# NH Maldives Kuda Rah 2026 — Ex-Amaya, Pool Villas, Whale Sharks > NH Maldives Kuda Rah review for 2026: 51 pool villas from $189/night in South Ari, year-round whale sharks, five shore dive sites. Was Amaya Kuda Rah. Source: https://luxatolls.com/resorts/nh-kuda-rah/ · Last updated: 2026-10-21 · Language: en · Prices in US dollars (USD) unless stated otherwise --- [Resorts](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/)/[South Ari](https://luxatolls.com/atolls/south-ari/)/NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort # NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort Slip from your own pool onto the sand, snorkel a house reef patrolled by whitetips and eagle rays, then boat out to the whale sharks of South Ari before cocktails at Glow. 5-Star Resort Seaplane 25 min Pool in Every Villa Year-Round Whale Sharks Atoll [South Ari](https://luxatolls.com/atolls/south-ari/) Villas 51 Transfer Seaplane Transfer Cost ~$450 pp RT Packages From Request Quote Meal Plans BB / HB / FB / AI Secret Price Secret Price Tailored to your dates Get a Personalised Quote More inclusions than direct Opened 2014 · Renovated 2024 For couples who want a pool at the door and South Ari's big-animal water nearby without an ultra-luxury bill. Known until 2024 as Amaya Kuda Rah, the 51-villa island reopened under Minor as the first NH resort in the Indian Ocean. Small and quiet — two restaurants, a cooking-class café and one bar — so come for the water, not a dine-around. 01 Villas· 02 Dining· 03 Inclusions· 04 Activities· 05 Reef· 06 Transfer· 07 Verdict·08 FAQ Lux Pulse™Updated Oct 16, 2026 · [How we score](https://luxatolls.com/how-we-rate/) Strong & Growing **78 new reviews** in the past 6 months across Google, TripAdvisor & Booking.com. Average rating **4.7 / 5** from 2,236 total reviews. +23% review volume vs. prior 6 months [How we score](https://luxatolls.com/how-we-rate/) 4 Awards since 2018 Travelers' Choice Tripadvisor '26 Travelers' Choice Tripadvisor '25 Maldives' Leading Boutique Resort World Travel Awards '19 (as Amaya Kuda Rah) Maldives' Leading Boutique Resort World Travel Awards '18 (as Amaya Kuda Rah) How It Compares ## NH Kuda Rah vs. Other Resorts Where this resort sits across the dimensions that matter most when choosing a Maldives property. Budget · Ultra-Luxury Adaaran Club LUX* South Ari Soneva Fushi NH Kuda Rah Lively · Secluded Kuredu Lily Beach Kudadoo NH Kuda Rah Easy Access · Remote Gili Lankanfushi Anantara Kihavah Park Hyatt Hadahaa NH Kuda Rah Couples · Family Komandoo W Maldives Siyam World NH Kuda Rah Boutique · Large Resort Makunudu (36) Coco Bodu Hithi (100) Meeru Island (286) NH Kuda Rah (51) Poor Reef · Exceptional Finolhu Vilamendhoo NH Kuda Rah NH Kuda Rah Reference resorts Accommodation ## Choose Your Villa Five villa types and not one without a pool — the rule the island is built around. Three sit on the beach, including two split-level pavilions of 231 sqm; two stand over the lagoon, led by the 210 sqm Royal Residence. The entry villa is a compact 90 sqm, so the pool is the luxury there rather than the floor space. Beach · All pool Beach Pool Villas & Suites From $189 90–231 sqm · 26% larger than avg One Bedroom Beach Pool Villa · Sleeps 3 · max 2 adults · 90 sqm · Pool · $189 One Bedroom Beach Pool Pavilion Suite · Sleeps 4 · max 3 adults, 1 child · 231 sqm · Pool · $2•• Overwater · All pool Over Water Pool Villas From $3•• 118–210 sqm · 29% larger than avg One Bedroom Over Water Pool Villa · Sleeps 4 · max 3 adults, 1 child · 118 sqm · Pool · $3•• Over Water Royal Residence with Private Pool · Sleeps 4 · max 3 adults, 1 child · 210 sqm · Pool · $5•• Family · All pool Two-Bedroom Villa From $3•• 231 sqm · 82% larger than avg Two Bedroom Beach Pool Pavilion Villa · Sleeps 4 · 231 sqm · Pool · $3•• Not sure which villa is right? We'll match you based on your group size, budget and priorities. Prices shown are indicative low-season per night. See the season guide in the sidebar for how rates vary by time of year. We'll confirm exact pricing for your dates. Every quote from us includes the 10% service charge, 17% GST and the $12 per person per night green tax, so the price we quote is the price you pay. Pricing Get your secret price Secret Price Custom package · Your villa choice · Meal plan · Transfers Sending Quote Request Sent We'll reply within 24 hours with a personalised itinerary and exact pricing. Reference Check your inbox for a confirmation. Tailor your trip Send Lux Exclusive Share your dates and preferences — we'll build a bespoke package with villa, meal plan, transfers and exclusive inclusions you won't find elsewhere. More inclusions than booking direct Get a Personalised Quote Quotes handled by [Tym's team](https://luxatolls.com/about/) of Maldives travel professionals. 