Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives

Maldives, Indian Ocean

Star rating

Superior Room Ocean View
Superior Room Ocean View
Beach Bungalow
Beach Bungalow
Beach Bungalow
Water Bungalow
Junior Beach Suite
Beach Suite with pool
Beach Suite with pool
Beach Suite with pool
Junior Beach Suite
Over Water Suite
Over Water Suite
Over Water Suite
Private Pool for Over Water Suite guests
Beach Bar
Welcome lounge
Koimala Restaurant
Raiyvilla Bar
Raiyvilla Bar
Romantic dining on the beach
Superior Room Ocean View
Superior Room Ocean View
Beach Bungalow
Beach Bungalow
Beach Bungalow
Water Bungalow
Junior Beach Suite
Beach Suite with pool
Beach Suite with pool
Beach Suite with pool
Junior Beach Suite
Over Water Suite
Over Water Suite
Over Water Suite
Private Pool for Over Water Suite guests
Beach Bar
Welcome lounge
Koimala Restaurant
Raiyvilla Bar
Raiyvilla Bar
Romantic dining on the beach

The hotel

The Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives takes its name from the Maldivian word for crystal white sand, and it isn’t difficult to see why. Dhonveli is situated on a private island, surrounded by the sparkling turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. A secluded tropical paradise, the resort combines authentic Maldivian design and décor with modern comforts, facilities and amenities, to offer guests the ultimate Maldivian holiday experience. Why not treat yourself to a stay in an Over Water Suite — resting over the shallow waters surrounding the island, they offer privacy and seclusion. They have a spacious bedroom and a living area with glass panel to watch the marine life below, whilst outside a private sun deck has steps directly down into the water.

Amenities

  • Kayaking
  • Snorkelling
  • Honeymoon
  • Bar
  • Hot tub
  • Restaurant
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Swimming Pool

Where is it

On its own private island in Kaafu Atoll, in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Transfer time from Malé International Airport: 25 minutes by speedboat.

Hotel information

148 rooms. All with balcony or terrace, air conditioning, satellite TV, mini-bar, tea/coffee-making facilities, hairdryer, iron, safe, and spacious indoor/outdoor bathrooms, some with bathtub and/or separate rainfall shower and bath amenities. Superior Ocean View Rooms are located in two-storey buildings facing the ocean, with 1 king-size bed (2 additional beds on request), sleeping maximum 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.

Board basis options

Full Board option: includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mineral water and regular coffee/tea will be included during meal times only (upon request).

All-Inclusive packages run from 08:00am–midnight. Any drinks consumed outside of these hours will be charged on consumption.

All-Inclusive package: includes buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. Selection of local snacks are serviced between the hours of 10:30am-11:30am, 4:30pm–6:00pm & 10:30pm–11:30pm. Unlimited regular house brands from a selection of spirits and wines (served by the glass only), unlimited cocktails and mocktails from a select menu, selection of draught beer, selection of carbonated soft drinks, canned fruit juice, mineral water plus tea and coffee at all outlets. Access to gym, badminton, tennis, squash courts, table tennis, billiard, snooker, beach volleyball (equipment included).

Virgin All-Inclusive: includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. A selection of local and premium branded spirits, wine, beer and cocktails, soft drinks, fresh juices and milkshakes, tea and coffee. Plus one seafood grill steak dinner at the table once per stay, special turndown service with chocolate and mini-bar including soft drinks and beer (replenished once daily). One dolphin watching excursion per stay. Use of fitness centre, badminton, tennis courts, table tennis, billiards and beach volleyball.

Please note: Virgin All-Inclusive packages are no longer available to book. Rest assured, if you’ve already made a booking, your package remains unchanged and will be honoured.

Premium All-Inclusive package: includes all inclusions of the standard package plus a welcome bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, in-room mini-bar stocked with beer, soft drinks and selection of snacks (replenished daily), premium International brand spirits wines and cocktails, unlimited fresh juice and milkshakes, 2 complimentary excursions from selected list - per person per stay (weather permitting), invitation to two special themed party events organised by the resort, one special dinner on the beach with the option of a mixed seafood grill or steak, signature 60 minute Balinese spa treatment at Mandara Spa once every 5-night stay, turndown service every night and outside the hours of 08:00am–12:00am any drinks consumed (regardless of AI package booked) will be charged on consumption.

Please note: Meal plan inclusions are defined by the hotel and are subject to change at any time without notice.

Room upgrades

Beach Bungalows are located around the bay, offering stunning views of the glistening Indian Ocean, with 1 king-size bed and separate divan/day bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults and 1 child.

Water Bungalows are located on the southwest side of the island and offer 66 sq m of living space, state-of-the-art entertainment facilities and a spacious private terrace leading out to the lagoon. Each bungalow comes with a Jacuzzi, 1 king-size bed and separate divan/day bed, sleeping maximum adults.

Junior Beach Suites are located on the beach with an outdoor verandah and terrace and an open-air shower or bathtub with 1 king-size bed and separate divan/day bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Over Water Suites are situated on the northwest side of the island and have a total of 85 sq m of living space with a glass floor panel, and a private outdoor terrace, sleeping maximum 3 adults. Over Water Suite guests enjoy exclusive access to the resort’s Rehendhi Restaurant and Bar, serving gourmet buffets and wines from the attached wine cellar, plus an exclusive swimming pool to while away the hours.

Beach Suite with Pool are a 2 story unit with a separate living and bedroom space overlooking the beach front and an outdoor shower with 1 king-size bed and single/day bed on upper floor and the option for a rollaway bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.

Ground Floor Suites have a day bed which can be used as a single bed, sleeping maximum 5 adults and 3 adults and 2 children.

