The White Harp Beach
Beachfront in Hulhumalé, with the Indian Ocean at the window
A city stay in Hulhumalé
The White Harp Beach is a 15-room beachfront guest house in Hulhumalé, sitting 6.5 km from Velana International Airport. Rooms face the ocean through full or plate-glass windows, and the in-house Lyre Restaurant serves an a la carte menu that ranges from Maldivian-influenced dishes to Thai, Indian, and Mexican. Free breakfast is included in the rate. The property suits travellers who want direct beach access and a full meal option without committing to a remote island resort. Room rates start at $95 per night, free parking is available on-site, and airport transfers can be arranged for an extra charge across the Sinamalé Bridge.
The honest verdict
A compact, honestly priced beachfront guest house with ocean-view rooms, one restaurant, and excursions arranged through the property — practical for short stays near the airport.
Best for
- Travellers stopping over near Velana Airport
- Couples wanting a sea-view room on a budget
- Independent travellers using Hulhumalé as a base
- Small groups or families needing flexible room configurations
Maybe not ideal for
- Those expecting resort-scale facilities
- Travellers wanting a remote-island experience
- Guests sensitive to mixed review scores on rooms
Beachfront setting in Hulhumalé
The guest house sits directly on the Hulhumalé beachfront. Several rooms have full-height windows facing the Indian Ocean, and the property includes a terrace, outdoor furniture, a garden, and a picnic area — all at the water's edge.
Lyre Restaurant: one menu, many directions
Lyre Restaurant occupies the ground floor and a terrace, running an a la carte menu that covers Continental, Asian, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, and fusion cooking, each with Maldivian influences. Free breakfast comes with every stay.
Ocean-view rooms with practical fittings
All 15 rooms include air conditioning, an LED flat-screen TV, minibar, free Wi-Fi, and a private bathroom. Signature sea-view categories add rain showers and plate-glass or panoramic windows angled directly toward the reef and sunrise.
Excursions off the beach
The property arranges a range of guided sea trips: snorkelling over atoll reefs, a sunset dolphin cruise on a traditional dhoni, a shark encounter in Kaafu waters, jet ski and water sports, and a 45-metre submarine descent to Tear Drop Reef.
Rooms & suites
Standard Twin Room
19 m² · sleeps 2 · 2 single beds
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
- Minibar
- Free WiFi
Deluxe Double Room
19 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 large double bed
- View
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
- Minibar
Double Room
20 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 large double bed
- Sea view
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
- Minibar
Deluxe Double Room with Sea View
20 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 extra-large double bed
- Sea view
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
- Flat-screen TV
- Minibar
Experiences on & off the island
Inside The White Harp Beach
Getting there
The White Harp Beach is 6.5 km from Velana International Airport and 2 km measured from the Hulhumalé side of the Sinamalé Bridge. Transfer is by taxi across the bridge — the property can arrange an airport shuttle for an extra charge. No boat or seaplane is needed. Several cafes and restaurants are within half a kilometre.
An airport taxi is inexpensive — typically MVR 60–100 (about $4–8) on the fixed fares, taking 10–20 minutes; the public airport shuttle bus costs even less. No ferry or speedboat is needed — the islands are connected to the airport by road.
On the map
Where to eat
- vilu rest cafe 0.28 km
- Crepe Runner restaurant 0.3 km
- momo tea cafe 0.31 km
- frengo cafe 0.31 km
- Dondon Cafe' & Bistro cafe 0.36 km
- wilu breeze cafe 0.42 km
Across 285 Google reviews, the property holds a 3.8/5 rating. Service draws the most feedback — 60 of 83 mentions are positive. Cleanliness reads well at 14 positive out of 16. The natural setting scores strongly, with 34 of 38 nature-related mentions favourable. Rooms and transit generate more mixed responses.
- Things to do4.7
- Restaurants3.3
- Airport access4.7
Share of positive mentions per theme, from Google reviews.
Good to know
Frequently asked
How do I get from Velana International Airport to The White Harp Beach?
The guest house is 6.5 km from Velana International Airport. Transfer is by taxi across the Sinamalé Bridge — an airport shuttle can be arranged through the property for an extra charge. No seaplane or domestic flight is involved.
What room types are available?
The White Harp Beach has seven room categories: Superior Twin, Standard Twin, Deluxe Double, Deluxe Double (with sofa bed), Triple Room, Deluxe Seaview, and Deluxe Super Sea View. Sizes range from 17 m² to 20 m², sleeping two to three guests.
Is breakfast included in the room rate?
Yes, free breakfast is included with every room. Lyre Restaurant also serves lunch and dinner from an a la carte menu covering Continental, Asian, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, and fusion dishes.
What is the Lyre Restaurant like?
Lyre Restaurant is the on-site dining option, with both ground-floor and terrace seating. The menu runs across Continental, Asian, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, and fusion cooking, each with Maldivian influences.
Can I snorkel or dive from the property?
Snorkelling, diving, canoeing, and fishing trips are arranged as guided excursions through local operators. The property can also organise a shark encounter in Kaafu waters and a 45-metre submarine dive to Tear Drop Reef.
What water sports and sea excursions are on offer?
Available excursions include a half-day atoll snorkel, sunset dolphin cruise on a dhoni, jet skiing, banana boats, a Whale Submarine dive, a day trip to Gulhi island, a Malé city tour, and a private sandbank picnic.
Is the property suitable for families?
The Triple Room (king bed plus single bed, 17 m²) is the most practical family option. The property has beach access, a BBQ area, and a picnic area. Excursions like the dolphin cruise and sandbank picnic work for mixed-age groups.
Is parking available?
Free on-site parking is available — useful if you are travelling from elsewhere in Hulhumalé or driving over from Malé via the Sinamalé Bridge.
Is alcohol served at the property?
Hulhumalé is an alcohol-free island, so no bar or alcoholic beverages are available at the property or elsewhere in the area.
What is the price range for rooms?
Rates start from around $95 per night for the Superior Twin, rising to $114.75 for the Deluxe Double Room. All rates include free breakfast and free Wi-Fi.
What is the best time to visit Hulhumalé?
The dry northeast monsoon season (roughly November to April) brings calmer seas and lower humidity. This is the most popular period for beach stays and sea excursions in the Maldives.
How can I book a stay at The White Harp Beach?
Bookings can be made directly through the property or via major travel booking platforms. The guest house has a concierge and multilingual front desk to assist with reservations, excursions, and airport transfers.