A simple four-star island in Baa Atoll with a mangrove-lined lake at its heart, a plant-filtered natural pool, 90 bungalows of one size, and Hanifaru Bay's mantas about five kilometres away.
Dreamland is on Hirundhoo, a 5.3-hectare island in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, 35 minutes from Malé by seaplane. What sets it apart is the lake in the middle of the island, ringed by 20-metre mangroves on one side and palms on the other, with a chemical-free Biotop pool filtered by plants on its shore. Hanifaru Bay, where reef mantas gather to feed from June to November, is about five kilometres away by boat, and the house reef starts off the beach.
All 90 bungalows are the same size, 78 m², with a bathroom with a bathtub and indoor and outdoor showers. Sixty are Beach Bungalows a few steps from the sea; thirty are Water Bungalows on stilts over the lagoon, with a wooden deck, steps into the water and a glass-topped coffee table. There are no pool villas.
Two buffet restaurants serve every meal, the Sea View over the lagoon and the Lake View beside the lake, with weekly Maldivian and themed nights. The Lake View Bar, under a woven dome, is the main bar, with live music and games in the evening, and the Beach Bar sits on the sand for sunsets. Half board is the base, with full board and drinks plans above it. There's a German-run dive centre, the Duny Thai Spa, a gym and a floodlit tennis court.
This profile comes from travel agencies, because no working website for the resort was found. It's unpretentious and good value rather than luxurious, with one bungalow size and no private pools. Hanifaru Bay's mantas are seasonal (June to November), and the price is only an agency figure.
One of 60 bungalows a few steps from the beach, with a 50 m² room and a 25 m² bathroom with a bathtub and indoor and outdoor showers. Up to three guests.
King or twin beds
One of 30 bungalows on stilts over the lagoon, with a private wooden deck, steps down into the water and a glass-topped coffee table. Two guests.
King bed
The same resort and the same villa, booked through people who live here.
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Buffets for every meal with international stations, fresh reef fish and a weekly Maldivian night
The same buffets as the Sea View, beside the lake and the mangroves
The main bar: cocktails, coffee and juices from 7.30am, with live music, games and a daily happy hour
Cocktails, juices and beer, with a happy hour at sunset
Thai massage, hot stones and beauty treatments in the mangrove garden
A German-run PADI dive centre for Baa Atoll, with manta snorkelling trips to Hanifaru Bay in season
Kayaks on the sea and the lake, paddleboards, windsurfing, kite surfing, catamarans and water-skiing, plus dolphin cruises, sandbank picnics and local island visits
The shape comes from OpenStreetMap, simplified: a guide to the layout, not a survey. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
A 35-minute seaplane flight from Malé, or a 20-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo and a 10-minute speedboat.
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