24-hour response. Deal Alerts Be first to know when **NH Kuda Rah** has a deal — exclusive rates and upgrades, sent only when there's something worth sharing. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Season & Pricing Guide Dec 20 – Jan 10 · Peak · Highest rates Jan 11 – Mar 31 · High · +40–60% Oct 1 – Dec 19 · Shoulder · +15–30% Apr 1 – Sep 30 · Low · Best value Peak season fills 4+ months ahead. Shoulder season offers the best balance of weather, price and availability. Similar Resorts [Outrigger Maafushivaru South Ari · Same atoll From $520 /night](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/outrigger-maafushivaru/) [NH Collection Maldives Havodda Gaafu Dhaalu · Sister brand SPECIAL $4,926 / 5 nights](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/nh-collection-havodda/) [Avani+ Fares Maldives Baa · Sister brand SPECIAL $1,854 / 4 nights](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/avani-fares-maldives/) [Anantara Veli Maldives South Malé · Sister brand From $600 /night](https://luxatolls.com/resorts/anantara-veli/) Share your dates & preferences — we'll build your perfect package. Dining ## 3 Restaurants & 1 Bar Small-island dining, honestly sized. Sea Spray serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as buffets with live cooking stations and is the room every meal plan is built around. Ocean is the à la carte seafood restaurant where you choose the catch, Malaa is a Maldivian cooking-class café rather than a dinner venue, and Glow, the pool bar, runs from morning smoothies to after-dinner drinks. Sea Spray International The island's main restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with buffets and live cooking stations that mix local and international dishes. Tables run out to the edge of the pavilion with the lagoon and the breakwater beyond. On most stays this is where most meals happen, whatever the plan. Setting · All-day dining · buffets and live stations Our tip · Take an outer table at breakfast — the lagoon is right there. All plans Ocean Seafood The specialty restaurant, and the one night out on the island. You pick your catch — lobster and prawns lead the list — and decide with the kitchen how it is cooked, at open-sided tables in the sea breeze. It sits outside the all-inclusive, which is built around Sea Spray. Setting · À la carte · catch of the day Our tip · Choose the catch yourself, then let the chef suggest how to cook it. Supplement Malaa Maldivian Billed as a Maldivian café, Malaa is really a show kitchen for learning the island's food: the chefs walk you through aromatic curries and traditional dishes, and the resort's cooking class has you make four of them and then eat your work for lunch. A cultural hour rather than a dinner reservation. Setting · Open-air show kitchen · cooking classes Our tip · Book the cooking class early — you cook four dishes, then eat them. Supplement Glow Cocktails The island's only bar, set over the central infinity pool with the ocean beyond. It works all day: smoothies and light bites after a dive, cocktails through golden hour, and drinks after dinner. On a resort this size it is the social centre by default. Setting · Sunset pool bar · infinity pool Our tip · The sunset bar — claim an infinity-edge lounger before golden hour. AI Drinks Meal Plans ## Dining Inclusions Four board bases, from bed and breakfast up through half board and full board to all-inclusive. The All-Inclusive is built around Sea Spray for all three meals, with drinks at selected outlets; Ocean's à la carte seafood sits outside it, as do the special dinners on the resort's weekly programme. Supplements are per adult per night and a guide