Everything was pretty good. Lunch and dinners were delicious! I love the juices they give with meals. Breakfast was basic. The staff; Adam, Raj, and Ibrahim were all very lovely and very helpful. All facilities were working properly and WiFi worked well. Bikini beach was about a 10-minute walk. The lounging area near the water outside of the main building could use a bit of attention. If available, I recommend booking one of their Island Pavillon rooms, it is the main structure where meals are held. Overall, I enjoyed my time at Kalaafanu Retreat.
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Kalaafaanu Retreat
Why guests stay
- Wi-Fi
- Garden
- 24-hour front desk
Video transcript
Welcome to Kalaafaanu Retreat, a 3-star hotel in Mahibadhoo, Maldives. Guests can enjoy Wi-Fi, a garden and a 24-hour front desk. Guests rate it 4 out of 5, from 26 reviews. You will find it at Kalaafaanu Retreat Alifu Dhaalu Atollsouth Ari Atoll, in Mahibadhoo. Have a look around, then compare and book on impt.mv.
+10 photos
About this stay
Set in South Ari Atoll, Kalaafaanu Retreat is a 3-star guesthouse on a local island. Its listing includes diving. Guests rate it 4.0 out of 5 across 26 reviews.
The feed lists 13 facilities for Kalaafaanu Retreat. No restaurant or bar appears in the list, so check meal arrangements before you book. On the water side the list includes diving.
In the rooms the listing mentions free wi-fi and safe. Services include 24-hour front desk, babysitting service, laundry service and luggage storage.
Facilities
- 24-hour front desk
- Babysitting service
- Business Center
- Diving
- Free Wi-Fi
- Garden
- Laundry Service
- Library
- Luggage storage
- Picnic area
- Playground
- Safe
- Wheelchair accessible
Photos
The gallery holds 16 photos from the property's own listing, captioned with views such as featured image, room, guestroom and bathroom. Open it from the mosaic above to see every image at full width.
Getting there
Kalaafaanu Retreat lies about 74 km in a straight line from Velana International Airport, the country's main gateway near Malé. The nearest domestic airport is Maamigili, roughly 44 km away, which matters if your transfer combines a domestic flight with a boat ride.
Local islands this far from Malé are usually reached by a domestic flight and a speedboat, or by a scheduled ferry or shared speedboat from Malé; the guesthouse can confirm current options and timings.
The nearest other stays in this guide are Island Grand Maldives (on the same island), Sunny Lodge (on the same island) and Hikifas Beach Maldives (on the same island). On a local island or in the city, stays this close share the same streets, beaches and ferry stops, which makes them easy to compare.
Open the location in Google Maps ↗Guest reviews
Kalaafaanu Retreat averages 4.0 out of 5 across 26 reviews. A selection, quoted as written:
Very beautiful place on a even more beautiful island. 100% local and real. Beach is very nice and awesome for snorkeling. Food in kalaafaanu retreat is the best I had in my 2weeks on Maldives. Staff is super friendly and helpful
So bad they got overbooked when I already arrived here. So they arranged me to other island for couple days and when I reached Hangnaameedhoo they give me a room in more expensive guest house. Good gesture, but still I'm little bit upset. But I recommend you to stay on this island, good house reef. Food is not expensive. Kinda like backpacker style vacation but in maldives. The owner said he gonna build another guesthouse nearby the bikini beach. Hope someday can try it
Good to know
Families: the facility list includes babysitting service and playground.
Accessibility: the property is listed as wheelchair accessible; confirm the specific rooms and boat transfer.
Connectivity: wi-fi or internet access appears in the facility list.
Arrival: no transfer service is listed, so arrange the boat or flight leg in advance.
Local islands: guesthouses sit on inhabited islands where local laws apply, including dress codes away from designated bikini beaches and no alcohol.
Before you book Kalaafaanu Retreat, check what the rate includes: Maldives rates can be quoted with or without the green tax, service charge, meals and the transfer from Malé, and transfers are often priced per person. The booking page shows the inclusions for your exact dates and party.
About South Ari Atoll
South Ari Atoll has 167 stays in this guide: 20 resorts and 147 local-island guesthouses. By guest score weighted for review volume, Kalaafaanu Retreat ranks 63 of the 70 rated stays here. The average guest score across the atoll's rated stays is 4.6 out of 5.
South Ari Atoll, known administratively as Alif Dhaal, lies about 96 km in a straight line from Velana International Airport. The atoll offers 172 places to stay, split between 21 resorts on their own islands and 151 guesthouses on inhabited local islands. There are no city hotels. Of the 70 rated stays, the average guest score is 4.6 out of 5. 59 stays list a private beach and 101 list diving, reflecting the atoll's appeal for both beach and underwater interests. Accommodation ranges from resort islands to guesthouse-based stays, giving travellers a choice between fully self-contained resorts and local island settings.
Read the South Ari Atoll guide for reefs, transfers and what to do, or browse all 167 stays in South Ari.
Questions about Kalaafaanu Retreat
Where is Kalaafaanu Retreat?
Kalaafaanu Retreat is in South Ari Atoll, Maldives, about 74 km in a straight line from Velana International Airport. The nearest other stay in this guide is Island Grand Maldives (on the same island).
Is Kalaafaanu Retreat a resort or a guesthouse?
Kalaafaanu Retreat is a guesthouse-style stay on an inhabited local island, rated 3 stars in the supplier feed.
What do guests say about Kalaafaanu Retreat?
Guests rate Kalaafaanu Retreat 4.0 out of 5 across 26 reviews.
What facilities does Kalaafaanu Retreat have?
The feed lists 13 facilities, including diving.
How do you get to Kalaafaanu Retreat from the airport?
Kalaafaanu Retreat is about 74 km in a straight line from Velana International Airport, so the transfer is usually by a domestic flight and a speedboat, or a scheduled ferry or shared speedboat. The nearest domestic airport is Maamigili, about 44 km away. The property confirms the exact transfer and timing.
Is Kalaafaanu Retreat suitable for families with children?
The facility list for Kalaafaanu Retreat includes babysitting service and playground. Ask the property about age rules and cots for your dates.
What other stays are near Kalaafaanu Retreat?
The nearest other stays in this guide are Island Grand Maldives (on the same island), Sunny Lodge (on the same island) and Hikifas Beach Maldives (on the same island).
How do I check availability at Kalaafaanu Retreat?
Choose dates and guests in the booking box on this page. It opens the live availability and rate for Kalaafaanu Retreat on app.impt.io in a new tab.
More stays in South Ari
167 stays in South Ari Atoll.
