Today’s article is a detailed report on Adaaran Group’s (Adaaran Resorts) four all-inclusive islands in the Maldives: Rannalhi, Select Hudhuranfushi, Vadoo, and Select Meedhupparu.
During the 618 shopping festival, we promoted these islands, and following that, we made a special trip to bring everyone first-hand feedback. After reading the article below, everyone can then decide whether or not they need to redeem a voucher.
This year, we visited at least 30+ islands in the Maldives.
One assistant, in less than six months, already went three times and is nearly treating the Maldives as his home. He is currently on his fourth trip, continuing to explore numerous islands.
Many readers have commented, asking why we don’t visit high-end locations like LV White Horse, Vela Private Island, Soneva, and the Nautilus.
In truth, this relates to our selection logic; we prefer high-cost performance rather than pure high-end luxury.
We believe that the most valuable aspect of the Maldives is the sea, so choosing an island with a good sea view, great beach, and high cost performance is indeed more important.
While six-star or luxury islands are certainly appealing, the true highlights of these islands are the hotel facilities and service standards, and the sea and beach may not be outstanding.
For instance, the well-known Nautilus has a water villa area that is obstructed by two wave-break walls, seriously blocking the view.
Many luxury island packages only offer HB (half board, breakfast and dinner), and it’s not uncommon to spend an extra 1-2k for a meal, which really doesn’t offer the best value.
Thus, we prefer to promote some islands that provide good value and boast good water and beaches—not those that are overly expensive.
Our affinity with Adaaran Group stems from their connection to the famous Heritance chain in Sri Lanka, as they share the same parent company.
When we first promoted the Heritance hotels, the cost-performance ratio was outstanding, and this promotion of Adaaran in the Maldives reflects the same.
Adaaran Group’s four islands feature all-inclusive offerings.
Not only do they include three meals a day and drinks, but even activities like excursions, spa treatments, and extra beds do not incur additional fees, and the starting price of 6,299 RMB per person is competitive with Southeast Asian islands.
To introduce Maldives packages, they typically fall into four categories:
BB: Breakfast only
HB: Breakfast and dinner
FB: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
AI: All-inclusive.
Choosing an AI (All Inclusive) island is mainly for peace of mind.
Everyone has likely heard stories about how a can of cola costs 12 USD, a juice 30 USD, and an ocean excursion over 100 USD on a Maldives island. This is not an exaggeration; these prices genuinely exist in the Maldives.
When you visit a Maldivian island, you can’t just eat meals without any drinks, right? Staying for four nights means you’ll want some entertainment/outdoor activities too.
However, if you don’t select an all-inclusive island, many of these will require extra fees.
The contents of AI packages may differ between islands; some are basic, while others are more generous, so it is crucial for guests to clearly check the details.
Let me detail the all-inclusive package for the second cheapest option, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi (initially priced at 6,799 RMB per person):
Unlimited meals and drinks are available at five restaurants and three bars (where the Sunset Restaurant is exclusive to water villa guests; other room types will need to pay);
Morning tea, afternoon tea, and nighttime snacks;
Free use of the mini bar in the room, replenished daily (including beer, juice, soft drinks, mineral water, chocolate, and milk) as well as in-room coffee, tea, toiletries, and slippers;
Three free sea activities (specific projects arranged based on daily conditions, requires prior reservation);
One 45-minute couple’s spa treatment;
Free use of non-motorized water sports facilities, free rental of snorkeling equipment (limited to adults);
Free use of the kids’ club, other entertainment facilities on the island (like table tennis, billiards, board games, etc.);
Honeymoon amenities available (with valid marriage certificate within six months).
Additionally, you stay in beach villas for two nights and water villas for two nights—talk about generous!
Why do some people have a wonderful time in the Maldives while others feel constrained? Perhaps it’s simply because they chose an all-inclusive island.
I recommend that travelers seeking value in the Maldives prioritize all-inclusive islands.
Next, I’ll provide the formal report, discussing each island one by one.
My favorite is Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi, initially priced at 6,799 RMB per person.
The cost performance at Hudhuranfushi is incredibly high.
Hudhuranfushi is located in North Male Atoll and is a 30-minute speedboat ride from the airport.
The island features world-class surf spots; although the package doesn’t include surfboard rentals, just watching others surf is thrilling.
So one of the joys of staying at Hudhuranfushi is watching the surfers.
Hudhuranfushi is a large island, and it takes about an hour to walk all the way around. The sand on the beach is fine and soft, ideal for going barefoot, and the vegetation is quite lush.
