Sun Siyam Vilu Reef

We’ve just returned from the most incredible stay at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, and I can honestly say it was one of the most memorable holidays we’ve ever had. From the moment we arrived, we were treated like VIP guests, and by the time we left, it truly felt like we were saying goodbye to family. Our room was always immaculate thanks to our wonderful attendants, Siva and Rakish, who were so kind, thoughtful, and attentive to every detail. They made sure everything was perfect for us every single day – thank you both! A huge part of what made our evenings so enjoyable was our favourite waitress, Asmita. She was so sweet, warm, and lovely – we looked forward to seeing her each night and truly enjoyed our conversations. She brought so much joy to our experience and made us feel genuinely cared for. Shayan, another member of the restaurant team, was always friendly and helpful, ensuring we had everything we needed and offering service with a smile. The real culinary magic came from Faruk, Younus, and Chaminda – the brilliant chefs who created the most delicious curries, specially made to suit our tastes. Their food was bursting with flavour and love, and every meal felt like a celebration. It was one of the highlights of our stay and something we’ll never forget. A special shoutout to Mozammel, whose desserts were a dream! Every treat was a delight, but the hot chocolate brownie deserves a special mention – it was warm, gooey, and absolutely heavenly. And not to forget Joynal, the wonderful gardener who worked tirelessly to keep the beach spotless and beautiful. His dedication helped make the island feel like paradise every single day. The snorkelling here was out of this world – we’ve never experienced anything like it. The reef is teeming with life just steps from the shore, and the variety of marine life we encountered was breathtaking. We saw turtles, rays, reef sharks, and a dazzling array of colourful fish – it truly felt like swimming in a natural aquarium. It was the best wildlife experience we’ve ever had and something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. Everyone we encountered made us feel incredibly welcome. Their warmth, kindness, and genuine hospitality made this more than just a holiday – it was a heartfelt experience. It’s easy to see why so many people return again and again. We’re already dreaming of coming back ourselves. Thank you to each and every one of you – you made our time at Vilu Reef truly unforgettable. Read less

My family and I stayed at Vilu Reef for our vacation, and it was absolutely beautiful. Both the Sand Villa and Reef Villa were excellent, though the Reef Villa had louder wave sounds. The snorkeling conditions were great, especially for beginners. At Snorkeling Spot No. 2, inside the breakwater, you could even crouch down to see corals and fish. Most of the staff on the island greeted us with warm smiles. When my child fell ill during our stay, one of the servers at Spice Restaurant—who loved playing with kids—noticed that my family had returned to the room early to rest. He kindly offered to pack some food for us to take back, which was incredibly thoughtful. The Aqua Restaurant also allowed me to take food back for my family under our special circumstances, though the Well Done Restaurant did not permit it. We’re especially grateful to receptionist Baathu, who provided us with a lot of help. The island’s clinic doctor also attended to our child. If there could be more food options catering to Chinese tastes, it would be even better. We’d love to visit again next time! Read less

