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Beach on Vabbinfaru photo by Binehh –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Island (Vabbinfaru Island)

The little Maldivian island of Vabbinfaru floats in the North Male Atoll, just 25 minutes by speedboat from Male International Airport. It is circled by a fabulous coral reef that offers some of the best snorkelling within striking distance of the Maldivian capital.

The island is small, surrounded by a beautiful house reef with a huge number of
diverse marine life. The beaches are covered with the most delicate snow-white
sand, the sea is clean and transparent like a tear. This has contributed to the establishment of various resorts the most renowned being Banyan Tree.

Visitors at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru are immersed in an unparalleled sense of magic, romance, and calm as they are cast away on a remote coral atoll in the paradisiacal Maldives archipelago.

They cocoon themselves in a web of blue waters that sparkle, coconut trees that sway, native flowers, and fine white sand, on the North Male Atoll of the Maldives, releasing their essence.

Visitors are advised to claim sanctuary at the Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru resort in this sphere of serenity. Guests can relax and unwind while taking in the breathtaking Indian Ocean’s natural sea breeze and the resort’s renowned hospitality.

Here are the top 10 interesting facts about Banyan Tree.

1. The resort began welcoming guests on the shores in 1995

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In 1995, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru started hosting visitors on the shores of its native atoll. This Maldives island resort is now known as the perfect getaway giving tranquil isolation thanks to its breezy tropical ambience and fun sense of carefree abandonment.

2. Its Maldives’ first resort to have a marine conservation lab

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Banyan Tree was founded with the core value of driving sustainable development. The aim was to embrace the natural environment, continually striving for stronger social and environmental responsibility.

Conservation efforts began in 1996 on Angsana Ihuru, with the first resort-based Marine Lab built in 2004 on Banyan Tree, Vabbinfaru, and a second on Velavaru in 2007. Banyan Tree was a pioneer in the Maldives, being the first resort to hire marine biologists to protect, enhance and educate about our reefs.

It is home to the very first resort-based marine conservation lab in the Maldives.

3. There is an expansive beach area near Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

Vabbinfaru Lagoon photo by Binehh –

This island has a natural, expansive beach area near the resort hub, as well as lots of white sand in front of the villas. Visitors can explore the entire island, which is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset, however, there are a few locations where sandbags are visible to help with erosion.

The island’s coral reef is great for observing turtles, nurse and reef sharks, and a variety of colourful fish.   

4. Its main restaurant offers a Maldivian-themed night on Fridays

Ilaafathi, the resort’s main restaurant, offers both outdoor seating at wooden tables in the sand and covered seating beneath a sizable palapa. For breakfast and lunch, there are delectable and healthful buffet dishes and for supper, there is a wide-ranging, modern, international menu with a concentration on seafood.

On most nights, visitors can select from a course menu, and the dishes always appear in stunning artistic displays. The restaurant offers a Maldivian-themed night on Fridays and a continental buffet on Sundays to break up the monotony for anyone interested in their culture.

A simple kids’ menu is available, which includes pizza, pasta, soup, and fish & chips.

5. Banyan Tree’s Spa features a relaxing menu of massage treatments

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Banyan Tree’s Spa Vabbinfaru features a relaxing menu of massage treatments and beauty therapies. Yoga sessions are conducted by the in-house yogi master during sunrise and sunset.

6. Banyan Tree has its diving school PADI

Snorkelling and scuba diving at the Vabbinfaru house reefs are simply amazing, and some contend that it is even better than the nearby Ihuru (home to the Angsana resort), where visitors can dive directly from the beach.

The resort has its diving school, PADI.  Day and night dives are available and instructors can speak English, Italian, French, German, Mandarin, and Japanese. Snorkel equipment is free to use and guests can enjoy the house reef from many areas around the island.

The reefs are not far away, and after a few meters the bottom drops off, displaying an amazing variety of aquatic life.

7. It has a wide array of watersports for adrenaline junkies

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For adrenalin-seeking couples, they can enjoy a wide array of exciting watersports activities, from wakeboarding, and waterskiing to catamaran sailing.

With the wind in their sails, they can take a guided catamaran excursion for an
exhilarating sandbank tour or a sunset sail, or even take on the challenge themselves after a private lesson with the hotel’s instructors.

Other water sports include kayaking, windsurfing, banana boating, Hobie-Cat sailing, reef fishing and tubing.

8. Its spa is adorned in traditional Thai décor

The renowned spa offers five spacious open-air treatment rooms adorned with traditional Thai decor. It is truly a standout here and most guests partake in at least one treatment during their stay (it’s worth the splurge).

The staff are highly trained at Banyan Tree Spa Academy in Phuket and are incredibly friendly and professional. 

9. Banyan Tree has its hydroponic garden

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Simply put, hydroponic gardening is the method of growing plants without soil. It’s a way to nurture a huge variety of edible plants (think herbs, veggies, even some
fruits) indoors all year round, regardless of what Mother Nature is doing outside your door.

Guests can check out the restaurant’s hydroponic garden, which grows mostly lettuce and mint used by the restaurant and bar.

10.  Banyan Tree launched the Turtle ID Programme in 2019

The resort’s most visible and popular work has been with the endangered Green Sea Turtles. In January 2019, the resort launched the Turtle ID Programme, tracking populations of sea turtles that either frequent or reside on the house reefs of the two luxury resorts and the nearby reefs, to monitor the populations
of these highly-endangered animals.

A small number of eggs are raised on the island for 12-18 months and then released with a tag and, in a few instances, a satellite transmitter.