However, the island’s sand coverage isn’t uniformly high, with sandy areas limited to certain regions.
Hudhuranfushi is indeed spacious, equipped with facilities like a soccer field, tennis courts, and badminton courts—all of which are free to use.
The package includes two nights in beach villas and two nights in water villas.
The beach villas measure 60 square meters and were renovated in 2019.
It’s about 20 meters from the beach villas’ balcony to the water; each beach villa has its own sunbed by the sea.
The water villas, renovated after 2017, measure 65 square meters. They are relatively standard but spacious; Hudhuranfushi allows free extra beds for families with children.
The water villas provide direct ocean access for swimming, located at the back of the island, while the front is for surfing and the back area is for snorkeling.
The quality of snorkeling is evident from aerial photos; the underwater scenery at Hudhuranfushi is quite vibrant.
There are five restaurants and three bars on the island, all included for guests (with rare exceptions for expensive drinks).
It’s important to mention that many islands in the Maldives impose restrictions on dining with packages such as HB (half board) or FB (full board).
Some are quite extreme, only allowing free meals at a single designated restaurant. Staying for four nights you’ll possibly get sick of even good food, which is often not exceptionally tasty.
At Hudhuranfushi, guests can choose from any of the five restaurants.
The only exception is the Sunset Restaurant, exclusive to water villa guests, which offers buffet-style dining with the added touch of having chefs prepare fresh dishes on-site.
In the evening, the Sunset Restaurant attracts numerous baby sharks drawn in by the light.
There’s also a separate Indian restaurant, serving lunch and dinner, primarily offering curry and meat dishes, perfect for curry lovers.
Banyan, the main buffet restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its menu primarily includes international dishes, with a slight bias towards Western cuisine. The benefit is that it shares a wall with the Indian restaurant, allowing guests to enjoy dishes from both places.
A high proportion of the dishes at Banyan are cooked on-site.
The Lohis bar operates as a restaurant during the day and a bar in the evening, specializing in unique pizzas and beverages. For those who enjoy a drink during their Maldivian vacation, I recommend choosing an all-inclusive island; otherwise, drink purchases can add up quickly.
Hiyala serves as the main bar and is open 24 hours. In the afternoon, there are occasional DJ events at the pool, and in the evening, live performances take place.
Now, regarding the activities at Hudhuranfushi, the package includes three sea excursions (most other packages provide only two excursions; this exclusive benefit was given as a privilege for the travel blog).
However, we had limited time (only two nights) and could only partake in sunset fishing.
Additional options include sunset cruising, dolphin watching, and snorkeling excursions—choose from among those included.
The spa services include a 45-minute couple’s treatment, located by the sea, allowing you to enjoy soothing sounds of waves while unwinding.
During our stay, we also encountered festivities for Eid, and foreigners seemed to be having a blast.
Here’s a look at Hudhuranfushi’s kids’ club, which has both indoor and outdoor areas, all quite spacious.
My second favorite is Vadoo Island, originally priced at 10,299 RMB per person.
Vadoo is situated in South Male Atoll, a quick 20-minute speedboat ride from the airport.
It’s a small island, taking around 10 minutes to circle, boasting a high sand coverage rate, with more than a third of the island being sandy, all of its accommodations being water villas, and it’s an adult-only island.
Vadoo also has a Chinese-speaking front desk staff, which eases communication.
Here are some aerial images.
Vadoo Island has excellent snorkeling and beach conditions, with over a third of the island being sandy, and it features a small sandbank. The snorkeling is superb, surrounded by large areas of coral, with no wave barriers or seaweed.
Here is a glimpse of Vadoo’s little sandbank; the beach is stunning!
One side of Vadoo Island features a cliff. Anyone familiar with diving knows that locations with cliffs often have a variety of fish species.
Nevertheless, be cautious when snorkeling at Vadoo, as the cliffs can induce a certain psychological fear.
The Adaaran Vadoo all-inclusive AI package includes:
VIP transportation from Male International Airport, complimentary welcome drink upon arrival, and personal butler service;
Access to three restaurants and two bars with unlimited meals and beverages;
Two sea excursions (including one sunset cruise);
All-day breakfast service can be enjoyed at any time, as well as one floating breakfast, and one 45-minute couple’s spa treatment;
One bottle of sparkling wine or non-alcoholic sparkling wine, a welcome fruit basket; unlimited use of the mini bar replenished daily, fresh fruit, tea, and coffee;
Evening snacks served in-room, turndown service, Japanese restaurant set menu;
Daily complimentary afternoon tea and one free shisha session per day;
Free rentals of snorkeling gear and non-motorized water sports equipment, weekly yoga classes, mixology courses, and cooking classes;
Free use of non-motorized water sports amenities like catamarans (with a license), kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards;
Honeymoon amenities available (valid within six months of marriage).
