English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Indonesian
Italian
Malay
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi is a sophisticated bubble of tropical perfection, with diamond white beaches, jewel-like coral reefs and a showpiece underwater art gallery – the first one in the Maldives.
Location
The resort is found on an exclamation mark of shocking white sands painted on the western rim of the Shaviyani Atoll, and is reached via a sensational one-hour seaplane flight from Malé. The location feels deliciously remote and the fact that it’s so far from the capital allows for epic empty horizon views, swims in newly discovered reefs, first-time dives and not a glimmer of light pollution after dark.
Style & character
Sirru Fen’s main talking point is, quite rightly, its sub-aquatic art gallery. The magical collection of life-sized sculptures conceived by British artist Jason Declaires Taylor offer up intriguing glimpses during low tide and can be snorkelled around when waters are high. There’s an imaginative air on land too; check out the secret gardens, fantastical wooden structures and platforms where you can dangle your feet and stare at the sea.
Service & facilities
The island measures in at just over one kilometre long (0.6 miles) and 600-metres across; essentially, it’s just about big enough for guests to get lost on. Walk, buggy or bicycle between immaculate white beaches, the 200-metre-long swimming pool, the fitness centre, art and photography studios and the temple-like Willow Stream Spa. The surrounding waters are rich in reef fish – neon-blue trumpetfish, orange clownfish (Nemos), stripy red triggerfish – as well as green turtles, spotted eagle rays and more. The charming staff have a your-wish-is-our-command attitude.
- Bar
- Beach
- Fitness centre
- Kids’ club
- Laundry
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Spa
- Steam room/hammam
- Tennis court
- Wi-Fi
Rooms
Sirru Fen’s 120 villas have a chic, understated Maldivian look; they’re decked out with champagne woods, coral-shaped crochet rugs, rope and glass bauble chandeliers, and black and white macramé cushions. Choose from striking over-water villas, with sand decks wrapped around huge infinity pools; rambling big beach villas with sensual indoor/outdoor bathrooms at the rear and plunge pools out front; or safari-style tents hidden in the island’s jungly heart.
Food & drink
Breakfast is served in the buffet restaurant Raha Market and can be as angelic – papaya, lime and chia smoothies, mushroom and ricotta bruschetta – or as devilish – frothy cappuccinos, pancakes filled with cherries, pastry with mousseline cream – as you wish. Local fishermen supply the chefs at the Azure grill, who do wonderful things with snapper, lobster and tuna; the creamy, coconut reef fish curry with airy chapattis is a delight. There’s also a slinky, overwater Japanese restaurant, Kata, and a Balinese-style bar.
Value for money
Beach villas from $1,260 (£885) half-board, with free seaplane transfers on stays of five nights or more. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi. There’s complimentary use of non-motorised watersports and a number of free daily activities.
Access for guests with disabilities?
No accessible rooms.
Family-friendly?
Families will find an especially warm welcome here. There’s a play garden and shallow pools for toddlers, and a kids’ club for four to 12-year-olds. There’s even a teenagers’ hangout, made up of stacked shipping containers, with pool tables, video games and its own DJ soundtrack.
Shaviyani Atoll 20209, Maldives.
00 960 654 8888
fairmont.com
