JA Manafaru

We chose JA Manafaru as our honeymoon destination for a variety of reasons; intimacy and remoteness; lush vegetation; pristine white beaches and excellent food. We can honestly say that it exceeded our expectations on all levels, and what made it truly special was its amazing staff and top-class service. We read many reviews in the lead up to our stay and had extremely high hopes for an outstanding honeymoon. We couldn’t have asked for any more and would return to the island in a heartbeat. We can only reiterate what the vast majority of reviews already say about the high quality of food, excellent standard of accommodation, brilliance of the spa, beauty of the island and the value you get from choosing All-inclusive. We have visited the Maldives on a number of occasions (which is why we wanted it to be our honeymoon destination) and JA Manafaru stands head and shoulders above other islands we have visited. Some additional points that may be helpful to future visitors… we made a conscious decision to visit in Low Season and, whilst this was a risk, we wouldn’t hesitate to return in June. The weather was generally outstanding and, on the odd occasion when it did rain, the island is perfectly equipped and has so much to offer. The spa in particular is incredible, but there are loads of other activities, including pottery, cinema, cookery classes to name but a few. The island was at 40% occupancy when we arrived, which we loved (the quieter the better for us!) but the hotel managed this really well, ensuring all restaurants were open to visit on a rotational basis so that we got to experience all of the dining options numerous times. We paid extra for both the Teppanyaki Experience and private dining at ‘The Cellar’. We would highly recommend both, the teppanyaki for relaxed fun (Chef Cipriano was first class) and The Cellar for a truly special and intimate fine dining experience. Superb. Tiziano the director of food for the island, was a fabulous host. We stayed in a Beach Villa for the first 7 nights then moved to a Sunrise Water Villa for our last 5 nights. The staff made it so easy to switch rooms and we got to enjoy the best of both worlds. We would highly recommend anyone to do this. Both types of room offer their own unique experiences and each are brilliant in their own way. Can’t leave a review without saying a massive thank you to the staff who made our stay so memorable… Rizam our butler; Shafeeg and Rilwaan our housekeeping; Nizam, Jack, Rauf, Ashraf, Rishah, Imran, Anel, Zineera, Mifraah, Raphael, Shaad and Abdoh. You were all amazing! We’ve left with so many magical memories and very much hope to return to JA Manafaru!

We chose JA Manafaru for its remoteness, low villa density, and reputation for great food—and it delivered on all three. After being met in Malé by the wonderful Riyaz, our transfer was changed from a domestic flight and speedboat to a later seaplane, adding around three hours to an already long journey. While the seaplane was a unique experience, we would have preferred the earlier arrival. As one of the northernmost resorts in the Maldives, JA Manafaru feels genuinely secluded, with no neighbouring resorts or boat traffic in sight. Despite visiting early in the wet season with rain forecast daily, we enjoyed mostly dry days with a mix of sunshine and cloud. Although occupancy was low, restaurants operated on a rotating schedule, allowing guests to experience all dining venues, themed dinners, cultural evenings, and fully operational bars throughout the week. The food was excellent, but the staff made our stay truly memorable. Special thanks to Nizam, Sonam, Ashal, Shaad, Rishan, and Imram, whose service and hospitality were outstanding. The resort often felt like our own private island. The complimentary sand bikes made exploring easy, and experiences such as wandering through the chef’s garden and the fascinating “Heart of the House” sustainability tour added a unique dimension to our stay. Snorkelling just off the pier revealed an abundance of marine life. We swam next to 4 spotted eagle rays and spied sleeping nurse sharks. The underwater illuminated pier at night attracted countless fish, grey reef sharks, and large pelagic Jacks patrolling the atoll’s edge— a true highlight of our trip. Our Beach Villa with Private Pool was spacious and private. The only disappointments were that the complimentary wines did not feel particularly premium as advertised, and after heavy rain our pool turned green and remained unusable without any attempt at restoration. These were relatively minor issues, and we left with wonderful memories and high praise for JA Manafaru. It remains a special resort that offers a rare sense of seclusion, exceptional hospitality, and excellent dining.

JA Manafaru is one of the best resorts we have ever stayed at. Yes, it is far from Malé—about an 80-minute seaplane flight—but that is exactly what makes it so special. The island feels truly secluded and peaceful. There is no noise, no crowds, just the sound of the ocean and complete relaxation. Even though we stayed in the Kakuni villa, one of the closest to the restaurant, it was still incredibly quiet. The island itself is stunning: a beautiful, spotless beach that is cleaned every morning, crystal-clear water, and a real sense of privacy. The villas are very comfortable, and having a private pool makes the experience even better. A special mention goes to the food. I honestly thought I would eat lightly during our stay, but instead I left every meal completely full and happy. The à la carte concept makes every breakfast, lunch, and dinner feel like dining in a great restaurant rather than at a hotel buffet. A huge thank you to Chef Moussa and his team. Another unexpected highlight was the clay figurine workshop. We highly recommend it to everyone staying at the resort—it became one of our favorite memories from the trip. We would also like to thank our butler, Diana. She was always available, helped with everything we needed, and patiently handled all of our requests and many unusual questions. Even the small issues we had with the villa were resolved almost immediately, largely thanks to her persistence and support with the internal teams. Many people made this holiday special for us: Chef Moussa, Roberto with his wonderful smile (and the chicken soup he kindly brought for our child), and the entire resort team. But Diana was the person who made our stay truly effortless, comfortable, and enjoyable. If we could suggest one small improvement, it would be to fully tint the bathroom glass in the standard villas, as a little more privacy would be appreciated. Thank you to the entire JA Manafaru team for an unforgettable holiday. We will definitely be back if we can.

This is my first trip to the Maldives, and coming to JA Manafaru was honestly the best choice. We had 4 perfect sunny days and saw the ocean in so many different colors — it looked like something straight out of a movie. Everyone here is so friendly, especially our butler Zhang Fei. He speaks Chinese, pays close attention to every detail, and even set up honeymoon decorations to make it extra romantic. The food on the island is great too — very Chinese-friendly, and we were always full and happy. I’d totally recommend JA Manafaru to any of my friends visiting the Maldives.

Like the room very much , atmosphere is also nice