- Maldives Holidays
- Maldives Islands
- Rahaa Resort
Rahaa is a 4-star resort located on its own cluster of two islands, in the vibrant, untouched and low-traffic Laamu Atoll, complimenting the history and culture of Maldives through architecture, design, experiences and remarkable Maldivian service. Journey to Rahaa Resort consists of a 40-minute scenic domestic-flight over the tiny islands and atolls of the Maldives, (from Male' International Airport to Kadhdhoo Domestic Airport of Laamu Atoll) followed by a swift 20 – 30-minute speedboat ride (from Kadhdhoo Airport to Rahaa Resort).
Rahaa warmly welcomes guests from all parts of the world including couples, solo travelers, honeymooners, families, groups of friends, adventurers and leisure travelers as well. Nestled in a vast turquoise lagoon in the south-east fringe of the Atoll, Rahaa is tucked well away from the crowded central atolls near Male' and from the busy flight paths and speedboat traffic, making it the perfect hidden retreat for those seeking ultimate relaxation. In other words, the epitome of ultimate seclusion. A naturally beautiful island with lush vegetation, wide stretches of beach, a natural Saltwater Lake and an adjacent private uninhabited island. The pristine environment of Rahaa envelopes visitors creating a sense of belonging, a sense of being at home and at one with nature.
The architecture and décor of the facilities are contemporary with strong links to the seafaring heritage of the Maldivian people. The resort boasts two villa categories with minimalistic modern design, the Lake View Villas and the Ocean View Villas. Guests can enjoy excellent international and local cuisine and a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, at the main restaurant Kaage' and two bars Dhirun' Bar and Ko'Bar. All outlets are right on the beach with ocean and lake views.
Rahaa additionally offers a wide range of activities and services including Diving, Watersports, Kids Corner SPA, Fitness Room, Excursions, surfing and more.
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
We are back from our time at Rahaa Resort, caught up on some sleep from the long journey.
I will list my feedback in sections, each will address the issues that others have found with the resort versus what I thought (if that makes sense)
I will then summarise my final thoughts
without a doubt the journey to Rahaa is long and tiring, especially if you transit via the Middle East, we went from Manchester via Abu Dhabi (7 hours) then Abu Dhabi to Male (4hours) you then wait in Male (6 plus hours) for the domestic flight down to the atolls airport (more of an airfield) (1 hour) , where they drop off and collect passengers at another small airport (again more of an airfield) Once you arrive you are taken to the boat that will take you across the atoll to Rahaa. For us the boat ride was scary as hell but only because when we arrived the weather had been stormy overnight causing the sea to be very rough. Our journey back was much calmer and actually quite enjoyable.
we were welcomed by some of the staff with a lovely necklace handmade using the islands palm leaves along with a cold facecloth and a lovely drink. This was very welcome after the long journey. We were immediately taken for some food as it was lunchtime when we arrived. After this we were checked in and taken to our room. Our suitcases were taken to our room by the staff.
We booked a lagoon room Initially but on arrival were given an ocean room (225) at no extra cost. On entering the room appeared clean, the air con was on and it was lovely and cool. The bed had been decorated with the words “welcome to Rahaa” which was a lovely touch. We were then left to settle in. The bedding was clean, the room was clean and we opened our patio doors onto a beautiful view of the white sand and gorgeous blues of the ocean. There is plenty wardrobe space, with complimentary slippers and bathrobes. The bathroom is huge with and outdoor shower area. It is evident that the rooms do need a new lick of paint and some slight upgrading which is why the resort is now closed for 3 months to have this work done. The previous mention of the towels. Yes the towels are stained (some not all) and the beach towels have a little fraying to some. But they are clean and replaced everyday. This wasn’t an issue for us and by no means would I make it an issue.
