Reethi Faru Resort Review: Best Maldives Eco-Luxury Escape

In this post you can find our personal experience with Reethi Faru Resort in the Maldives, including our complete review and other practical info like how to get there and what to do.

The Maldives represent in the collective imagination the definition of paradise on earth.

It’s true that we normally prefer destinations more varied in terms of vibes, landscape and cultural traditions. That said, there are moments in life, aka honeymoon or early parenting, which demand a well-deserved relaxing holiday.

And the Maldives splendidly deliver.

But if the ridiculously turquoise waters, the sinuous palms curling like brushstrokes over talcum-soft sand, and the genuine smiles that greet your arrival are guaranteed to warm your hearth, the journey to get there is more tortuous.

With over a thousands islands, all apparently looking the same, choosing one seems much of a muchness. But as you attempt to understand the differences (and there are ones), you’ll only end up confused and undecided. Navigating such a sheer number of options (even after a brutal selection by price range), becomes suddenly an impossible task.

When our mind laid upon Reethi Faru after abundant research, it wasn’t because we found the best island in the Maldives in absolute terms. It was the best one, for our particular needs.

It was the perfect middle ground, for us who wanted a romantic, family-friendly resort with a great house reef, a decent lagoon, an island grounded in natural beauty and with attention to suistainability practices. All of this, without spending a fortune.

This is our complete review of Reethi Faru resort, the perfect eco-luxury escape in the Maldives.

WHAT WE LOVED

• Natural Beauty | Lush tropical island, mostly in its natural state. Little to no sea walls or groynes, also preserve the island’s natural aesthetic.
• House Reef | Vibrant and teeming with sea life. Also very close to the shore.
• Food | Large selection of restaurant and bars with great attention to quality besides quantity
• Real Inclusivity | Truly family‑friendly yet still infused with romantic, Maldivian magic. A place right for families, couples, and adults alike.
• Activities | Multiple excursions, trips and other activities available. Ideal to fully unwind while keeping a bit of adventure in the mix.
• Price | A mid-to-upper luxury resort with great value for money.

WHAT WE DIDN’T LOVE

• Getting There | True travelling time between Velana International Airport in Malé and Reethi Faru may be longer than anticipated. Not ideal for short stays.
• Hotel Booking | Watch out for scammers (see note below).

Note: It feels unusual to discuss IT security in a Maldives travel post, but it’s an important topic. This isn’t unique to Reethi Faru, and similar scams are increasingly common, a trend only amplified by the rise of AI. Still, we want to be transparent so travellers know what to expect. When booking your stay, you may receive messages and emails from fraudsters impersonating the resort, claiming there’s a problem with your reservation and asking for credit‑card details to “fix” it. This can happen whether you book directly through the resort’s website or via platforms like Booking.com. Not everyone seems to be targeted, and it’s unclear how scammers choose their victims. The resort does include a brief warning on its homepage, but we feel they could be more proactive. In any case, always double‑check with the resort directly before making any payment.

Reethi Faru Resort is part of the Raa Atoll, known for its rich marine life, and for being less crowded than the more popular alternatives.

For those not familiar with the concept, Maldives atolls are ring-shaped coral reef structures whose perimeter is made of tons of coral islands.

With 26 natural atolls forming the entire country, choosing the right one already feels daunting, but there are basic filters to help you.

For example, if quick access is your priority, you might want to consider the North Male` Atoll. If snorkelling with whale sharks is at the top of your bucket list, the South Ari Atoll is your best bet.

For us, the deal‑breakers were excessive remoteness, having only speedboat transfers (not ideal with a baby), and seasonal winds. That ruled out the small distant atolls and the ones strongly exposed to wind in February (like North Malé), because no one flies to the Maldives dreaming of choppy seas.

That said, choosing the right atoll is only one piece of the puzzle and it needs to align with all the other island‑specific criteria (like budget, vibe, house reef, price and so on).

Reethi Faru is located on Filaidhoo private island, embracing the classic one resort – one island concept typical of the Maldives. Like a sprinkle of white salt in a glass of water, the resort is close to a few other islands scattered around its perimeter, providing a sense of seclusion without complete isolation.

We loved the location as we arrived, even if getting there turned out to be a bit more of an ordeal than expected.

