Kurumba Maldives
As I am always looking for special places to visit, this was definitely one of them. Kurumba Maldives is not just one of the resorts, it is a resort with a history that brought prosperity and progress to the islands of Maldives.
History
It began with Kurumba’s opening in 1972. At the time, this remote archipelago, inhabited only by fisherfolk, was unknown to the outside world. Corbin, an Italian travel agent, brought the Maldives’ first tourists, mainly journalists and photographers, in February 1972. He wanted to bring more tourist if they would have somewhere to stay. And that is how Kurumba was born.
Vihamanaafushi was then an uninhabited island with coconut plantation. They managed to build 30 rooms using coral stone for walls, coconut timber, and palm thatch for roofs. Each room had a brackish water shower and toilet, basic furniture, and access to the beach. They called the resort Kurumba Village, after the Dhivehi word for coconut, Kurumba.
In 2003, Kurumba underwent a complete transformation yet again, to meet the demands of the 21st century. The result was a world-class resort with 180 rooms, including the Royal Residence, Presidential Suites, Pool Villas, Family Villas and beach and garden superior rooms.
So as you can see it is impossible to write a review of Kurumba Maldives without touching on its historical importance and I’m honored to have stayed at the resort that changed it all.
Location
The island is located just a short 10 minutes drive away from the main island of Male. Its location is perfect for those who do not want to travel far to get to the resort. There is a disadvantage to this, that you will see much more boats and seaplanes around you, but the beauties of the island and incredible service on the island will let you forget about everything.
Resort
Kurumba Maldives offers more than just sun, sand and sea. There is a variety of activities that you can enjoy on the island, like live entertainment, different restaurants, amazing spa facilities and different sports options. Obviously, it’s a top pick for honeymooners and couples, but it is also perfect for families with children and friends who wish to enjoy beauties of Maldives.
Accommodation
We stayed at Deluxe Bungalow which was located just a few steps from the beach with incredible views across the Indian Ocean. The bungalow was lovely with king size bed, small working area, amazing indoor-outdoor bathroom and nice terrace. The open-air bathroom made you feel like you are showering in nature. Amazing! The room itself was very comfortable and we received our own beach bags and flip-flops for the beach. Really nice touch!
Dining
Dining possibilities at Kurumba Maldives are endless. You can choose to dine in your room, have a romantic dinner for two on the beach or you can visit one of the eight amazing restaurants on the island.
Vihamanaa is a buffet restaurant, and the name was taken from the original name of the island. Here you will find an amazing breakfast buffet with plenty of dishes to choose from and every evening there is a different theme night Italian, Chinese to Mexican and Persian.
One night we enjoyed the delicious teppanyaki restaurant called Hamakaze. The food and the show were amazing. Sushi, sashimi and the view of the ocean. Can you wish for more?
The islands signature restaurant is called Thila and offers a la carte menu with a variety of dishes from grilled seafood to steaks. I tried burrata for a starter, fresh tuna for the main dish and cheesecake for dessert and I must say that everything was more than delicious. At Thila, you can also enjoy premium breakfast with views of the ocean every morning.
There are also a few other restaurants that we didn’t get the chance to dine at. Al Qasr, which is great for Middle Eastern delights, such as mezze, kebabs, and Lebanese delicacies. And for Italian food, you can visit Isola.
Activities
We had some pretty exciting activities while we were at Kurumba Maldives. The resort’s team are on hand and they helped us to plan our days with lots of fun and exciting activities. The first night we went on a sunset and dolphin discovery cruise. It was an amazing experience and we saw many dolphins swimming and playing around our boat.
And if you want to be pampered be sure to visit Veli Spa set in the lush gardens of Kurumba Maldives. The soul of Veli Spa is inspired by the solace of the Islands, the balance of the oceans, the energy of the indigenous people of the Maldives and the healing effects of human touch. So, in the afternoon we decided to have a bit of relaxing time and we went on signature massage that was specially created for Veli Spa. It was divine! First, you choose if you want soft, medium or strong pressure and then just enjoy the treatment. A hot sand poultice along with their healing signature oil, will leave your skin soft, mind soothed and spirit lightened.
On our second day, we had an early morning snorkeling safari. We visited two reefs where we saw many colorful fishes, sea turtles, and even sharks. The coral reefs of the Maldives are home to a huge variety of marine life and some of the different species have distinct preferences of location that they choose to call home. So, visiting different reefs means seeing different marine life.
There are also plenty of other activities like Tai Chi, yoga, tennis, different watersports and of course 24-hour gym. You can watch the coconut climbers pluck the coconut trees, learn about the local marine biology and kids can do arts and crafts with recycled materials.
Conclusion
With its reach history, beautiful beaches, amazing accommodations, incredible restaurants, divine spa area and many fun sports activities, the Kurumba Maldives is an island that is worth a visit. The location is perfect for those who are in the Maldives for just a quick getaway because it is less than 10-minute boat ride from the airport. The resort itself is very well maintained and has a very natural atmosphere mixed with comfort and luxury. The heart of the island are also the people working there, which will make your stay even more special and unforgettable. Kurumba Maldives and all the staff, thank you… we would come back in a heartbeat!
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OurWorldTravelSelfies would like to thank Kurumba Maldives for welcoming this review. The opinion is as always, our own. Photos are courtesy of Our World Travel Selfies and Kurumba Maldives.
