Landing on the sea
A week in Raa Atoll. Christian starts on Reethi Faru, moves to The Standard and spends the final three days at Alila Kothaifaru. The last hotel is his favourite.
Reethi Faru
Christian arrives on Reethi Faru on Thursday, the first island on his week-long trip. The next day he writes:
After a very pleasant flight via Dubai with Emirates on an Airbus A380, we arrived on Reethi Faru yesterday feeling relaxed. […] The seaplane connection is perfect: in 40 minutes you land right on, or rather just off, this beautiful barefoot island, Reethi Faru. A spectacular landing on the water!
There are petals on the bed. Outside, it is raining. As Christian films a walk through the room, he says: “A lovely room. It’s raining quite hard at the moment, though, and it’s windy. But that will change.”
From the dive centre, Christian sends a map of the house reef and a handwritten excursion list. One of his photographs shows a ray over the pale sand. For a holiday with plenty of time on the reef, we would look at Reethi Faru first. Dive Worldwide describes it as a peaceful base for divers. A garden villa without a private pool is an option here too.
The Standard
Christian moves to The Standard on Saturday. He films rays from the jetty: “Hi, guys!” In the bathroom, a disco ball hangs above the round tub. Windows in the floor look down onto the sea.
We would suggest The Standard to friends who want something to do in the evening. There are DJ nights and pool parties, and every villa has a private pool. The Standard has fewer villas than Reethi Faru. Families have a kids’ club. Reethi Faru also welcomes children and has villas with separate bedrooms. If quiet evenings matter most, we would look there first.
It is worth checking your meal plan: Reethi Faru has a dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurant. Guduguda at The Standard serves Maldivian food. We check which restaurants are included before you book. Both islands can be reached by seaplane from Malé, so your international flight needs to fit the island transfer.
Alila Kothaifaru
On Sunday, dolphins swim alongside the boat. A dorsal fin appears in the bow wave, right beside the hull. Christian then spends three days at Alila Kothaifaru. It is his favourite hotel of the trip.
His photograph shows a sandy path to the villa, with dense greenery on either side. In his walk through the room, the private pool is behind a glass panel, with plants beyond it. The overwater villas have pools too. We would discuss a beach villa here if a sheltered space of your own matters to you.
At Alila, Christian speaks with General Manager Thomas Weber Opens in a new tab., a Swiss hotelier who has led the resort since 2023. They record their conversation on film. Weber has also given an interview to Wellness Heaven. Watch the conversation with Christian (8 minutes, in German).
Travelling in September
We recommend September to guests who can accept a rainy day and move a boat excursion to another date. The south-west monsoon brings heavy showers; wind and waves can make crossings choppy. Snorkelling visibility depends on currents and the side of the reef. Low season can bring better rates. We check how busy a hotel is for your particular dates.
If your priority is swimming in calm seas each day or the clearest possible underwater visibility, we suggest January to March. Finolhu in neighbouring Baa Atoll is one option for that trip. Weather and wildlife sightings still cannot be guaranteed.