About 204 km from Malé, this is not a resort you reach with a quick ride, as a full speedboat transfer isn’t possible.

The hotel offers two options as you book.

• Seaplane Transfer | Operated by Trans Maldivian Airways, this is the adventurous one. After landing in Malé, a resort representative escorts you to the seaplane terminal to check-in. Flight runs only during daylight hours (06:00-16:00). Luggage allowance is 20kg plus hand luggage. Cost: ~USD 450 per adult round-trip.
• Domestic Flights + Speedboat transfer | A 20-min domestic flight to Dharavandhoo followed by a 40-min speedboat, managed by a resort representative like above. Available also a few hours after seaplanes stop flying. Cost: ~USD 350 per adult round-trip.

We took the seaplane, while the in-laws that travelled with us chose the domestic-flight‑plus‑speedboat combo, so we can make a fair comparison. Although we enjoyed the seaplane, we’d choose the other option next time.

First, it’s cheaper and the views are equally fantastic.

Second, the seaplane “should” (in theory but hardly in practice) be faster. Reethi Faru mentions ~45 minutes versus a 25-min to Dharavandhoo plus 30-40 minutes speedboat. Considering also the time of disembarking before transfering on a boat, the seaplane looks like the clear winner.

But we now know that the 45-min transfer is a rare best-case scenario, as it’s only in case of direct flights. Because Reethi Faru’s distance from Malé, it’s very common for seaplanes to make multiple stops en route (ours had four!).

This creates another issue. You don’t board immediately but you’re grouped with passengers heading to other resorts, so departure depends on when their international flights land. We waited over three hours, and with all the stops, our travel time stretched past 1 hour and 30 minutes!

Responsible travelling and sustainability practices are incredibly important for us.

On the footstep of our fantastic experience at Denis Private Island in the Seychelles, we were eager to choose a place embracing a similar philosophy.

In a country were the effects of climate change and environmental controversies are increasingly at the centre of debate, paying a tad more attention to your carbon footprint becomes almost an ethical imperative.

But like for Denis, this does not mean renouncing to comfort, quite the opposite.

We believe that places like Reethi Faru can generate steady business by attracting customers who value environmental initiatives and genuinely prefer barefoot-luxury over abundant artificial intervention.

Unlike some overly built-up resorts, we were very pleased instead to find an incredibly lush, natural island. But aside from the aesthetics, the resorts pays a lot of attention to true sustainability initiatives.

Therefore you can expect to find awareness sessions with marine biologists, partnerships with turtle conservation charities and coral reef revitalization projects.

Energy production is almost entirely generated by fotovoltaic cells (makes sense…) and biofuel from food waste, while use of plastic is limited to the bare minimum.

A lot of the food is organically produced on the island or responsibly sourced from local farms. The resort even goes a step further by generating potable water from the sea through reverse osmosis.

All of this is incredibly important to minimize our impact on the planet but, in a very utilitaristic fashion, it also creates a richer, more authentic experience for the customers.

Learn More | Look at Reethi Faru sustainability initiatives here.

Craving for a seamless bed-to-beach flow, and knowing that our little one would inevitably launch himself into the sea from an overwater, we naturally gravitated towards a beach villa.

The result? The best choice we could have made.

We found a spacious (74 sq m), tastefully decorated, colonial-style room, seamlessly blended with the lush vegetation. All while being a stone’s throw away from the turquoise water.

On the inside, the room is equipped with all the comforts including king-size bed and couch, air conditioning, mini bar, safe and satellite tv. Sun loungers and cosy reading chairs are just outside, carefully shielded by the surrounding vegetation to ensure privacy.

The open air bathroom and shower perfectly complemented the above (like for Denis, we could spend hours under those showers!).

Note: Beach villas line most of the island’s shoreline, but the sweet spot is on the northeast side, between Vakaru Restaurant and Nala Bar. From here you get, in our view, the best stretch of reef and you’re only steps away from the most picturesque (while not the largest) part of the lagoon (by Nala Bar).

Nestled within lush tropical gardens, an oasis of privacy and tranquility, you’ll find cozy garden villas. Smaller than their beach counterparts (54 sq m), they share a similar design and amenities.

Our in-laws stayed there, which means that we can provide an honest comparison of the two.