only: the all-inclusive figure is read from the resort's own lead-in rates, and half and full board are quoted on request. Service charge, tax and green tax are added on top. | Plan | Restaurants | Alcohol | Minibar | ~pp/day | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bed & Breakfast | Sea Spray (B) | — | — | Included | | Half Board | Sea Spray (B+D) | — | — | On request | | Full Board | Sea Spray (B+L+D) | — | — | On request | | All-Inclusive | Sea Spray (B+L+D) | House | Daily | +$135 | Bed & Breakfast · Included Sea Spray (B) Alcohol—Minibar— Half Board · On request Sea Spray (B+D) Alcohol—Minibar— Full Board · On request Sea Spray (B+L+D) Alcohol—Minibar— All-Inclusive+$135 pp/day Sea Spray (B+L+D) Alcohol · House · Minibar · Daily Meal plan prices are a guide only — generally an average across the year. Resorts can change them at any time, they often vary by season, and a plan sold in one season may not be offered in another. We'll confirm what's available and the exact price for your dates. Experiences & Activities ## Your Days on the Island The water is the programme here. Five dive sites start from the beach, more than 40 lie within 90 minutes by boat, and the whale sharks of South Ari's protected area are a morning trip away. Back on land it is one infinity pool, a gym open around the clock, yoga with the resort's instructor, a three-suite spa and bicycles for getting about. Water Sports & Diving On-island dive centre · five shore-entry sites · 40+ boat sites House-reef diving from the beach · Five shore-entry sites · whitetips, stingrays, eagle rays Single dive · $54 · six consecutive dive days $570 Discover Scuba (Resort Diver) · $98 · equipment included PADI Open Water course · $536 · equipment included Night dives · The house reef after dark · +$7 per dive Big Valley, Lhamiyaru Gaa and Bodufinolhu Thila · Twin pinnacles, grey reef sharks and a thila on sand Kudhimaa wreck · A steel cargo wreck near Machafushi Flyboard · $121 for 15 minutes Parasailing · From $115 Jet ski · $86 for 15 minutes Glass-bottom canoe · $38 an hour **Shore diving off the villas.** Minor's own dive briefing counts five dive spots reached by shore entry from the beach villas — no boat, no schedule. Stingrays, whitetip reef sharks, sand eels and eagle rays work the house reef, and after dark it becomes the night dive. Excursions & Cruises Whale sharks, mantas and sandbanks across South Ari Whale shark snorkelling excursion · $101.80 pp · 3–4 hours Manta ray snorkelling excursion · $101.80 pp · peak September to May Nurse shark snorkelling excursion · $101.80 pp · 2–3 hours Turtle snorkelling excursion · $75.30 pp · hawksbill and green turtles Sunset cruise · Dolphins are a possibility on the way Sunset fishing · Traditional Maldivian handline Sunset sail with a captain · $80 for one or two people · one hour Beach hopping to nearby islands Sandbank picnic **Whale sharks, year-round.** South Ari's marine protected area is famous for whale sharks in every month, and the resort runs a three-to-four-hour snorkelling trip to find them, boat included, at $101.80 a person. The resort puts the best odds between August and November. Spa & Wellness Three treatment suites, each with its own steam room and Jacuzzi The Spa Delight · 140 min · $200 · fusion massage, reflexology, coconut head massage Traditional Healing Ritual · 90 min · $150 · Balinese massage and coconut scrub Spa Fusion Massage · 90 min · $150 · lomi-lomi, shiatsu and Swedish Thai massage · From $120 Hot stone massage · 90 min · $140 Abhyanga & Shirodhara · Ayurvedic warm-oil ritual Sauna, steam room and experience showers Manicure and pedicure · From $90 Yoga and water aerobics · Led by the resort's instructor Sports & Recreation One infinity pool, a round-the-clock gym and bikes to get around Infinity pool · The island's focal point, over the beach Gym · Open 24 hours Bicycles · For getting around the island Maldivian cooking class · Four traditional dishes, then lunch on what you made Water ski, wakeboard and knee board · $58 a lap Banana and fun-tube rides · $45 per person Pedalo and canoe rentals · From $18 an hour Beach weddings · One wedding a day Kids & Family Children of all ages welcome · indoor play area Indoor play