Athurugau Island

Although Athuruga isn't our usual ideal tropical island ie.simple & thatched, Robinson Crusoe style, I'll admit we returned for a second time as the All Inclusive is the best there is, (mini bar included )except for it's sister Thudufushi, we went to for the day, that's more simple & rustic but the snorkelling's not so good. Both still small enough, & without swimming pools. The staff remembered us which always makes you feel very welcome. It's become more stylish, since we were there last with a lot more casual comfy seating all around a new beach bar. The food is wonderful ,snorkelling exceptional,with a marine biologist to guide you should you need it. The rooms have everything you could wish for, good bathrooms,bath robes hairdryer etc. you will need an adapter as they are mostly 2 pin plugs, but they have them in reception. There has been some erosion around rooms 25-28, but they are working hard to build the beach up again. We were lucky to get the room we asked for 42.super position ! A good mix of nationalities, although predominantly Italians of course. Will definitely return. Ro & Keith

We have just arrived back from a 7 night stay at Athuruga and all I can say is what a fantastic place. The service was the ebst I have ever experienced, the staff really do everything they can to ensure your holiday is special. The island is beautifully situated and the rooms are lovely. Having stayed at other islands in theMaldives nothing else has compared to Athuruga.

Wonderful island resort, with first class service and food, and a wonderful house reef that invites you to hours of snorkeling or diving. Staff are exceptional, it is quiet and relaxing, and worth every penny of it's not so high prices!

My partner and I went to Athuruga in Feb this year as a special holiday. We flew out premium economy with Monarch, went to Athuruga for a week before going on by dhoni to Thudufushi for the second week. The two islands are owned and run by the same people so have a very similar feel, but the rooms are a bit nicer on Thudufushi. The snorkelling was excellent at both - there were more fish Thudufushi (in terms of numbers ) but we did see more types at Athuruga. Seeing dolphins going along the reef at breakfast time was very special and I would definitely recommend snorkelling at 8-ish in the morning. The island is small, but we were looking for relaxation rather than activity so this suited us fine. Thudufushi had more english people than Athuruga when we were there but the majority of guests are Italian. I have to say we mainly kept to ourselves so this wasn't a big deal and the staff all speak english. The bar staff and restaurant staff were very friendly and would do all they could to make your stay enjoyable. They really look after you. The staff on Thudufushi weren't as friendly or ready with a smile It was a fantastic holiday, I wouldn't go back as there are so many other islands, but it really was super, I would especially recommend it to people who want peace and to be fairly self-contained, I didn't get the impression that it would be particularly somewhere to go to meet people and socialise or if you want lots of activity. One thing there was certainly no shortage of was beach space! For a small island, the amount of sand was staggering!

We've visited a number of islands in the past but at last we've found the one we'll stick to. To an Anglo/Italian couple the prospect of a fine Italian restaurant on a beautiful Maldivian island sounded like paradise - and it was. It should be mentioned at this point for English-only speakers that Italian guests predominate, as does the Italian way of life. English is of course spoken by the staff. Athuruga is a small under-crowded island with an excellent house reef, wonderful Italian cuisine, superb staff and plenty of watery things to do should you want them. Being a dollar economy, any extra trips etc. are good value for Europeans at time of writing. The bungalows, single or semi, are large, well air conditioned and equipped with a fridge and a safe. An outside shower and loo is shared with (non-biting) ants from time to time. Nothing extravagant but all very comfortable and we slept well. A very good line in freebie sun creams is supplied. We had a semi-detached bungalow but no adverse neighbourly noises were evident. The dining room is very elegant for the Maldives, has a tiled floor, and is beautifully light and airy. We defy you to find better food anywhere at this price but then Italians are really fanatical about their nosh. No fast food here! Nor does all-inclusive mean cheap & nasty wine; on the contrary, all the drinks were excellent as was all the service. There is a simple beach bar, a very comfortable lounge area together with a small stage for Italian style night entertainment which will either amuse or bemuse! The house reef snorkelling is exceptional and additional trips to other sites are available. I am told that the diving facilities are also excellent but have no personal experience of this. There is also a spa, of which we know nothing, and even someone who cleans your sunglasses as you lie on your sunbed! One major difference on an Italian managed island is the presence of an 'animation' team of young people to help, advise and entertain. For instance, they not only teach you how to snorkel, sail, windsurf, play volleyball etc. but also provide a biologist to accompany you on your snorkelling and point out what is what. There is a brilliant professional keyboard player/singer and of course a resident doctor. Compared to some all-inclusive islands we've visited, Aruthuga is very quiet. Italians prefer espresso to alcohol, so round the clock drinking and late night rowdyism are non-existent. Maybe the savings on booze go on the food! Overall, there's a very warm, friendly, almost family atmosphere with either plenty to do or nothing to do. You can either find a group of friends or just get lost on your own. Perfect! (It should be noted that some minor re-shaping of the Island beaches by wind and sea was ongoing and you might wish check the state of play regarding running repairs and shifting sands - not unusual in the Maldives)