Overall, we liked the relative proximity to the Nala Bar lagoon (the prettiest bit in our view) and the more competitive price point. However, not having direct access to sea makes the difference as this is what most people coming to the Maldives look for.

Note: While garden villas are a great option for couples or solo travellers, having direct access to the beach truly changes everything if you’re a family with small babies. While your little one naps inside, you can relax on the beach and take turns snorkelling with your partner. It’s a completely different experience than sitting on a chair in a garden!

At the risk of being dismissed as sour grapes, we have to state our controversial truth.

We do not like water villas!

This has less to do with Reethi Faru’s, despite theirs having a pronounced container design, and more with deturping the natural beauty of the area. If you also consider that water villas are normally placed on premium location, that feels like an eyesore.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. For those particularly fond of the style, you’ll have very spacious (95 sq m), warm and naturally lit rooms and a wooden private deck seamlessly blending into the turquoise Indian Ocean waters.

As for location, the water villas are understandably located within the biggest section of the lagoon, offering the ultimate Maldivian postcard. This is also the prime sunset spot, and we admit that chilling on your water villa sipping your sundowner looks pretty damn sweet.

For some, they represent the quintessential Maldivian experience, more legitimate and iconic than the island itself. If you fall in that category, this is where you’ll want to be. For those who don’t particularly care, and look for soothing shades of green as much as endless shades of blue, we recommend to look at beach villas instead.

For the rich and famous or those with a large party, a limited number of the above also come as a two-bedroom plus size villas. Those are much larger than their standard counterpart, and are up to 250 sq m for the two-bedrooom water villa.

The other independent category, is the deluxe beach pool villa, a larger (117 sq m) upgrade from the standard beach villa, complete with a private freshwater pool just outside the patio. Understandably, they come at a higher price, though we are not convinced the premium is fully justified (why would you need a pool when you’re two meters away from the sea?). Some of these villas sit close to the watersport centre, so factor the occasional vehicle traffic breaking the tranquillity. Also, we found a few ones to be along an eroded stretch of the beach, with bulky geobags placed on the sand.

More info here.

Book here.

The island’s main seafront restaurant, is set in a large open‑air wood pavilion. It is a buffet-style restaurant with live cooking stations, and the main gathering place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dinner at Vakaru is a themed buffet that rotates every two weeks, with themes covering international cuisines including Italian, Spanish, Maldivian, and Indian.

Personally, we found the food to be very good and consistent.

Dhiyavaru Restaurant | A beautiful restaurant on stilts sitting above the turquoise lagoon. The only restaurant open 24h. Info and menu here.

Huvandhu Garden | The romantic one, perfect for honeymooners longing for candlelit dinners with the soft hush of waves and the grounding feeling of silky sand beneath the feet. Offering tasting menus for dinner between $75 (all-inclusive customers) and $90. Info and menu here.

Reethi Grill | Great pick for both casual and more refined alfresco meals, centred around open‑fire cooking and grills. Info and menu here.

Veggie “N” Vegan | Casual vegetarian restaurant by the beach. Only open for dinner. Info and menu here.

Raalhu Cafe | Light snacks and a few proper dishes, located by the resort main swimming pool. Note: For half-board guests looking for sandwiches or other quick meals at lunchtime, this is the only real option.

Without the pretence of being exhaustive about every spot serving alcohol, you’ll find a selection of our favourites below.

Nala Bar | Overall our favorite spot on the island. Sitting on the east side, you’ll find a beautiful and uncrowded lagoon, the perfect place to swim and relax with a drink. Recommended between sunrise to afternoon, before the sun disappears to the other side.

Sunset Bar | The name says it all. This is the place to be for the perfect sunset cocktail. Also, the resort often organizes a “free sunset cocktail event” for the guests here.

Thari Bar | Quiter alternative to sunset bar for lazy afternoony cocktails. We also had our welcome drink here and was fantastic.

One of the reason we chose Reethi Faru was, in our opinion, the right balance between wide sandy lagoon and vibrant house reef for snorkelling.

The reef is easily accessible (ten meters from the shore to the drop-off in some areas), with dedicated water channels to facilitate access.

We also found it to be rich and full of life. While many corals show signs of past bleaching from rising sea temperatures and previous El Niño events, a surprising number are recovering and displaying vibrant colours. You’ll likely see large school of tropical fish and we also constantly spotted reef sharks, turtles and eagle rays.