As many have previously mentioned, there is a wild island linked via a bridge at the end of the lagoon and some rubbish at the back of the lagoon which it appears to have ruined some people’s holiday. So in our first few days we went exploring to find the said rubbish both on the island and on the wild island. First up at the end of the lagoon if you take a left down a small path it will lead you to some abandoned machinery and a whole load of rubbish. This is mostly made up of dead stuff that has been collected from the gardens around the resort (not so much actual rubbish) This area of the Island is not developed yet and currently being used to dump the garden rubbish). If you take a right at the end of the lagoon you will come to the bridge that takes you across to the wild island. This island is not inhabited and immediately to your left you will find buildings that serve the resorts power, water, laundry and repair workshop. After this point there is nothing but wild jungle. There is a lot of abandoned machinery here. Then just a path that will lead you to the ocean side beach where there is a lot of plastic that has been washed in from the ocean. We did see 1 rat and lots of large crabs over this side. When we got back to the resort we set about talking to the management about this in great detail and what we heard completely changed how we viewed and perceived this.
Rahaa was bought in 2019 by Moosa (the owner) with the intention of developing both islands and creating a natural, rustic Maldives resort. There was never an intention to have Water villa’s on any of the islands and from what he has told us never will be. His vision was and always will be a natural resort with a true Maldivian feel, he wants guests to have the experience of privacy and seclusion and relaxation. Of course work began and the part of the resort you now see was done and they then began to clear the wild island. THEN COVID Hit and everything stopped, the machines were abandoned and everything was left open to the elements and still remains that way now. The reason is has not been resolved yet is simply because covid did that much damage, he almost lost his islands. It is only that last year that the island is very slowly beginning to recover and is beginning to fix what Covid broke. So instead of seeing all this mess and taking to trip advisor and any other place I could vent, this is what I think……… This resort is owned by a person, not a corporate group. His dream was destroyed by Covid, guests stopped coming, and he has had to try to recover slowly. The resort is so remote that the logistics of moving rubbish and machinery is extremely difficult and costly. So instead of judging, I understand!!!! Yes it’s unsightly! Did it ruin my experience - absolutely NOT! People are so self entitled these days and lack empathy, so for those that jumped on the bandwagon and tried to deter people from going to Rahaa, shame on you! Go pay thousands more to stay in the corporate resorts that have unlimited money and were able to weather the covid period. Imagine this was your own business and you suffered in this way. What would you do???? And that’s all I have to say on that matter.
we had no issue at all with the food, there was always a varied choice, fruit, breads, desserts, pasta, meat, live cooking station with different options. On an our last few days as there was only a few of us left we give À la carte at no extra charge and it was absolutely gorgeous. Not sure what others were seeing or complaining about but that was not our experience?
I cannot stress enough how lovely the staff are, they are courteous, friendly and take the time to get to know your name, what you like to drink, they ask about your life, they join in with dancing, karaoke and just make sure that you never need to lift a finger. They are a credit to Rahaa. They work incredibly long hours for very little wages. They are just gorgeous souls, every single one of them. Our particular thanks go to: Islam (bar manager) sham and smile (waiters) Brando (all around legend) The owner and the management team also took a lot of time to chat with us everyday including joining in with dancing, karaoke etc in the evening.
The island is so beautifully peacefully, the sea is and endless palette of blue, we never tired of looming at it.
It is tidal and when the tide goes out the water is very shallow and you can walk out for miles exploring.
Snorkelling can be done from the beach and there is an abundance of sea life all around the resort. You can go out on the boat twice a day (free) if you want to snorkel in deeper water. We never did this because there was no need, we seen so much just around the island. I even came face to face with a baby manta ray.
I would recommend water shoes as the coral is super sharp.
OVERALL We had the most gorgeous time at Rahaa, it felt like we had been plunged onto a desert island, its private and secluded and so very beautiful. If I could change one thing it would be the mosquitoes. They are savage and will bit you to pieces ( the resort do their best to control by spraying twice a day) but this still don’t stop them from getting me.
If you like many others are expecting pristine then Rahaa is not for you!
It is very natural and wild but very beautiful. I was talking to a lady in resort who has been visiting Maldives for over 20 years. She told me that Rahaa is one of the only resorts that now reflects TRUE Maldives. That must say something for this place.