I came to stay here as my travel agency (Kuoni) suggested it after I told them what I am looking for (relaxation, wellness, small, not too crowded, hut by the water, no pressing animation). Et voilà, this was the place to be. When I return to the Maldives, this is the place I will come back to. Important to mentiion is the restaurant. Excellent food, daily changes in theme of the buffet, but daily classics as barbequed fish, pasta, salads (fresh green leaves - I just don't know how they do it), and freshly cut exotic fruits. One could eat healthy and indulge when desired. Pleasant staff (not giving one the impression they are smiling as they want tips) that made me feel welcome. Temperature 27-30 degrees and even though I have very light skin, places enough to not expose myself too much to the sun (didn't get sunburned). A dream location: sand, palm trees, clear water - just as the pictures in the catalogues (this time they were not lying). Daily excursions by Dhoni (boat), snorkeling excursions through the reef just 20m into the water. Made my first diving experience there and it was fantastic!! Next time, I'll get my certificate. What a wonderful staff one can fully trust. Just one little downside: I don't speak Italian and the animation is mainly in Italian (although they tried to translate most into German and English). Pleasant animation staff never gave me the feeling of having to participate in anything. Manuel, Alessandro, Francesca and Leonardo - thanks. And special thanks to Sergio and Andy - you gave me the experience of a lifetime. Not to forget Didi and his restaurant and bar staff.

We stayed for one week up till Christmas and although the weather was not great the place is just fantastic. The island itself can be walked around in 7 minutes. Each beach hut is tastefully finished with a private outdoor shower, air conditioning and a huge bed. The porch off the bedroom opens onto the beach with its crystal clear waters. There was not a tv in sight which was great. The hotel is run by Italians and all the staff seem to love it there and can't do enough for you. The animation/entertainment team provide stuff to do both day and night, whether this be snorkelling off the excellent house reef or beach volleyball, excellent scuba diving and evening entertainment. The food is five star cuisine and you know the place is good when the Italians are eating the pasta. Although all inclusive there is always something new to try each day fresh fish, maldivean curry etc - the wine, beer and spirits are all good. We would definitely go back to this heavenly place.

We have just come back from a very nice week-long holiday on Athuruga. Although the weather was relatively poor during our late Nov/early Dec week (about 80% overcast, 10% sun, 10% rain), we managed to make the most of it, particularly by occupying much of our time with diving. Athuruga is about 25 min flight from Male, but you typically make two other stops on your way down. The wait for the seaplane in Male was about two hours, so be prepared. Also a little suprise was the charge for extra baggage weight on the seaplane despite being OK on the charter flight from Zurich. Keep in mind they also weigh your hand luggage and there is a 50 Kg limit for two people. The resort is lovely, consisting of about 46 bungalows, mostly beachfront, organized along the periphery of the island. Some, but not all bungalows are detached, the others being semi-detached. They are numbered beginning nearest the restaurant (facing west,/southwest) and extend clockwise around the island, ending near the boat dock (facing east/southeast). Detached bungalows along the largest open stretch of (North facing) beach are 22 through 25. 42 is also detached as may be 7. We were in a west facing semi-detached bungalow 4. This was less breezy than east facing ones, making it much hotter when the sun actually came out. I prefered the small shady intimate crescent of beach in front of my bungalow to the larger North facing beach. Although we were semi-detached, I never heard or saw our neighbors. I liked being close to the restaurant and was never bothered by noise from it or the entertainment stage. Note that there is no swimming pool on island and no beach umbrellas. Shade can be sought beneath the trees (if you're lucky enough to have sunshine). What was a little annoying was the construction going on in at least five bungalows, including number 2, just two doors down from us. All occupied bungalows have been fully renovated to relatively modern stylish European standards and all have an open air enclosed toilet and shower with double sink. We were not aware of ongoing renovations prior to booking. The noise, however, was limited to the late afternoon and early evening and stopped before the 8 PM dinner time. Meals were quite good with a wide choice of buffet style foods with different themes each night: BBQ, Chinese, International, Spanish/Mexican, Italian, Seafood and Maldivian. In addition to these, there was always fresh pasta, fresh grilled fish, pizza and indian food - array of curry dishes, rices, chutneys and pappadums. Also a wide array of salads, fresh fruits for dessert and sweets. The staff were very friendly and helpful. You were assigned one waiter for the entire stay and one "house boy" who cleaned your room twice a day. Dining tables were assigned, the same each night, and they were all private tables - you did not have to share with others. The Dive shop had knowledgeable and friendly staff and dive trips were organized morning (9:30) and afternoon (3:00) to sites throughout the Ari atoll at the choosing of the staff. There were occasional night dives also planned. One thing to note-you can buy dive equipment (computers, etc.) at the duty free shop at Male airport for much cheaper than in Europe or the States. Even reef guides/books at the resort and the airport are cheaper than on Amazon.com (if you can even find them there) so don't hesitate to buy them on site. Most guests were Italian-speaking, mostly young and middle aged couples and a few children. Other guests were an even mix of German and English speakers, middle age or somewhat older. All staff speak English. The entertainment crew (the "animators") were mostly Italian but spoke pretty good English and nightly events were co-ordinated in multiple languages. I only wish that I was made more aware of several daytime excursions, included in the all-inclusive price, that I did not get to go on, such as sunset fishing trip, snorkel trip and uninhabited island trip. The spa was relaxing and well worth visiting. I would definitely stay here again, although there are so many resorts to choose from, I would probably try someplace different the next time just for variety. I would definitely not return in November or Decemeber despite the slight chance that I might have a good week of weather. Don't believe the Kuoni brochure about only 2 rainy days in December. Average Dec rainfall is over 180 mm. In November it is 200 mm. Next time I will go in February.

