Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa Hotel

My wife and I just returned from our honeymoon at Emerald Faarufushi, and it was nothing short of a dream. The island itself is stunningly beautiful, but the overall experience was elevated by the incredible marine life and the top-tier service. During our snorkeling and diving sessions, we were lucky enough to see an abundance of colorful fish, baby sharks, sea turtles, and even majestic Manta rays! It was truly a world-class underwater experience. A special and heartfelt thank you goes to our villa host, Ali. He is the absolute best! Ali made our honeymoon perfect by meticulously arranging every detail of our itinerary. He was always just a WhatsApp message away, responding instantly to any questions we had and solving everything with ease. What we loved most was his witty sense of humor—he made us laugh and feel so at home throughout our stay. If you are planning a trip here, do ask for Ali! He genuinely cares about his guests and ensures every moment is stress-free. Thank you, Emerald Faarufushi and Ali, for the memories of a lifetime. We highly recommend this paradise to everyone! Read less

Everything about this resort was grand and beautiful. The app-based booking system made our stay so seamless, and the romantic beach dinner (a package perk!) was a definite highlight. The spa was also a total dream. ​Although there were some tiny hiccups with the room assignment and booking names, the staff's quick and helpful response turned it into a positive experience. We loved the convenience of chatting with our butler through the app. A special thanks to our butler, Apekcha—she was incredibly proactive, checking our itinerary and giving us the best tips. We felt so well taken care of! Read less

We had an extraordinary stay at Emerald Faarufushi—truly one of the most memorable vacations we’ve ever had. The food was exceptional throughout our stay, with a special mention to chef Moreno: his Italian cuisine was outstanding—honestly better than what you’ll find in many restaurants in Italy. The culinary experience alone would be reason enough to return. The house reef was equally impressive. We were lucky enough to spot manta rays, cowtail stingrays, eagle rays, and turtles—an unforgettable snorkeling experience right off the beach. We also loved the overall atmosphere of the island: calm, relaxed, and perfectly suited for unwinding. The staff made everything even more special with their kindness and attention to detail. A big thank you to Elite and Rabiul (our friend at the Beach Grill restaurant) for making our stay so enjoyable. I would highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a laid-back, all-inclusive getaway with incredible food and world-class snorkeling. Read less

This was our 3rd time at this amazing resort and it again has beaten all our dreams. This time we had a Beach bungalow for our 3 boys, while we stayed at a sunset watervilla further out on the jetty (which is recommended as the house reef can easily be reached from the villa). Island: The house reef is super lively and very easy to access with direct access on the jetty next to the restaurants, but also through other spots. We did 2-3 times a day our snorkeling trips and each time saw turtles and reef sharks (best time is early in the morning before breakfast as even more lively and closer to the surface). The beach (right next to the swimming pool) is supernice with great water colors. Resort: The villas are super nice - whether you take a Beach bungalow or watervilla. All of them are spacy inside and outside (we were party of 3 in each of our villas). You will always have privacy as even when fully booked, Check out the villas without the wavebreakers in front - makes an even nicer ambience. Beyond great snorkeling i can recommend the paddle court (morning or evening), the Spa and the gym (the kids loved it). Nothing else you need from a facility view. The food was again excellent across all restaurants for all occasions. Don't get irritated by the all-inklusive - it is a real positive especially when traveling with teenagers.... The concept stands truly for everthing is included as you still can dine a la carte and even with a nice wine selection and cocktails included (not to mention the minibar which was great for the kids). You do not need anything beyond. It is a much better value compared to other resorts. We loved the beach club for an easy lunch. At evening, we went to the same place (called Carnivorous then) with feet in the sand for great dishes from the grill. Nice seating on the terrace right over the water is offered by the Mediterranro with more Italian cuisine. You can even have another snack at the poolside if you can not get enough. For the buffet Aqua restaurant you should book the Asian night as they offer also Peking Duck))). We skipped the Asiatique this time as it is indoor and therefore doesn't give you the same vibes of the Indian ocean. Service: top notch! Wether our villa host Elite, Shinaz at the beach club, Rabiul during dinner time or Ram as the sommelier - all of them povided excellent support and service with a smile. Same is true for the rest of the team. Net: we will come back again Read less

What makes a Maldives stay extraordinary? The island design, marine life, cuisine, luxury touches, activities, and the room all play a part. But at Faarufushi, it's the people that set it apart and as someone on their 11th Maldives resort, I don't say that lightly. The resort itself is boutique luxury in every sense. The water villa, deck, and private pool with two submerged sun beds are beautiful. The bedroom, bathroom, and storage are all exceptionally well designed. You also get a great quality beach bag (which I took home) and lovely flipflop style slippers a nice touch. I loved the bamboo comb and razors too. The views are incredible, and the snorkelling directly around the resort is great.. lots of marine life. From the stunning Eclipse bar (which sits completely over the sea) we spotted eagle rays, sharks, big fish, and jack fish at night. Aqua restaurant overlooks the beach. Patrick (GM) comes round to check on guests and have a chat, that personal touch matters. Tharif, our villa host, was the best. Genuinely kind, exceptional at his job, and checked on us even on his days off. That's dedication. Someone give this man a raise before another resort snaps him up! Hillol (F&B) is super helpful and genuinely runs a tight ship, and San runs the Eclipse bar ..he is a cocktail mastermind with his passion, gin selection, concoctions, and masterclass knowledge are genuinely impressive. Rabiul our waiter at Carniverous was attentive and warm throughout, and Maish (housekeeping) was intuitive beyond words organising the room, toiletries, and my makeup to absolute perfection. They just sense what you need. Carniverous restaurant is my favourite. Chef Jibin's lava clay oven prawns and wagyu brisket (slow-cooked for two days) were unforgettable, the steak literally melts. Pastry chef Asanka made me the most delcious bespoke gluten-free, dairy-free croissants, pancakes, and chocolate cake, I genuinely miss all the food here. Chef Pabir's off-menu thali was fragrant and the chicken curry insanely good. Donni at Mediterraneo made our last night special with a seafood platter on ice. Chefs made me a GF DF bday cake too. The Beach Club Grill kiwi cooler (non-alcoholic and totally sugar free and freshly prepared) is one of the most refreshing drinks I've had anywhere. The culinary team spans Italy, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Indonesia and you taste every bit of it. The outdoor Teppanyaki was super fun too. The spa is huge and stunning, I loved the crystals and sound bowls in the room too. They accommodated coconut oil for my massage without hesitation. Fragrance allergy note: do ask them to remove any scented products from the room beforehand, and let them know about lemongrass burners - they turned theirs off for me which was a considerate touch. The gym is very small, worth knowing, but the personal trainer is exceptional. Really experienced and very good at tennis. There's padel courts here too. Allergy travellers: flag dietary needs early. The off-menu flexibility here is exceptional. Marine life highlights: 30 minutes swimming along with a turtle, just me and him. Lot's of fish, triggers etc, blacktip reef sharks, octopus, and a sea snake. Island also has great bikes to get around on. Takes 10 mins to walk around the island so it's easy. Boutique luxury at its best, would return without hesitation. Read less