So instead of allowing some of the issues (that’s definitely need sorting) and are being sorted, to spoil my time, I embraced its beauty and had the most gorgeous time here.
Instead of seeing the bad stuff, I see one man with a dream and doing his best to retrieve his dream from the damage of Covid times.
I see hope from everyone at Rahaa that one day this beautiful place will become a unique place that captures the hearts of its guests as it has with us.
Would we go back to Rahaa - in a heartbeat 💗
Second visit to our little piece of paradise and just booked to go back next year. It was even better second time around. Fabulous staff , all of them from the owner Mossa. Ismael the manager, the amazing Islam and all the bar and restaurant staff cant do enough for you. Please ignore the negative reviews and embrace the natural setting of this remote island. 5* s from us 😍
We stayed for 14 nights 8/22 April. Fantastic experience. Done research before we went & knew what to expect. We went for a peaceful 2 weeks & did not disappoint. Villas where clean & tidy. Outside bathroom area was huge. The food was a big Surprise They had a taste for every pallet & always fresh. The drinks no issues Not short on the measures. The staff where incredible any assistance needed was given with a smile. In summary for the price we paid We got to great value for our pennies. Thank you to all Staff & Management @ Rahaa.
We honestly can’t thank this resort and its wonderful owner enough for such an unforgettable stay for me and my son. From the moment we arrived, everything exceeded our expectations. The island itself is a true piece of natural paradise incredibly private, peaceful, and the perfect place to completely switch off and unwind. There was never any pressure, just total relaxation in what felt like a real picture-postcard setting. What really made our holiday special was the incredible staff. Every single person we met was warm, friendly, and genuinely welcoming, making us feel completely at home. We had waited many years for a trip like this and have been lucky enough to travel to many countries, but this experience truly exceeded them all it was a dream come true, and was a holiday of a lifetime. We had seen a few negative reviews prior to arrival, but they simply don’t reflect our experience. Their loss was our gain. You can’t please everyone and for us, this place was nothing short of perfect. Thank you for the memories — we loved every second and will treasure this holiday forever. We truly hope to return one day!
We visited Rahaa Maldives for five nights in March, and it was truly an amazing experience. We would absolutely love to return in the future. The resort is about an hour’s domestic flight followed by a 30-minute boat ride from Malé, which makes it feel wonderfully remote—an idyllic escape in the middle of paradise. I travelled with my two children (11 and 13), and our Ocean View Villa was perfect—clean, spacious, and equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable stay. Wasanthi and her team in the restaurant took excellent care of us throughout our visit. The food was plentiful, with something for everyone, and breakfast in particular was outstanding, offering a wide variety of options alongside stunning views. Islam at the bar was always on hand to serve the perfect glass of rosé or refreshing cocktails, while also preparing delicious milkshakes and mocktails for the kids. The karaoke evenings were a big hit, and even a spell of rain one night didn’t dampen the atmosphere—guests simply embraced it and ended up dancing in the rain! 😊 We all joined a snorkelling trip, which turned out to be one of the highlights of our stay. We spotted four turtles and what felt like the entire cast of Finding Nemo! The trip was expertly led by Brando, who was fantastic at spotting marine life and ensuring we didn’t miss a thing. While I had a bit of work to do one afternoon, the kids tried paddleboarding in the lagoon with Wishah from the watersports team. He was incredibly patient, and they had a great time. Before arriving, I had seen a few concerns about the internet, so I was pleasantly surprised. The Wi-Fi in the rooms was perfectly adequate for emails and general browsing, and I found the connection in the bar area strong enough to handle Teams calls when needed. To unwind, I treated myself to a massage at the spa with Jasmine—it was fantastic and the perfect way to relax and fully enjoy the holiday. On our final night, we were treated to a beautiful beachside dinner, which was a wonderful way to end our stay. Soidh was a fantastic host and made the evening feel truly special. All in all, we had an incredible stay at Rahaa Maldives and wouldn’t hesitate to return. The only thing we would change is the length of our visit—five nights simply wasn’t enough! A huge thank you to Ismail and his team for such a memorable experience.
