Sirru Fen Fushi: A Secluded Private Island Escape for Your Next Maldives Getaway

THE MALDIVES

A hotel review of Sirru Fen Fushi, Private Lagoon Resort. Images courtesy of Sirru Fen Fushi and Jasmin Woolf | CSP Times.

Dreaming of an escape to a remote private island where you can snorkel warm, turquoise waters, be pampered by personal service and enjoy gourmet dining at every meal? Sirru Fen Fushi, which translates to Secret Water Island, is a pocket of luxurious paradise located on the Shaviyani Atoll of the Maldives' northern atolls. Part of the Leading Hotels of the World collection, this secluded resort embodies barefoot luxury amid breathtaking natural beauty, creating a haven for travellers seeking serenity, indulgence, and a connection to nature.

Getting There

Our final leg of the journey requires a seaplane transfer, but luckily the SFF team are pros and make the entire experience as seamless as possible. Once you’ve landed at Malé airport, a SFF representative is there to welcome you, help you check in and bring you to the lounge at the seaplane terminal. The lounge itself is spacious and air-conditioned, with a variety of comfortable seating options and an array of snacks and drinks available while you wait for your transit. Before long, we were boarding the Twin Otter aircraft to complete the last leg of our journey to Sirru Fen Fushi.

The 60-minute seaplane ride from Malé is an adventure in itself, with incredible aerial view of turquoise lagoons shimmering in the unique shades of blue the Maldivian atolls are famous for. As we step off the seaplane onto the jetty of the private island, the warm Maldivian breeze and the sight of the glowing blue ocean and swaying palm trees make for a stunning first impression. You’re also greeted by a waving team of staff and a refreshing cold coconut at the dock before being whisked away to your villa by golf buggy for check in.

The Island

We’re told that Sirru Fen Fushi is the third most remote resort in the Maldives, and while some may be put off by the longer journey, the remoteness is part of the charm. Unlike the resorts clustered near the mainland, Sirru Fen Fushi’s remote location in the secluded Shaviyani Atoll ensures a private-island experience – there are no neighboring resorts in sight, just miles of untouched ocean in every direction.

As we’re driven to our villa, we’re immediately taken by how lush the island felt. You’re surrounded by lush greenery and tropical flora on every side, while birds and flying foxes chitter overhead in the canopy. This isn’t a resort that shouts for attention, it whispers, letting the jungle greenery, the ocean, and the unhurried rhythm of island life take centre stage.

Accommodation

Sirru Fen Fushi features a total of 120 villas, located on the beach, over the water, or in the jungle, and the additional option of a sunrise or sunset facing villa if you go for a beach or water villa. Whichever you choose, each freestanding villa comes with its own private pool, a wooden terrace, indoor and outdoor showers, designer bathroom amenities, and a dedicated villa host that’s available 24/7.

Our home for the 3-night stay was the 235-square-metre Sunset Grand Water Villa, a spacious private oasis starring the quintessential Maldives view of the luscious Indian Ocean. The design philosophy emphasizes sustainability and refined indoor outdoor living, blending natural elements with a tropical boho aesthetic, creating an ambiance that felt both luxurious and authentic to the island. Think thatched roofs, driftwood accents, and macrame light decorations, elevated with modern comforts.

The bedroom was matched by an incredibly luxurious bathroom with a freestanding copper bath as its centre piece, as well as dual sinks, a small vanity area, and enclosed toilet.

Outside, an idyllic split-level terrace with a private infinity pool, a covered cabana with a daybed, two sun loungers, a small hammock and a dining table all overlooking the pristine natural lagoon. If you love snorkelling, a ladder gives you direct access to the reef for a picturesque swim amongst the fishes.

To get around the island, you’re provided with your own bicycles or you can request a golf cart ride to get a lift. We also enjoyed the occasional leisurely walk through the island or along the beach.

Dining

With three restaurants serving international and authentic Maldivian cuisine, two bars, as well as in-villa dining options available, we were spoilt for choice when it came to mealtimes at Sirru Fen Fushi.

The resort’s all-day dining hub, Raha Market, is where you’d typically start your day with a sumptuous breakfast buffet spread. The breakfast buffet includes your typical go-tos such as freshly baked pastries, eggs, and fresh fruits, as well as a range of Asian and Maldivian curries and delicacies, while lunch and dinner showcased a range of global flavours on their a la carte menu.

Kata is the resort's signature Japanese restaurant, offering an array of modern Japanese dishes including freshly made sushi and sashimi, fragrant ramen, sizzling yakitori and more, all prepared with the freshest ingredients. But the wow factor here is the view, the open-sided restaurant sits on top of the lagoon where you can watch fishes, sharks and rays swimming from your dining table.

The resort’s other fine dining restaurant, Azure, delivers rustic-chic elegance with its open kitchen and panoramic sea views. Specializing in grilled seafood and Italian cuisine, the menu highlights the catch of the day, such as lobster, reef fish, and succulent prawns. The views here are unmatched, making it the ideal spot for a romantic dinner under the stars.