area · Games and activities, with parents supervising Bubblemaker intro dive · $65 · equipment included Snorkel lessons · $35 an hour Guided snorkelling · $30 per person Babysitting · On request — the resort publishes no rate Resort Facilities ## What's on the Island Checked against the resort's own information. If something you need isn't listed, ask us before you book. - Dive centre - Spa - Gym - Yoga Family & Kids ## Family-Friendly Features Children of all ages are welcome, and the bigger villas do the heavy lifting: the two-bedroom pavilion takes four, and the suites and the Royal Residence add a child to three adults. Days split between the pool at the door, the indoor play area — parents stay with the kids — and the water, from a $65 Bubblemaker first dive to snorkel lessons. Babysitting is on request; the resort publishes no kids-club name, ages or rate. Babysitting Available on request Highlights for Kids Indoor play area · Bubblemaker first dive · Glass-bottom canoe · Whale shark snorkelling Family Villa Options Two Bedroom Beach Pool Pavilion Villa · One Bedroom Beach Pool Pavilion Suite · Over Water Royal Residence with Private Pool Snorkeling & Marine Life ## House Reef & Underwater 7.8 Very Good House Reef Lux Atolls Reef Score · top 20% of Maldives resorts #### Shore entry · five dive sites off the beach · lagoon inside a rock breakwater Whitetip reef sharks · stingrays · eagle rays · year-round whale sharks in South Ari Kuda Rah's house reef is a beginner's reef with real residents. Minor's own dive briefing counts five sites reached by shore entry from the beach villas, with stingrays, whitetip reef sharks, sand eels and eagle rays below and turtles for snorkellers. The island sits inside a rock breakwater, so you swim out through a calm lagoon first. The bigger draw is the atoll around it: more than 40 sites within 90 minutes, and South Ari's protected whale-shark water on the doorstep. Marine life observations sourced from dive logs and guest reports. Regularly spotted here (+9) Reef Sharks Whitetips on the house reef; grey reef sharks at Lhamiyaru Gaa Sea Turtles Hawksbill and green turtles — on the house reef and a dedicated trip Stingrays Named by the resort among the house-reef regulars Tropical Reef Fish Schools of colourful fish right off the beach Dolphins A possibility on the sunset cruise and the jet-ski tour Whale Sharks Year-round in South Ari's protected area · best August to November Manta Rays Seen through the year, peak September to May Eagle Rays On the house reef, per the resort's dive briefing Nurse Sharks A dedicated snorkelling excursion goes to find them Not typical at this reef (−1) Octopus Not named by the resort or its dive centre Getting There ## Transfer from Malé Kuda Rah sits about 94 km south-west of Malé in South Ari Atoll. The resort books a 25-minute seaplane from Velana International, then a five-to-ten-minute boat hop to the jetty. The alternative is Villa Air's 30-minute flight to Maamigili and a 20-minute speedboat. Recommended Seaplane + speedboat ~25 min seaplane + 5–10 min boat · daylight only $450 pp return Option B Domestic flight + speedboat Malé → Maamigili ~30 min + ~20 min speedboat · Villa Air $500 pp return flight Seaplanes fly sunrise to sunset only, so a late international arrival means a night in Malé or the Maamigili flight. We arrange either. Resort island map — NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort Our Take ## Who This Resort is For Reviewed by [Tym Lewtak](https://luxatolls.com/about/), founder of LuxAtolls Updated Oct 16, 2026 Kuda Rah is a small island that does one thing very well: it puts a private pool outside every door and the best whale-shark water in the Maldives a boat ride away. The house reef suits beginners, the dive centre prices honestly, and with 51 villas it never feels busy. What it is not is a dining destination or a kids-club resort. Minor's 2024 relaunch gave the old Amaya Kuda Rah a new name; the pools, the reef and the quiet are what you book. #### Ideal for - Couples who want a private pool without a top-tier villa bill — every one of the 51 villas has its own, from 90 sqm beach villas at a $189 lead-in - Snorkellers and new divers — five shore-entry sites off