My partner and I visited Vilu Reef for the most amazing, relaxing week ever on our belated honeymoon. Shortly after we married I developed a chronic illness and became disabled. This was the first trip we had made four years into my condition and we wanted to splurge to finally have the honeymoon we never had. This is by far the most luxurious place we have ever stayed and admittedly we felt very unsure about how to tip/show appreciation to all the wonderful staff as we've never been anywhere so nice before (and are also very introverted). But despite this we never felt out of place and loved every moment. Our island host Sham has infectious warmth to her and helped to make our stay unforgettable. The resort has three restaurants, two of which require reservations and the third is a relaxed buffet style with lots of options for all diets and cuisines. As we're not particularly big foodies we mostly ate at the buffet which still had amazing quality to the food. My husband enjoyed trying all the different options, whilst as a vegetarian I felt well catered for. The Aqua buffet does have a dedicated plant base section but the options seemed to be more consistent throughout the week compared to the rest of the buffet. All the staff at the Aqua were so friendly and attentive, especially Juri, Shayan and Dilshan. Next to the Aqua is the Positive Energy poolside bar where we always received great service from Sujita and from Chris in the Nautilus bar. We stayed in the sunset villa which was immaculate and the bed so soft and comfy. My condition severely reduces my energy so I often need to rest/sleep for a while during the day. I can't begin to explain the heartbreak I felt when we returned home and my view as I drifted off was just our boring bedroom wall and not the turquoise ocean I had become used to. Sadly due to my condition we didn't manage to use all the facilities available to us. As wildlife lovers we always prioritized snorkeling on the house reef which was only a short distance from shore and a gentle current that I'd let carry me along to conserve energy. From the house reef we saw parrot fish, clown fish, angel fish, green turtles, black tip reef sharks - even three baby sharks that would swim around the bay!! We did experience the snorkel safari which compared to the house reef didn't have as much activity on it. But we were staying in the wet season so visibility wasn't great the day we went. We would have absolutely loved to have been able to do either the manta ray or whale shark safari as it's my dream to see them. But the tour on offer for both was 6 hours which sadly due to my condition just wasn't achievable for me, energy and mobility wise. The tours are also rather expensive too which we could understand given where we were, but coming for a special occasion and extra costs we had to make the travel more accessible for me (not at all the resorts fault, just to explain why we couldn't afford the excursions) we just couldn't justify the cost for something we didn't think I would cope with anyway. We did however achieve a long term goal of seeing dolphins in the wild! We booked the dolphin tour for the start of our trip but understandably due to it being the wet season it was rearranged several times for safety as there were strong winds. For us it was never a problem (we're Brits so we're used to weather ruining everything anyway! Plus we appreciated it was still warm during the rain) but we did hear some other guest complaining. I get it's disappointing but we were staying there in the wet season, the prices on booking accommodation reflect its the wet season, I really don't understand why some guest took it out on the staff. No one can control the weather and I'd much rather be safe on land. When we did make it out however it was well worth the wait. It was a beautiful sunny evening with the glow of sunset glistening off the water as the spinner dolphins jumped through the waves. Transport to and from the island was well organized and very smooth, especially on arrival a resort representative met us and helped us check in for the seaplane with ease and again when coming back. Tips/Observations for accessibility Just wanted to add this for anyone who may find it helpful. I usually need my walking stick or a rollator to get around. For ease of convenience when traveling I only brought my walking stick with me and felt for most of the time this was enough. The island is flat and about a 20minute circular walk. The beach villas are scattered along the side of the island and the over water villas are at the opposite end from the main bar/reception but very close to the Aqua and Spice restaurants. There is a main path through the middle of the island which is a wide dirt path and a boardwalk leads to the over water villas (at times in the heat the boardwalk did feel quite long depending on what villa you're in). There are ramps on each section as well as a few small steps. The sand is pretty sturdy as it's made of coral and shells. While I never saw anyone else with a mobility aid or wheelchair, lots of parents had pushchairs and buggies and seemed to be moving freely around with them. Sorry for the very long review but wanted to give the best insight to others as we could. Having spent the past few years incredibly stressed out by hospital visits etc, this was the most soul charging, mind refreshing respite we could have ever asked for. I honestly could not say when I last felt so relaxed and carefree as I felt here. Our only complaint is that we wish we didn't have to come home! Thank you so much for the wonderful experience and care Laura & Dave (room 430) Read less

It was really more than expected. Was a great stay with great food and really an outstanding service. Everybody of the staff was always very helpful and supportive. But we like to mention some of them who do their job with passion. Our roomboy Sahib, Younos and Chaminda from the kitchen, as well special thanks to the Spice Team for an unforgettable experience in the Thali Dinner, Shayan, Dilshan and Asmita from the service, always smiling and serving extras, and also Reema and Dina always supporting us and made our stay unbelievable. Thank you all - you made our days special 😀 See you soon - bis bald Bertha und Mathias Read less

We had an amazing stay at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef! The rooms were very nice, clean, and gave off such good vibes. A special thank you to Nafiz, who took such great care of us throughout our stay—your hospitality made a big difference! The food was absolutely delicious every day. Huge thanks to Farouk for the wonderful meals, Mozemel for always keeping us happy with ice cream and fresh fruits, and Younes for the seafood grill—it was super delicious! Highly recommend this place if you’re looking for great service, beautiful surroundings, and a relaxing experience. Don't miss Friday evening if you want a beautiful maldiven evening Read less