All accommodations at Vadoo are water villas measuring 95 square meters.
Many readers have asked about the difference between water villas and beach villas in the Maldives. I typically recommend beach villas for families, as water villas pose slightly lower safety risks. For couples, water villas provide added privacy.
Vadoo’s water villas allow for direct sea access for swimming.
Every unit features a hot tub and outdoor soaking pool, with glass flooring inside.
The balcony boasts what is essentially a mini soaking pool. You can bathe, but swimming here is unrealistic.
The advantage of this pool is enjoying floating breakfast (which is included in the package).
The mini bar in the room is completely free, replenished daily—a feature I truly commend after my past experiences with mini bar charges at other islands.
Vadoo Island offers three restaurants and two bars, without a buffet option; all dining is a la carte.
The main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering Maldivian-style breakfasts. Both lunch and dinner are menu-based, with options including Chinese cuisine, Arabic, Indian, and Western dishes.
The breakfast here includes porridge.
The Japanese restaurant serves lunch and dinner. Advanced reservations allow dining at this restaurant for both mealtimes, and they offer an extensive variety with generous portions, making it the most palatable of the three restaurants for Chinese guests.
The seafood restaurant operates dinner service only. For more premium dishes like lobster, there are additional charges, while everything else is included.
The rooftop bar offers a 240-degree view, best enjoyed during sunsets, operating from 8 AM to midnight.
Adjacent to the Dhoni boat bar are the pool, gardens, and water sports center, ensuring the highest entertainment value. In the evening, there’s a live DJ, and the bar offers over 100 varieties of non-alcoholic beverages and cocktails, plus complimentary shisha service.
Another highlight of Vadoo’s dining is the ability to have breakfast delivered to your room at any hour of the day, even at 11 PM. Ice cream is also available for free.
Activity-wise, the package includes two sea excursions. Due to time constraints, we opted for the sunset cruise to view the stunning Maldivian sunset from the sea.
The island also offers free water sports like kayaking, windsurfing, and snorkeling equipment rentals. Paddleboarding by the cliffs was surprisingly enjoyable.
One can also schedule a free snorkeling instructor session, who can take you to areas where you might spot schools of fish, sea turtles, and more.
The spa services are also included and set right by the sea.
Third on my list is Meedhupparu (Adaaran Select Meedhupparu), originally priced at 9,999 RMB per person.
Meedhupparu is located in Raa Atoll, a 50-minute seaplane ride from the airport.
The all-inclusive AI package at Meedhupparu includes:
VIP transfer from Male Airport, complimentary refreshments in the seaplane lounge (with Wi-Fi, snacks, and drinks);
One 45-minute couple’s spa treatment;
Four restaurants with breakfast, lunch, and dinner offered; unlimited drinks available at four bars throughout the day, including tea, coffee, soft drinks, cocktails, and alcoholic beverages;
Complimentary welcome drink, one bottle of sparkling wine, and a fruit platter upon checking in; free use of the mini bar and room snacks;
Water villa restaurants and bars exclusive to water villa guests, while other room types can access for a fee;
Two free sea excursions (arranged based on booking conditions and weather), complimentary snorkeling gear, and non-motorized water sports (sailing catamarans, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding require licenses);
Free access to the fitness center, tennis, badminton, table tennis, beach volleyball, billiards, darts, and other amenities; free use of the spa facilities’ sauna and steam room; complimentary participation in weekly beach parties, cooking classes, and mixology classes;
Honeymoon amenities available (valid within six months of marriage).
Before visiting, I had some concerns about Meedhupparu since one-fourth of the area has wave barriers, which might obstruct views. However, upon arrival, I found that the barriers were almost level with the ocean surface, not impacting sightlines at all.
The island is renowned for its beaches, featuring 100% sand coverage, and its beach is genuinely lovely.
Additionally, the surrounding area boasts plenty of coral, making it excellent for snorkeling.
Another highlight for families is that the kids’ club offers free childcare services (4-12 years old), alleviating some stress for parents.
This is a large island, and walking around takes about 40 minutes. There are also free facilities like a soccer field and tennis court.
During our previous visit, Meedhupparu’s package included two nights in beach villas and two nights in luxury water villas.
Here’s a look at the real pictures of the luxury beach villas:
To reach the beach, you have to walk through some trees, which is a little far.
