The luxuries are all here, with a COMO Shambhala spa, world-class yoga facilities and exceptional cuisine along with the Maldives’ vibrant marine life. Around Thaa Atoll, this includes rich whaleshark, hammerhead and Manta Ray populations.
Welcoming, passionate staff help make our luxury Maldives hotel stand apart. along with comprehensive facilities available to anyone staying with us overnight.
Facilities:
COMO Shambhala Retreat (overwater)
8 double treatment rooms
Yoga pavilion
Steam facility (separate male/female)
Gym with weights and cardio equipment
44m-long freeform swimming pool
Watersports centre
Dive centre
Resort boutique
Book/iPod/DVD library
Services:
Complimentary Wi-Fi Internet connection throughout the resort
Complimentary use of non-motorised watersports equipment
Complimentary use of snorkelling equipment
Complimentary daily snorkel trips
Fully equipped dive centre offering introductory dive lessons and full PADI open water courses.
Complimentary use of the guest lounge, incorporating PC/Mac stations and flatscreen TV
Comprehensive travel and tour assistance
Range of activities including sunset and dolphin cruise, fishing, snorkeling, sailing and beach picnics on neighbouring deserted islands
24-hour manager on duty
Personalised butler service (Beach Villas, COMO Residence, Maalifushi Water Villas and COMO Villas only)
Multilingual hotel staff
Laundry service (no dry cleaning)
Twice daily maid service
In-room dining
Foreign exchange
MADI
‘Madi’ (meaning Manta Ray in the local Dhivehi language) takes its inspiration from the region’s fresh, tropical produce and abundant seafood.
Menus are light and flavourful, with a range of local, Mediterranean, Indonesian and Thai-accented dishes served all day, from breakfast to late evening.
Madi also holds themed nights each week, including a local seafood barbeque and a ’thali’ evening focusing on south Indian specialties
THILA
Thila is named after rock formations in the Maldives that are covered with abundant marine life. As a place to congregate, it inspires our informal Maldives restaurant and pool bar where guests can come to chill out.
Food at Thila is easygoing and family-friendly, with salads, freshly baked seafood, pizzas and Turkish ‘pide’.
Laid-back music, billiards tables and an open-air pool bar with ocean views make Thila the relaxed and vibrant heart of island life on Maalifushi.
TAI
Tai, or red snapper, which is a celebratory fish in Japanese culture, aims to be among the finest Japanese restaurants in the Maldives, while showcasing fresh seafood from local waters.
At our dedicated sushi and cocktail bars, Tai’s chefs entertain guests with their culinary skills.
On the terrace, ‘yakiniku’ grills are used to prepare fine cuts of meat that have been marinated and infused with Japanese flavours such as sake, mirin and sesame.
PRIVATE DINING
From intimate gourmet meals on the deck of your villa to picnics and candlelit dinners on the beach, Maalifushi by COMO delivers the dream setting for private dining in the Maldives.
Whether you choose to eat sushi on the beach, or find the perfect spot for a relaxed picnic on your own boat, you can enjoy a special meal served by your own private butler.
The nearby uninhabited islands on Maalifushi’s doorstep can also make for a memorable place to celebrate a special occasion.
SAILING
The Maldives’ calm, shallow waters provide the perfect place to learn sailing while the open water can offer challenges for the more experienced.
At Maalifushi, catamaran sailing is available. Charges apply for lessons or for when you wish to be accompanied by a captain, or for guided snorkeling expeditions on a catamaran.
FISHING
Fishing is part of the Indian Ocean culture, heritage and for many in the islands, forms a vital livelihood. Thaa Atoll in particular has some of the most productive waters, and a very well regarded fishing industry. Resort guests who want to go fishing have access to our expertise, equipment and boat captains.
SURFING
The Maldives are rapidly becoming popular among surfers, with some great long curving atoll reef waves. Maalifushi has one particularly good break. It is easily accessed, located on the resort’s south west side, which can be experienced on guided surf trips. The wave here is a medium-sized whild more challenging barrels are also available within reach of the resort. Best of all, crowds are non-existent.
SNORKELLING
For those who don’t dive, there is no need to miss out on the spectacular marine life of the Maldives. With just a mask and flippers, there is plenty to see around each resort and in the lagoon, with Maalifushi’s undisturbed waters making for some excellent opportunities. Children also much enjoy snorkelling, with complimentary gear provided to guests of Maalifushi.
Snorkellers, who can enjoy a scheduled complimentary snorkel trip with Maalifushi’s trained staff, will see an abundance of marine life such as Moray Eels, Trumpet Fish, Needle Fish, Soldier Fish, Lion Fish, Grouper, Snapper, Cod, Anthias, Cardinal Fish, Bluefin Jack, Sweetlips, Emperors, Butterfly Fish, Banner Fish, Angel Fish, Amemone Fish, Parrot Fish, Powder Blue Surgeon Fish, Convict Surgeonfish, Unicorn Fish and Puffer Fish. Occasionally Fusiliers are spotted here, as well as Trigger Fish, octopus and turtle.
For those who wish to explore further, Maalifushi can arrange guided aqua-safaris with the resort’s resident marine biologist
DIVING
Maalifushi benefits from being brilliantly placed for diving. While around 40 sites in the Thaa Atoll are already chronicled, there are still numerous unexplored channels and reefs, with the waters here offering something for all levels of competence.
The resort’s expert dive instructors will guage ability levels carefully. All divers are required to hold an International SCUBA diving license, which you will be asked to provide together with your logbook. Local regulations mean that guests must dive in buddy pairs; for safety reasons, a guide will also be provided at each dive for those staying at Maalifushi.
Divers may be required to partake of an orientation dive, where an instructor will ask you to demonstrate three key skills necessary to ensure safety (regulator recovery and clearing, mask clearing and alternate air source breathing). Orientation dives are not necessary if you have proof of diving within the last three months and have proof of over 30 logged dives.
SPA
The wellness culture of the Maldives is strong, driven largely by the quality of resort spas. COMO Shambhala Retreat at Maalifushi draws on the very best Asian traditions in its approach to health and wellbeing. The spa offers numerous treatments including massage therapy, emotional rebalancing holistic treatments and restorative skincare.
YOGA
Yoga is popular in the Maldives, not least because of the islands’ proximity to India where the discipline came into being. Yoga is also central to the wellness philosophy at Maalifushi’s COMO Shambhala Retreat. As such, the resort offers complimentary classes every day at the yoga pavilion.
Private tuition is also available for those guests of Maalifushi who would like to develop their practise further, or just learn the basics.