Hotel mirihi island

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Around 200 islands of the archipelago are inhabited (recorded at the time of our visit in April 2010). Each hotel has its own island (unless you stay in the capital or Hulhule, the airport island). Among the 200 or so inhabited islands, some are inhabited by locals only - hotels and locals rarely mix unless in a work environment within a hotel structure. By this, we mean that there are no local villages which share a hotel's island and vice versa. Tourism and local life are kept separate. This means that there are no cultural activities on hotel islands, although most hotels tend to organise excursions to neighbouring local islands for the day.

Upon arrival at the airport, everything may seem very confusing, with people milling around all over the place looking lost - you will notice a row of hotel kiosks, and a row of Maldivian Air Taxi or Trans Maldivian Airline kiosks behind that. When you come out of the arrival doors, just look out for your host who should be waving a Mirihi Island placard. Go with him/her. Make sure you have bags of patience with you, as the wait may last a little longer before you board the seaplane (up to two hours). Your host has to collect all the passengers heading the same way as you before asking you to check in at the Maldivian Air Taxi desk. You will then be whisked off into a van and to the opposite end of the island to the seaplane terminal. A 5 minute drive later (make the most of it to gaze over at Malé, the capital, on the neighbouring island with its quirky colourful urban skyline), you will arrive at the hotel lounge, where you will be served complimentary refreshments while you wait to board the plane. The process may seem long, especially after a ten hour flight, but it is definitely worth it! Rest-assured that you will reap the benefits sooner rather than later!

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Mirihi Island, just 350m long and 50m wide, is one of the smallest hotel islands in the Maldives. Needless to say that a sparkling turquoise lagoon surrounds the ribbon of powdery white sand, which makes for an ideal holiday for those of you who just need to get away from it all. Despite its size and its small range of facilities, Mirihi is classed as a top range hotel, and indeed, although it is a lot more modest than its rivals, it is definitely worthy of sitting alongside them in this category. The recently-appointed hotel management, Pieter and his charming partner, run Mirihi with the help of right hand man, Antony, who is as lovely as they come. This super friendly and genuinely kind trio add to the already charming and personal atmosphere of the island.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the hotel personnel, as is customary in most hotels in the Maldives. The open reception has sand floors which are very pleasant to tired feet, especially after a long journey. The décor, as for the rest of the hotel, is simple, yet elegant and finished to a high standard. There are several seating areas which are lit with very gentle, unobtrusive lighting setting the ambience of the hotel. Guests will also find Maldivian swings in several areas, which add to the authentic relaxing atmosphere of Mirihi.

The accommodations are spread out over the island so as to avoid a cramped feeling. There is also a small spa overlooking the beach and two restaurants. One restaurant is situated behind the reception and another, the Muraka, can be found on a jetty, over the water (see our Food and Drink section below).

In the centre of the island there is a very well kempt football ground, and the Duniye Spa, where guests can choose from an array of treatments ranging from Swedish to Thai massages - guests should book in advance as it is popular. There is also a gym.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Tiny Mirihi only has 36 rooms which is perfect to retain guest intimacy on such a small island. It also means that the service is impeccable and feels tailored to each guest. There are 6 water villas and 30 beach bungalows kitted out in contemporary polished timber and touches of rich reds and browns to go with the fresh white linen, making the room feel more like a log cabin rather than a snazzy five star luxury beach hotel, which works very well in terms of comfort. The water villas are decorated in the same way, but with the added benefit of having a wooden deck with direct access to the sea, which is very private, unlike at other hotels where the water villas tend to be lined up one after the other leaving little room for intimacy on these types of dreamy decks.

All rooms have complimentary tea and coffee making facilities in the rooms, along with a CD player. All rooms have own-brand refillable amenities in the bathrooms. You will find that there are no bath tubs as a contribution to the environment - but there are very spacious rain showers in each room.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Mirihi has two restaurants: the Dhonveli, serving up a mix of international cuisine laid out as a buffet at all three meals. The options range daily, giving guests enough choice not to get bored with the food. Good quality, and in beautiful surroundings, dining here, to the sound of the lapping waves on the sea shore, is an unforgettable experience. The second restaurant is the splendidly elegant yet modest à la carte restaurant, Muraka. The staff, all smartly dressed in crisp white linen, are on call every day at sunset for a cocktail on the deck. Watching the sunset over the glimmering waters of the Indian Ocean from here is a real delight. The Muraka serves all kinds of dishes which range from Angus beef to seafood and changes every day. Tables dressed in long white, equally crisp table cloths, are arranged on the circular deck under the stars which are lit by candle light in the evening, which is one of the most romantic settings we have seen in the archipelago - it is in the effortless simplicity at Mirihi which gives it that extra something that is hard to find elsewhere in the archipelago.

• Z Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The beach at Mirihi is one of the most beautiful in the archipelago. With a perfect turquoise lagoon lining the ribbon of powdery white palm-fringed sands, you can rest-assured that you are on one of the Maldives' best beaches. Also, as there are only 36 rooms, the beach is never crowded by hordes of guests which cannot be said for some of Mirihi's rivals. Furthermore, there are some excellent diving sites surrounding the island.