the beach, whitetips and eagle rays on the house reef, and Discover Scuba at $98 - Whale-shark hunters — South Ari's protected area is on the doorstep and the resort runs a $101.80 snorkelling trip to find them - Groups of four adults — the 231 sqm Two Bedroom Beach Pool Pavilion Villa takes four, with two kings and a pool on the sand #### Consider elsewhere if - Dine-around appetites — two restaurants, a cooking-class café and one bar, with the all-inclusive built around a single buffet room - Families who want a staffed kids club — there is an indoor play area that parents supervise, and babysitting on request with no published rate - Late arrivals — the seaplane flies in daylight only, so an evening landing means a Malé night or the Maamigili flight and a boat - Anyone after Minor's luxury tier — NH is the group's select-service brand, and the island trades on pools and water rather than polish Why Book Through Lux Atolls ### More Than Just a Booking What you get with us vs. booking direct or through a generic OTA Book with Lux Atolls Best rate guarantee on partner resorts — we match or beat what you find elsewhere Exclusive package inclusions negotiated through our direct resort relationships Transparent pricing — transfers, taxes, and meal plans quoted upfront, no hidden fees Personal trip advisor — villa matching, meal plan guidance, and honest recommendations Maldives-only expertise — we know every reef, transfer route, and seasonal sweet spot Direct resort contact — if something needs fixing, we call the GM, not a call centre No booking fees, no hidden charges — the price we quote is the price you pay Book Through Others Published rack rate — no negotiated extras No package inclusions beyond the standard rate Transfer costs and taxes added at checkout Generic customer support with no local knowledge One-size-fits-all recommendations across dozens of destinations Issues routed through a ticketing system, not a person Hidden fees and service charges added late in the process Frequently Asked Questions ## NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort — FAQ **Is NH Maldives Kuda Rah the same resort as Amaya Kuda Rah?** Yes — same island, new operator. It opened as Kuda Rah Island Resort, traded for years as Amaya Kuda Rah Maldives, and reopened on 1 September 2024 as NH Maldives Kuda Rah, the first NH Hotels & Resorts property in the Indian Ocean. It still has 51 villas, and each one has a private pool. **How do you get from Malé to NH Maldives Kuda Rah?** By seaplane: a 25-minute flight from Velana International, then a five-to-ten-minute boat to the jetty. The resort prices it at about $450 per adult return. Seaplanes fly in daylight only; after dark the alternative is Villa Air to Maamigili (about $500 return) and a 20-minute speedboat. **Is NH Maldives Kuda Rah all-inclusive?** It can be. The resort sells four board bases — bed and breakfast, half board, full board and all-inclusive. The All-Inclusive is built around Sea Spray for all three meals with drinks at selected outlets; Ocean's à la carte seafood sits outside it. The resort's own lead-in rates put it at roughly +$135 per adult per night. **Is there a good house reef at NH Maldives Kuda Rah?** A good beginner's reef. Five dive sites are reached by shore entry from the beach villas, with stingrays, whitetip reef sharks and eagle rays, and snorkellers see turtles. You cross a calm lagoon inside a rock breakwater to reach it. The bigger draw is South Ari itself — more than 40 boat sites and year-round whale sharks. **Do all villas at NH Maldives Kuda Rah have a private pool?** Yes — all five types, beach and overwater. They run from the 90 sqm One Bedroom Beach Pool Villa to the 231 sqm split-level pavilions on the beach, with the 210 sqm Over Water Royal Residence as the largest overwater option. The two-bedroom pavilion villa sleeps four adults. Secret Price tailored to you Get Quote Get your secret price Quotes handled by [Tym's team](https://luxatolls.com/about/) of Maldives travel professionals. 24-hour response. Sending Quote Request Sent We'll reply within 24 hours with a personalised itinerary and exact pricing for your dates. Reference Check your inbox for a confirmation. Tailor your trip Send