Luxury Hotel · The Maldives
Dhawa Ihuru
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At a glance
Dhawa Ihuru is a small, all-inclusive five-star island in North Malé Atoll, 25 minutes by speedboat from Malé, ringed by one of the best house reefs in the Maldives.
Dhawa Ihuru is the kind of island you can walk around before breakfast. Small and palm-fringed, it is circled by a house reef so good you can snorkel the whole way around in about ninety minutes. All 45 villas open onto the beach, with thatched roofs and open-air bathrooms; no water villas here.
Getting here is easy, a 25-minute speedboat from Malé, no seaplane. Once you arrive, the water does the heavy lifting: the reef starts steps from the sand, the Rannamaari shipwreck lies just offshore, and a PADI five-star dive centre runs everything from first dives to deeper trips.
It is all-inclusive, and guests also get free boat rides to the sister island, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, with its own reef and restaurants. A small spa, gym, and kids’ club fill the rest. It suits divers, couples, and families who want barefoot over showy.
Highlights
- 45 beach villas on a tiny North Malé Atoll island
- One of the Maldives’ best house reefs, steps from shore
- All-inclusive, with PADI diving and a sister Banyan Tree island
Accommodation
Beach Front Jet Pool Villa
The Beach Front Jet Pool Villa comes with a queen bed, a veranda with a private dining area, an open-air jet pool and a private garden with sun loungers. You’ll be staying right by the beach. The villas is 57 sqm. All villas can fit up to three people.
Beachfront Villa
The Beachfront Villas come with a king bed, a private garden with an outdoor shower, 32″ flat-screen TV and direct beach access. You’ll wake up each morning to Indian Ocean views. The villas is 68 sqm.
Further information
Dining
Dining is refreshingly simple. Riveli, the main restaurant, does international buffets and à la carte right on the beachfront, with wide views of the Indian Ocean across breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Velaavani Bar handles the in-between hours, pouring drinks and local snacks from late morning to late evening. And because the all-inclusive plan includes the sister island, you can take a boat over to Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and eat there instead.
Wellness
The spa is called 8lements, and its signature touch is freshness. Scrubs and treatments are blended from native ingredients right before your session, so everything smells of the moment rather than a bottle. Therapists run through a menu of hands-on, restorative rituals meant to leave you calm and reset. For anyone keeping active, there is also a well-equipped gym a short walk away.
Activities
The best of Dhawa Ihuru is underwater. The house reef wraps right around the island, close enough that you can snorkel a full loop past turtles, rays, and the occasional reef shark. Divers have the Rannamaari wreck and a PADI five-star center on site, while a water sports hut sorts out kayaks and paddleboards. There’s a small kids’ club too, plus that quick boat to the reef at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.
The Maldives
The Maldives is made up of more than a thousand coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, each resort occupying its own private atoll. No shared beaches, no neighbouring properties, no traffic. The geography does something that no amount of hotel design can replicate: it removes you completely from everything else. The range across those islands is wider than most people expect.
Our Experts
The Maldives is a stand-out when it comes to luxury travel and our most popular destination. We are also proud to be able to work with properties that are welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
Staying in an over-water bungalow is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I'd recommend to any traveller. It's amazing to swim in some of the world's most impressive coral reefs and the sunset's divine.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.