Dhawa Ihuru: my perfect island escape

Maldives · Dhawa Ihuru · Part of Banyan Group

Exceptional service. Wonderful food. A reef I could keep exploring. Dhawa Ihuru brings together everything I love about an island escape — and earns my personal 10 out of 10.

My overall verdict10/10

Personally recommended
by Tanja Stadnic

Service: 10/10
Food & dining: 10/10
Snorkelling: 10/10
Sunset beach villa: 10/10

These are my personal scores from my stay, rather than an official hotel star rating.

Service that makes the difference.

During a difficult personal moment in my stay, the care and support of the entire hotel team meant so much to me. I am especially grateful to Mr. Haby for his help and kindness.

Thanks to the people at Dhawa Ihuru, I look back on my stay with real warmth and gratitude. Their support made a difference, and my overall experience remained wonderfully positive. This is what exceptional hospitality means to me — and why my 10/10 for service is so personal.

Arrival jetty at Dhawa Ihuru — official resort photograph — The arrival jetty. Photography: Dhawa Ihuru / Banyan Group.

Wonderful food. Every reason to linger.

The food was another highlight of my stay. Dining is an important part of how I experience a hotel, and here it deserves the same full score as the service. Great food, in a setting that makes you want to slow down.

A taste of the dining experience from my stay.

A little closer to the underwater world.

The snorkelling is extraordinarily beautiful — an absolute highlight of my stay. Exploring the reef and its marine life felt like stepping into another world. It is hard to put into words just how beautiful it is beneath the surface. If you love snorkelling, this is a place I would wholeheartedly recommend. An unforgettable experience, and a very clear 10/10.

Sea turtle photographed during Tanja’s stay at Dhawa Ihuru — An underwater encounter from my stay.

Marine life in the shallows at Dhawa Ihuru — photograph from Tanja’s stay — A glimpse of marine life from my stay.

Tanja Stadnic on the beach at Dhawa Ihuru — Island moments at Dhawa Ihuru.

My choice: a beach villa facing the sunset.

The beach villas with sunset views score just as highly for me. Being right beside the beach, with the evening light over the water, is a wonderful part of the experience. If you love sunsets as much as I do, this is the villa option I would ask about.

A place I would happily recommend.

For the service, the food, the snorkelling and the sunset beach villas, Dhawa Ihuru receives a 10/10 from me across the board. A beautiful island escape, personally recommended.