JA Manafaru
The northernmost resort island in the Maldives, close to the Indian border waters.
Manafaru lies in Haa Alifu, the northernmost atoll of the Maldives, reached by domestic flight to Hanimaadhoo and then boat. It is the most northerly resort in the country, in water almost nobody visits, and one resort occupies the island. The reefs here have had minimal recreational pressure.
Around eighty-four villas and suites make up the property, run largely all-inclusive with several restaurants, a spa and a dive centre. The scale and the format place it below the country's design-led properties in ambition, but the position is genuinely unusual and is the reason the register carries it.
The northernmost resort in the country. Geography is the property's distinguishing fact; nothing else in the Maldives sits this far up.
All-inclusive at eighty-four villas. The format shapes the guest list and separates the property clearly from its southern neighbours.
Who it is not for
Manafaru is wrong for guests seeking design or a boutique atmosphere. It is wrong for travellers on a short trip, since the northern transfer is long. And it is wrong for those wanting à la carte dining, as the all-inclusive model is the format. Those wanting the north at a higher level should look at Soneva Secret or Cheval Blanc Randheli.
Sources
- jaresorts.com — around eighty-four villas and suites, Manafaru, Haa Alifu Atoll
- Villa count and transfer arrangements unverified. Confirm before publication.
Booking
Private Island Resorts arranges each stay on request, quoting the rates available for the island and dates. No benefit should be assumed unless it is confirmed in writing for the individual reservation.
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