Every morning at 11am, the marine centre offers a free guided snorkelling tour, which is a great way to get familiar with the reef and perhaps encounter species you might otherwise miss.

Still, our favourite spot remained the stretch right outside our beach villa on the northeast side of the island, where the reef was closest and consistently full of activity.

Basic snorkelling gear (fins, mask, snorkel) is complimentary.

You can view a comprehensive list with prices here.

Below you can find a summary of the ones we have done and enjoyed.

Dolphin Safari | Often discounted depending on your package and length of stay. It’s done on a traditional dhoni, and usually includes a stop at either a sandbank or an unhinabited island. Note: Despite what brochures say, sandbank stops are now rare as most nearby ones are submerged.

Sunset Cruise | The easy win. It’s free if you stay 5+ nights, so it would be silly not to do it. Lasts about 1 hour, circling the nearby 5-star resort Joali Being on Bodufushi island.

We also did various snorkelling trips organized by the resort SeaXplorer dive centre. Each of excursion runs only on specific days and fill up fast, so book early.

Below a list of the ones we recommend.

Manta Lagoon | Our all time favourite. Even out of season, we saw a large group of mantas right beneath us. Loved it.

Coral Garden | The excursion takes place in two different locations. First you’ll go to a vibrant coral area but with limited sea life (although we spot a turtle and a moray eel). Then they’ll bring you to a second site with a stronger focus on the fauna. Both places were exceptional in their own ways and much better than the alreay great house reef of the resort.

Sunny Side | We didn’t personally do this one as it was fully booked. However, multiple people that we spoke to referred to this as one of their favourite. There is also a chance of big encounters as you’ll snorkel at the edge of the Raa atoll.

Additional snorkelling trips include other type of reef-focused safaris, turtle watching spots and even night snorkelling excursions!

Learn More | You can look at Reethi Faru’s SeaXplorer price list here.

Tucked away towards the centre of the island, the Coconut Spa is the perfect place for nurturing the body and soul.

Cocooned beneath layers of lush tropical vegetation, the opening pavillion unfurls an oasis of tropical flowers, water features and wooden canopies to unwind as you wait for your massage.

We had a lovely late afternoon here, where we did the Spa base couple massage, and Tania also returned the day after for a foot reflexology treatment.

The Spa also offers complimentary sauna and jacuzzi, perfect for a little extra pampering before or after your treatment.

Learn More | For more information on the available packages, you can check here.

Reethi Faru watersport centre is considered one of the best-equipped centres in the Maldives.

We are not fanatics about this by any means, but for the excited ones you have a huge range of choices. Apart from the classic kayaks and paddleboards, you’ll find jet skies, underwater scooters and many more. If you’re up to adrenaline-pumping activities you can also do flyboarding, parasailing, tubing, kite and windsurfing (for hire or as private/group lessons). Various jet ski excursions are also organized here, reaching secluded spots like the Blue Lagoon.

Apart from the watersport centre, you also have a gym and tennis courts nearby, right by the island infinity pool. We had the best intentions of checking out those, but, well, island life got in the way!

As we travelled with our little one (16 months at the time of travel), a genuine family-friendly resort was essential.

At the same time, we didn’t want a place completely distorted and detached from the romantic experience you come to the Maldives for.

We think that Reethi Faru strikes the perfect balance.

Apart from the monetary advantages coming from their kids-stay-&-eat-free policy, we loved that our little one was treated like a superstar rather than a nuisance.

The resort doesn’t have massive kids facilities or in-house nannies, but frankly we were not looking for that anyway. What mattered to us were the genuine smiles, the care, and the freedom for children to roam, unlike certain resorts that divide the island into family and adult-only zones.

Looking back on our week at Reethi Faru, it’s easily one of our most memorable trips. What stood out most was the balance the resort strikes. Luxury with sustainability efforts, family-friendly with romance, a rich house reef and wide-open lagoons. If you’re deciding between resorts, Reethi Faru is a great choice to mix relaxation, activities, and a slightly more eco-conscious stay without sacrificing comfort.

A week gave us enough time to properly settle in, try multiple restaurants, and fit in several excursions without feeling rushed, though we could have happily stayed much longer!