Some resorts are about one big view. Anantara Kihavah is about two: the one below the waterline and the one above the night sky. Here you can sip wine in a glass-walled restaurant while reef sharks and turtles drift past, then climb to a rooftop observatory and peer through a research-grade telescope at the rings of Saturn. It's a resort built for wonder. That makes it a natural fit for couples who want their honeymoon to be a string of genuinely new experiences.
The island, Kihavah Huravalhi, lies in Baa Atoll, the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve best known for its manta rays. Every villa comes with its own pool and the overwater villas are known for sunken glass-bottom bathtubs that let you watch fish as you soak. The dining program spans everything from Japanese-Peruvian teppanyaki to Italian beach suppers. It's polished, romantic and a little theatrical in the best way, with enough privacy that you can ignore all of it and simply float.
Highlights at a glance
- SEA, an underwater restaurant with a wine cellar beneath the reef
- SKY observatory with a research-grade telescope and resident sky guru
- Glass-bottom bathtubs in the overwater villas
- Private pools in every villa
- Highly rated house reef for easy snorkeling
- Seasonal manta excursions to Hanifaru Bay
Kihavah Huravalhi: Setting the Scene
Kihavah is compact and leafy, with the resort preserving many of the island's original palms and fruit trees. A crescent of white sand wraps around the beach villas, while a long jetty leads to the overwater villas arranged over a pale turquoise lagoon.
The biggest natural asset is the house reef, which reviewers frequently call one of the best in the Maldives. Expect parrotfish, schools of fusiliers, reef sharks and turtles within an easy swim. Note that the reef isn't directly beneath the overwater villas; it's a short swim of five to ten minutes, so ask the dive team for the best entry points on arrival. Baa Atoll's protected waters also mean seasonal manta rays and the occasional whale shark are within reach by boat.
Pool Villas, Glass-Bottom Tubs and Big Decks
Every one of Kihavah's roughly 80 villas has a private pool. Even the entry categories are enormous, at well over 2,500 square feet.
Overwater Pool Villas are the honeymoon favorite. Each has an infinity-edge pool, a wide deck with a swing and daybed, a dining pavilion and, best of all, a sunken glass-bottom bathtub that looks straight down into the lagoon. Sunset-facing versions command a premium. They're worth it if golden-hour drinks on the deck are part of your plan.
Beach Pool Villas offer direct access to the sand, more garden privacy and a slightly more grounded, tropical-house feel. Recent refurbishments have given many villas a warm, wood-cabin style. Families and groups can step up to multi-bedroom residences, some of which are among the largest villas in the country.
SEA, SKY and Four More Ways to Dine
Kihavah's dining is a big part of its appeal, with six venues spread across the island.
- SEA is the showpiece: an underwater restaurant set beneath the reef, with a wine cellar below the waves. Reserve dinner or a lunch and consider the underwater wine tasting for something unusual.
- SKY is the overwater bar and observatory, ideal for sundowners followed by stargazing with the resident sky guru.
- FIRE pairs teppanyaki with Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei flavors.
- SPICE serves Asian dishes over the water.
- MANZARU handles Mediterranean and Italian plates on the beach, while PLATES hosts breakfast.
Anantara also excels at private dining. A table on the sand, dinner on your own deck or a sunset cruise aboard the resort's traditional gulet, the Ocean Whisperer, are easy to arrange through your villa host.
Why guests fall for it
Anantara Spa Over the Water
The Anantara Spa stretches over the lagoon, with six overwater treatment rooms where the only soundtrack is the lagoon lapping beneath you. A thermal circuit with warm and cold plunge pools, a Finnish sauna, an infrared sauna and a steam room makes it easy to spend an entire lazy afternoon.
Couples' rituals blending Asian traditions with Maldivian ingredients are the obvious honeymoon booking. Don't overlook in-villa massages on your own deck, though, especially at sunset. Daily yoga and aerial yoga classes round out the wellness offering for couples who want to keep moving.
Under the Waves, Under the Stars
Kihavah's activity menu is built around its two signature elements. Under the water, the dive center runs PADI courses for beginners and trips for certified divers. The snorkeling right from the beach is excellent. Between roughly May and November, guided excursions head to Hanifaru Bay to swim with feeding manta rays. You can also join a dolphin cruise or adopt a coral fragment for the resort's reef restoration program.
Above the water, the stargazing sessions at SKY are a must. Baa Atoll has very little light pollution. On a clear night the telescope reveals planets, star clusters and nebulae in startling detail. For a lazier day, book a sunset sail, try big-game fishing or challenge each other on the padel and tennis courts.
Why Guests Fall in Love
Reviewers return again and again to a few points. The villas top the list: guests love the sheer space, the private pools and especially the glass-bottom tubs, which feel like a little secret only you two share. The house reef is a close second, with many visitors calling it some of the best snorkeling they've experienced anywhere in the country.
Dining at SEA is regularly described as a highlight of the trip, while the stargazing at SKY surprises guests who hadn't realized how dazzling an unpolluted equatorial sky can be. Service draws consistent praise too, with villa hosts who anticipate needs and make arranging private dinners or excursions easy. Finally, guests appreciate that, for a resort with this many wow factors, it still feels peaceful and unhurried.
Good to Know
Seaplanes fly only in daylight. The transfer takes about 35 minutes. If your international flight lands late, the resort can arrange a domestic flight plus boat instead, or you can overnight near Malé. Book SEA and SKY early in your stay, especially if you have specific dates in mind for an anniversary-style celebration dinner.
The resort welcomes families and has a kids' club, though age restrictions may apply in overwater villas, which keeps that side of the island quieter. Rates are firmly in the ultra-luxury bracket, so many travelers book half-board or full-board packages to keep dining costs predictable. Mention that you're on your honeymoon when you book; it's worth asking whether any current offers include extras such as a romantic dinner or spa credit.
The Maldives is a Muslim country with conservative laws.
Insider tips
- Pay the premium for a sunset-facing overwater villa if evening light matters to you.
- Reserve SEA and the SKY stargazing session as soon as you book. Pick a moonless night for the best views.
- Ask the dive team where to enter the house reef; it's a short swim from the overwater villas rather than directly below.
- Time your trip between roughly May and November for a shot at Hanifaru Bay mantas.