During our stay, we also had the chance to meet the resort's new Executive Chef, Girish Sharma, who's previously worked at some of the Maldives’ most prestigious resorts, including Velaa Private Island and Joali Maldives. Girish is already making a delicious mark on Sirru Fen Fushi's culinary offerings, and we'll sure be hearing more about his tasty endeavours.

Facilities

While we loved making the most of our in-villa private pool, Sirru Fen Fushi’s main pool was conveniently situated in the middle of the island for when we fancied a change of scenery. The 200m infinity pool - the longest infinity pool in the Maldives – traverses the length of the island and is surrounded by day beds on either side, perfect for a lounge or for a touch of socialising.

As you look out across the water from the main pool, you’ll see a 20 foot metal cube jutting out of the calm lagoon, the world’s first semi-submerged tidal art gallery by famous British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor called The Coralarium. The design of the Coralarium is as the name suggests, based on natural coral structures, with large “pores” in the structure to allow the tides, current and marine life pass through. On closer inspection under the water, you’ll see a series of nature-inspired sculptures, encrusted with the coral of the lagoon.

Drawing inspiration from its natural surroundings, Sirru Fen Fushi’s Arufen Spa features eight treatment rooms, and a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces across a sprawling 2000 sqm wellness area for guests to relax and reset. The treatment menu offers a series of wellbeing experiences as well as your choice of therapeutic massages to facials and scrubs. After a stress-busting, sleep-inducing Aroma Energy Flow massage, we enjoyed a warm cup of herbal tea for a final nourishing touch.

Things to Do

For those who need a little bit of adventure with their pool lounging, there’s no shortage of activities at Sirru Fen Fushi. Snorkelling equipment is complimentary, so we made full use of it during our stay. There's a PADI-standard diving centre too, operated by a third-party organisation, Sub-Oceanic Maldives. The 6km long house reef, just steps from your room, teems with marine life. While we didn’t see any mantas this time round, we were astounded by the schools of fish, the resident turtles, and the friendly sharks we encountered during our dive.

Back on land, there’s a multitude of activities available daily, from yoga classes and beach volleyball to coconut painting and star gazing sessions… Let's just say you'd need to stay at Sirru Fen Fushi for a long time to get bored.

In addition to its year round program, Sirru Fen Fushi also offers seasonal activities to celebrate your favourite holidays depending on the time of year you visit. If you go over Christmas, you don’t have to miss out on making (and eating) gingerbread houses, or enjoy an Easter egg hunt with the kids if your stay coincides with Easter weekend.

Since our stay coincided with Earth Hour (March 22), we had the chance to join the resort’s Flavors of the Earth Feast — a four-course dinner celebrating Earth Hour, where each dish embodied an element (Earth, Fire, Air, Water), and a series of curated experiences designed to engage the senses: an electrifying Boduberu performance, a bonfire and a stargazing session guided by SpaceCat Astrotourism.

Sustainability Initiatives

Sirru Fen Fushi doesn’t just pay lip service to sustainability, it has implemented a wide variety of eco-friendly ingenuities to reduce its environmental impact, earning the resort a Green Globe certification since 2021. Solar power, desalinated water, and a zero single-use plastic policy are just the beginning. The resort converts the plastic it uses in its operations into colourful reusable items such as bracelets, sports paddles and even chairs in its on-site Sustainability Lab, which is also open for workshops to hotel guests and Maldivian locals.

They also partner with the Olivia Ridley Project NGO to protect local sea turtles and their habitats, and are continuously looking at new initiatives make the resort more sustainable. Whilst sustainability might not be top of mind for most Maldives travellers, the resort’s green practices certainly added to the feel-good factor.

Service

As soon as you arrive at your villa, you’re introduced to your villa host, who acts as your go-to point of contact on the island. After checking us in and showing us around the room, our villa host Hadeel shares her contact number, and throughout the stay was never more than a few minutes away should we need anything, whether it was changing a dinner reservation, requesting an extra blanket or a buggy to the restaurant. This attentive service extended to every staff member we encountered during our stay.

It was clear that at Sirru Fen Fushi, hospitality wasn’t just a job, the staff genuinely felt like they were happy to be there and cared about your stay. From the gardener who smiles and wishes you good morning to the friendly personal trainer who’s on hand to spot your workouts, every interaction felt personal and effortless. As a guest from Hong Kong, where urban anonymity is the norm, I was disarmed — and delighted — by how quickly I found myself beaming back at complete strangers.

The Verdict

Some places offer luxury. Sirru Fen Fushi offers belonging. It’s the kind of stay that lingers in your mind long after you’ve left the resort, not just for the picture-perfect azure waters or the exquisite food, but for the way it made you feel: relaxed, rejuvenated, and, above all, like part of the family.

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