Koimala Main Restaurant (open for buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner; international cuisine), Maakana Restaurant (buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, exclusive for Water Bungalow guests), Tex Mex* (à la carte, Mexican cuisine), Rehendhi Restaurant & Bar (exclusive for guests in Overwater Suites and Beach Suites with Pool). Raalhu Bar (serving a selection of cocktails). Raiyvilla Bar. Beach Bar. Room service*.

Please note: guests staying in Water Bungalows may also dine at Maakana Restaurant and guests staying in Suite categories may dine at the exclusive Rehendhi Restaurant, as well as Koimala or Maakana. Other guests may also dine in Rehendhi with a local surcharge (reservations required, subject to availability).

Wide variety of entertainment and activities including beach parties, cocktail demonstrations, cookery sessions, saxophonist, Balinese dance and live bands. 

Freshwater swimming pool with kids pool, plus exclusive infinity pool for Over Water Suite guests. Chavana Spa* with sauna and aromatherapy bath. Mini-gym. Snorkelling*, windsurfing*, kayaking* and catamaran sailing*. Motorised water sports*. PADI certified scuba diving*. Tennis court, beach volleyball, table tennis (floodlighting*), billiards. Excursions available*, including fishing, island visits and dolphin watching. 

Complimentary WiFi for Virgin Holidays' guests.

*Denotes local charge.

Please note: to ensure our customer's safety, we are unable to offer over water accommodation to children under the age of 12.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (7047)
  • Very good (1162)
  • Average (298)
  • Poor (112)
  • Terrible (87)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Hiruni gave fantastic service

Feb 10, 2026 Divya L

Stayed at this hotel for 3 nights. Hiruni was serving at the restaurant for breakfast lunch and dinner. She was serving the food with smile, smartly dressed and very polite. Thank you Hiruni
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Holiday in Paradise

Feb 10, 2026 riccazadem gosport

What an amazing place the staff are so friendly the food is amazing and the facilities are great we had the most amazing room with a view of sunset every night and our own little beach with loungers and a veranda with chairs and a little table and it was not one of the expensive rooms either Only down side was still smokers smoking where they… Read more
What an amazing place the staff are so friendly the food is amazing and the facilities are great we had the most amazing room with a view of sunset every night and our own little beach with loungers and a veranda with chairs and a little table and it was not one of the expensive rooms either Only down side was still smokers smoking where they want can’t wait for the fist true no smoking resort Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating The best holidays I have ever had

Feb 10, 2026 evaspedmeryova

We spent a wonderful week at hotel Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives, friendly and kind staffs exceeded our expectations. Hope to come soon.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Exceeded all expectations

Feb 9, 2026 PcDb Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom

Excellent stay from start to finish. Every member of staff was helpful and friendly and our accommodation was huge & spotlessly clean. We stayed in a beach bungalow, which also had its own sunbeds. A nice touch! Food was fantastic with different choices every day and everything was fresh and tasty including the bread selection and salads. We… Read more
Excellent stay from start to finish. Every member of staff was helpful and friendly and our accommodation was huge & spotlessly clean. We stayed in a beach bungalow, which also had its own sunbeds. A nice touch! Food was fantastic with different choices every day and everything was fresh and tasty including the bread selection and salads. We booked direct on the Cinnamon website, and this included the speedboat transfer from Male, plus we had an included meal on the beach, which was amazing, a snorkelling trip, plus a half hour back massage per couple. We would definitely stay here again without a moment’s hesitation. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Could be better........

Feb 9, 2026 samantharough1 Staines, United Kingdom

Firstly, I would like to say that the staff at this resort are some of the nicest we have ever encountered. They are genuinely warm, welcoming people who truly made a positive impact on our holiday. From Mukashif, who looked after us in our beach bungalow, to Najaah in the main buffet restaurant and Sanjaya in the beach bar, their service was… Read more
Firstly, I would like to say that the staff at this resort are some of the nicest we have ever encountered. They are genuinely warm, welcoming people who truly made a positive impact on our holiday. From Mukashif, who looked after us in our beach bungalow, to Najaah in the main buffet restaurant and Sanjaya in the beach bar, their service was outstanding. The resort itself is small and intimate, which we really appreciated. There was never a sense of it feeling overcrowded, unlike many other holidays we’ve experienced. The island is also exceptionally clean and very beautiful. However, we did encounter a few issues. The first relates to the “all-inclusive” offering. Prosecco is not included, nor is a Margarita from the cocktail menu, both fairly standard drinks. This wasn’t a deal breaker, but they are my preferred choices and felt like notable omissions. Secondly, the lack of a proper à la carte restaurant was disappointing for a 4-star resort. While you can order from a menu and have the food served in the main restaurant (it was too windy to dine on the beach), my husband had to send his meal back as it was cold. Unfortunately, this was something we noticed frequently with the buffet food as well. Despite using warmed plates, food from the serving dishes was often only lukewarm. We also felt that breakfast finishing at 9:30am and dinner starting at 7:30pm was not ideal, particularly for families with young children. There was always plenty of choice, but the food really needs to be served warmer. The major issue for us, however, was located just outside our beach bungalow. To the right were two additional sunbeds and a parasol available for general use. While this in itself wasn’t a problem as we had our own private loungers but the guests using these regularly chain-smoked. As non-smokers, we found this extremely unpleasant due to the strength and frequency of the cigarettes, and on one occasion it was so bad that we had to retreat indoors. Given that we paid a premium for our accommodation, this significantly impacted our enjoyment of the holiday. Overall, this is a lovely resort, and with improvements to the food temperature and a more inclusive drinks menu such as adding Prosecco, it could be much better. We loved the Maldives so much that we have already booked a return trip next year, although sadly not to this resort. I did contact the management team regarding our concerns, but unfortunately did not receive a response. Read less