restaurant floors are made of the finest sand and the roof is thatched. You can choose packages like half board, full board and all-inclusive based on the requirement. Though “all-inclusive” package will offer you excellent choice of alcoholic beverages, including various wine choices.

When you spend more than two days in the island, then you will get to know that most of the staff members work in this island resort for many years and most of the guests are visiting this island each year to escape from the hectic stressful world. The staff members are so friendly and specialised in providing individual services.


Within 15 minutes you can walk the entire shore of the island to get to other uncrowded sandy beaches. A great spot faces west for magical sunsets, while the jetty area near the entrance offers stunning sunrises. Evening is the ideal time to step on wide stretched sandy beach with barefoot. You can also have afternoon swim or snorkelling, or can arrange to snorkel with majestic whale sharks and eagle rays. Riyaa Water Centre provides free snorkelling gears, but they do charge for water skiing, wakeboarding, canoeing, catamarans and windsurfing. Just next to the jetty, on a protected part of the lagoon straight on the beach, you will find Riyaa Water Centre. Natural build around a tree and with a nice coconut roof you will see it straight away with a very special, personal touch. The visibility of underwater is so amazing that when you snorkel in the shallows you will get to see numerous amounts of colourful tropical fish. Scuba diving lessons are also offered by Riyaa Water Centre, if you are willing to explore the world under the glittering sea. The sloping lagoon and the reef area provide shelter to many different species of fish and several resident turtles, eagle rays and harmless nurse sharks, even Manta Rays occasionally pass by. The PADI (Professional Association of Diving Structors) dive schools at the Makunudu Island resort is multi-lingual, where instructors teach in English, Arabic and Spanish. The school offers a range of intro classes, open water courses, emergency courses, advanced courses and rescue diver courses. There are rates and packages including equipment for up to 15 dives. Night dives are also available. There are many easy and medium-easy dive sites just around the island - including a Manta point, a shark point and the famous Blue Canyon. There is no pool in the island, but turquoise ocean is ideal for swimming. Riyaa Water Centre is an ideal place to visit to look at fish books, have a little chat about diving, watch underwater documentaries and maybe even order a little coffee or your favourite cocktail from the bar (warning alcohol of course never before diving). Even though you are not good at swimming or diving, still you can enjoy the sea life by staying near the shore. Various colourful tropical fishes and turtles will be near the shore to entertain you. Black tipped reef sharks are the fascinating creatures to watch by staying at the shores. If you ever visit Makunudu island, then do not forget to watch reef sharks, where you can observe their hunting methods and playful games.


The area around Makunudu was hit badly from tsunami during 2004, and there has been damage to the reefs. Even though 15 years later, the reefs are recovering and the marine life seems to be as active as ever.

You can also enjoy your afternoons by reading a book next to the beach by lying on a beach chair. You can always borrow your favourite book from the small library within the island. Other activities which you can enjoy in the island are badminton, volleyball and ping-pong.


During the stay at the resort you can sign up for one-night fishing trip. You need to leave from the jetty around 6pm and can come back to island around 8pm. If you are lucky, you can return with your catch of the day. The staff will pick you from the resort jetty in a large traditional dhoni for your fishing expedition. When you have reached the fishing area, you will be given individual hooks and bait. Once your fishing line is in the water, it is a waiting game to see who get the first catch.


To get yourself pampered and to be bit relaxed, you can always visit Aavun Spa, which provides divine spa treatments that incorporate Maldivian, Asian and European techniques to leave your skin feeling glowing and gorgeous. The spa equipped with two therapeutic huts and two well trained masseuses from Indonesia. They offer you facials and body treatments including Swedish and Balinese massages, foot reflexology, coconut scrubs and awaken facials. Aavun Spa is surrounded by a natural pavilion structure with a drawable curtain if you require privacy from the beach view. The soothing sounds of the sea and the exotic beach view will provide you unforgettable massaging experience at the resort.


Palm thatch, if you are into arboreal aesthetic, then you will fall in love with the indigenous palm thatch vibe that you will find all over Makunudu island. Not only the bungalows are covered with these traditional palm thatches, but virtually everything in the island that have any type of cover; trash bins, air conditioning units, lamps, swings are some of them. Even the partitions are made out of palm thatch.

You will also find classic swings in all sorts of varieties all over the island. When you take a stroll alongside the dock which connects the ferry jetty and the reception area, you will come across traditional Maldivian style swings which are made out of wood, then classic hammocks which are also made from wood, ropes and even from bamboo. Other than the rope hammock, bamboo and wooden hammocks are lack in comfort, which you can adjust by putting a cushion over it. Swings are scattered throughout the island where you can relax and take in breath-taking views of the turquoise sea.

Prior to the day of your departure, the hotel staff will place a small notice in the message holder near the main entrance of your bungalow. This notice consists with the details of your check-out time, luggage delivery, transfer and payment time.


Overall Makunudu Island resort is a perfect getaway from fast moving world. The resort owners have not done much changes to the island and do their best to maintain its natural rustic style. This is the main characteristic of Makunudu island resort which distinct from other modern luxurious resorts in Maldives. This tiny island resort is not for travellers who are seeking particular luxury. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Makunudu Island resort offers low-key luxury that you expect from Robinson Crusoe style escape. Quiet authentic secluded beaches with stunning sunrises and sunsets, friendly staff with personal service, traditional style bungalows with easy access to the beach, excellent PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) dive program and water sports (for additional fee), live entertainment for twice a week during evening hours, relaxing Indonesian massages, what else you need to get relaxed by taking a break from your busy schedule with all the amenities. In short, this small picturesque island ticks all the boxes for a tropical paradise, thanks to its gleaming white-sand beaches, warm turquoise waters and swaying palms.



Solar energy powers up entire island in Maldives
Robinson Club Noonu announced to open in 2016
Tripadvisor's best 25 hotels in 2016: 2 from Maldives