We stayed in Athuruga for two weeks from 4th Sep 2006. This was our first taste of the Maldives and our best holiday so far. No dough we'll go back. Athuruga is an all inclusive island/resort. There is 46 beach bungalows (mainly semi-detached, just a few detached ones) and a terrace of 5 garden bungalows located close to the main reception area (these are the least desirable ones). We were given a semi-detached bungalow (number 44) which was perfectly fine, however we fancied a detached one (number 42) where there was no vegetation between the bungalow and the ocean and after putting a request in at the reception, we were able to move after 4 days, once it became available. We believe the bungalow 42 to be the best one on the island. The food in the main (and only) restaurant was to dye for. So much choice! No wonder we spent at least an hour at each meal time, going back and forth with different dishes to try. They had themed dinners every evening and the food was always very fresh and extremely tasty. No wonder we both put some weight on. The first few days of our stay there the weather was quite bad and we saw no sun for the first 4.5 days. If it was not raining and the wind was not to strong we could still go snorkelling. Generally we spend these days by sitting around the beach bar area, playing back gammon, eating and drinking or reading a book. When we finally woke up to a glorious sunny morning, our spirits were lifted and Athuruga truly became a paradise. We were told, that we were really unlucky to catch the end of the rainy season at the beginning of Sep and that the whole year has been a bit out of character so far. Effects of the global warming. There is a few shops on the island selling essential toiletries in case you run out, some Italian designer clothing, as it is an Italian run island, but you can also find clothes that are made directly on the island, mainly sarongs. There was a really up to date camera shop in there and they also provided services like: downloading your photos on CD in case you use up all the space on you memory card did not want to buy a new one in there. There was also an internet access on the island and a doctor. Free laundry service was also available. There was a daily entertainment on in the evening and we were really surprised that we could not hear this and were not disturbed by it when we decided to spend a quite evening in. There is plenty to do there. Lots of water sports, excursions to choose from, but we spent most of our time snorkelling. The underwater life there was so fascinating and we spent hours and hours taking pictures of different fish, baby black tip sharks a turtles. The twice-a-day room service was excellent and even the content of our minibar was included and regularly stocked up, which was rather unusual, as we were told by other visitors, who have been to the Maldives on all inclusive basis before. This island really exceeded all our expectations and we could not fault it. The animation staff as well as the kitchen and bar staff were all really friendly and helpful. I also tried the head, neck and shoulder massage at the Serena Spa on the island during one of those bad weather days and it was really relaxing and good value for money. You really do not need to carry any money around with you on this island as any expenses you have you settle on your room bill on the evening before your departure. The view of the islands and the ocean below you during the water sea transfers to and from the island truly are amazing. Some tips: For the sockets take the standard European two pin adapters. Snorkelling equipment was available for hire from the sports centre for free (included within the all inclusive basis) There is no swimming pool on this island, which we did not mind at all. No mosquitoes on the island, although there was one very noisy bird there which kept waking us up at exactly 6:00 on most mornings, but we had plenty of opportunity to catch up on our sleep later. If you arrive early at the Male International airport and have lots of time to wait around before boarding, we suggest you try the airport lounge (can't think of the name now) in the far left corner of the airport building upstairs for some quiet and air-conditioned environment with free internet access and a choice of refreshments for a fee of $16 per person. It is well worth every cent.

We stayed on the island for 5 nights sfter a tour of India / Sri lanka. And didn't want to leave. Food is to die for nothing too much trouble, The chef used to get me white snapper and it was just wonderful. Rooms very good ,outside bathroom very nice !!! Beach lovely white sand rooms 1 , 2, 3 , 24, 25 were best in our minds. try to avoid 65, 66,67, these seem to be used as overflow rooms, if in one asked to be moved the day after, Staff very attentive, lovely sea plane transfer, we were lucky enough to have 3 pick ups on way back saw some more beautiful islands. dont hesitate to book this , you will not regret it.enjoy