Kihaa Resort Review: Best Budget Maldives Resort in Baa Atoll
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If you’re dreaming of the Maldives but think it’s out of your price range, let me introduce you to Kihaa Resort in Baa Atoll. I’ve stayed here more than once (and I’d go back again in a heartbeat). This is one of the most affordable Maldives resorts and the best part – it’s right next to Hanifaru Bay, home to the best manta ray snorkelling in the world. I should know I used to live here!
Why Stay at Kihaa Maldives?
Kihaa might not have the same global fame as some of the big-name five-star chains (like Four Seasons where I used to work), but it’s a gem for travellers looking for beautiful beaches, great snorkelling, and value for money.
It’s got the same stunning white sand beaches as the more expensive resorts, lovely spacious accommodation and fabulous outdoor bathrooms and the same access to amazing snorkelling and the world class UNESCO site Hanifaru Bay for manta ray snorkels.
I’ve stayed at Kihaa Maldives twice, once with one friend and the second time for my 30th birthday with a group of friends! I would definitely go back again (although as I work in Thailand now, I will miss my work permit discount that I had the first two times around!).
Accommodation at Kihaa Maldives: Beach Villas & Overwater Bungalows
If you’ve been searching for “Kihaa Maldives island villa with pool” or affordable overwater villas, good news, they’ve got both. We stayed in a beach bungalow both times, and I absolutely loved it.
The rooms are octagon-shaped are unusual and unique! There is a huge outdoor bathroom, double outdoor showers, and a massive bathtub. Even the beach villas set slightly back still give you a view of the sand and everything is about 30 seconds from the white sand beaches.
The housekeeping team were incredible. We’d come back from dinner to find beautiful towel art and sweet touches in our room.
All-Inclusive or Full Board at Kihaa?
The buffet restaurant sits just off the beach and has themed nights like Arabic night (hello pumpkin curry and warm pita bread). On my first trip, the food was average, but by my second stay, it was great and very vegetarian-friendly too. Essential for my birthday group as nearly all of us were marine biologists and vegetarian!
If you’re wondering about the Kihaa Resort all-inclusive package, it might be worth it if you’re planning to drink alcohol. Drinks aren’t cheap otherwise. We went for the full board package which included three meals a day and thought it was solid value.
Restaurants at Kihaa Maldives
The main buffet is where you’ll eat most of your meals, but they also offer private dining options, and you can request specific dishes in advance. This isn’t gourmet fine dining, but it’s tasty, satisfying, and flexible for dietary requirements.
There’s also a beach bar where you can order drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) to enjoy by the pool or under the palm trees.
Kihaa Swimming Pools
Kihaa resort has a gorgeous infinity pool with a bar behind it. You can drink cocktails in the swimming pool and spend the day lounging on sunbeds all around the pool.
At the end of the infinity pool, there is a beautiful beach which stretches all the way around the island. The beach opposite the arrival jetty is the most picturesque. There is a second swimming pool surrounded by palm trees on the right of the lobby which also has a kids’ pool.
They also have loungers, beanbags and a hammock swing and even a manta swing!
Spa at Kihaa Resort
So the outside of the spa isn’t going to win any design awards, it’s a bit underwhelming. But once you’re inside, it’s perched over the water with those signature Indian Ocean views. I didn’t have any treatments (too busy in the sea), but it looked peaceful and well kept.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling in Baa atoll
The best activity to do in the Maldives is snorkelling and scuba diving. The house reef around Kihaa means it has some of the best snorkelling in the Maldives.
In a couple of hours snorkelling we saw two turtles, multiple black tip reef sharks, a nurse shark, moray eels and beautiful schools of banner fish.
Scuba diving around Kihaa is great because of the fairly decent coral reefs and you have a high chance of seeing manta rays while diving because of the proximity of Hanifaru Bay.
Please note that you can only snorkel with mantas inside Hanifaru bay as scuba diving is prohibited due to strict regulations by the Maldivian government to protect this area for manta conservation. For more about snorkelling with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay- I’ve written a full post about manta encounters here.
Kihaa Beaches
All the beaches in the Maldives are exceptionally stunning and have you wanting to do that pinch me moment. It’s the only place I’ve ever been where I had to turn down the brightness on my photos to make them appear more realistic!
The beaches at Kihaa are just as stunning as more expensive resorts and I love the soft white sand. They have ample sunbeds artfully dotted around under umbrellas and that famous strip of turquoise sea leading to the darker blue of the lagoon. Just Maldives magic!
Booking Kihaa Resort Maldives
How to get to Kihaa Resort
For a transfer to Kihaa Maldives, you will need to take a domestic flight from Male to Dharavandhoo airport. You can book this through with domestic airlines such as Maldivian, Fly Me or Manta Air. Maldivian usually has the cheapest domestic flights in the Maldives.
Once there Kihaa can arrange a short transfer from Dharavandhoo island by speedboat. It is the next door island so won’t take more than a 10 minute journey.
Work Permit Rates
Kihaa is one of the best resorts for work permit holder rates in the Maldives. If you hold a valid work permit for the Maldives then (at the time of visiting) they offered a rate of $180 per double room including the full board package. So that works out to $90 per person per night with three meals included.
For me, this resort is great value for money because of the beach villas, great snorkelling and swimming pools. Even without a work permit, this is one of the best budget resorts in the Maldives.
Kihaa Resort Review Summary
I have now stayed at Kihaa resort twice. It is one of the most affordable resorts in the Maldives and one of the top resorts in the Maldives, in my opinion, because it has Hanifaru Bay on its doorstep, the best place to snorkel with manta rays in the world. I really enjoyed both my stays at Kihaa and I would definitely go back again.
