Embudu Village

Embudu Village enjoys a high return rate of satisfied customers. Thus the buildings are smart, almost formal, and sand are on the floors, encouraging you to be shoeless and informal; the service is attentive and efficient, but also friendly; there are carefully tended gardens and paths, but the place still remains relaxed and easy going.

The main difference of these two types of rooms are air-conditioning, a little more space and the odd piece of furniture. As you can see from the left side picture, these rooms may not be considered as attractive from outside (corrugated iron roof, small terrace and two plastic chairs), but inside they are well lit, high-ceilinged and white, with solid, well varnished wood. There is fresh water in the tap and shower, but hot water in the shower only.

The 16 Water Bungalows are named as Deluxe: large, simple and well furnished, with a telephone, minibar, satellite TV, and see the glass panel (right side picture) in the wood-lined floor enabling to see the fish and coral garden below.

No other island has water bungalows so close to such a gorgeous coral garden. In fact, the coral is so close (to the bungalows and to the surface) that steps could not be built down from the balconies.

The snorkeling is terrific all around the island. The house reef has an abundance of corals and schools of fish, and is close to shore for most of the way around.

The beach on the other hand, gets rather thin around some of the island, but at the three "points" of this triangular island the sand bulges out into the lagoon. One of these three fine beaches faces due west and so is perfect for watching the sun go down.

Diving is popular and enjoyable here. Popular because of the variety of great dive-sites nearby, and enjoyable because the dive base leaders and staff are particularly friendly and accommodating, as well as efficient.

Further, the Protected Marine Area of Embudu Channel is a couple of minutes away and encompasses the thrilling drift dive of Embudu Express, the Coral Gardens of Embudu Thila and a grey-reef shark point.

The resort has a large majority of German guests, with a significant proportion of French as well as Austrians, Dutch, Swiss and Japanese. The meal-plan is on Full board, with a buffet breakfast and dinner and set lunch. The restaurant, with its metal roof and insufficient fans, is rather hot, but the service and the food are good. Two nights a week there are specials outside - either steak, prawns or lobster - which cost extra but are attractively laid out.

Finally, excursions are well advertised and well organized. Being close to Male' and the Airport is convenient for the shopping trips and the photo-flights. Embudu has a high density of rooms, but it is a pretty island and excellently managed.