The Maldives has some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. It is the perfect paradise for couples, newlyweds, and honeymooners seduced by candles, rose petals, romantic bed decorations, snorkeling, diving, Michelin-starred restaurants, star-filled skies, and stunning overwater villas.
The Maldives nation in the Indian Ocean is made up of 26 ring-shaped atolls with more than 1,000 stunning coral islands. Known for its powder-fine sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons, and amazing reefs with warm waters, its resorts offer unrivaled luxury, whether you are on a honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary, or just want to escape with your family.
The Maldives are isolated and separate you from the rest of the world. Feel the hot white sand slip between your toes and float your way to your own private happiness in an azure blue sea. I guarantee you will fall in love with these heavenly islands.
But which of the top Maldives luxury resorts is best for you? We have picked our top 10 best luxury hotels in the Maldives below.
1. Gili Lankanfushi
Gili Lankanfushi is one of your best hotel choices in the Maldives, whether you are looking for a relaxing family break or a romantic getaway. The photo above shows how lovely Gili Lankanfushi is.
Why is it so special? Well, obviously, you can enjoy the powdery white sands, palm trees, and endless sparkling ocean just like the rest of the luxury resorts in the Maldives.
What differentiates Gili Lankanfushi is that it gets fantastic feedback. It was awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award of Best Hotel in the World for 2015. This stunning island resort is just a short boat ride from Male Airport, making it one of the most convenient resorts in the Maldives. Plus, you don’t have to spend a large portion of your holiday budget on the flights to get from Male airport to your own private paradise. A boat trip is cheaper and faster than the transfers to many of the other Maldives luxury resorts, yet you are not giving up any of the luxurious features and beaches you would find at the resorts that are further away.
Yes, Gili Lankanfushi has picture-perfect beaches, amazing accommodations, mind-blowing restaurants, an incredible spa, and activities for couples, families, and more.
We love the barefoot nature of this resort. They say “no news, no shoes”, and sometimes, this is just what our overworked brains need. Gili Lankanfushi prides itself on being a place where you can leave all day to daycares and problems behind and where you relax in total comfort.
Your personal butler (or “Mr. Friday”) will be there to help you make the most of every minute of your holiday, including organizing excursions or activities or even babysitting if you fancy a night off from the kids. With a strong environmental commitment, the place is kept spotlessly clean, while the buildings’ natural wood finishes complement the backdrop of sand and sea to perfection.
In terms of rooms to choose, this is a difficult choice. The luxurious water villas are very special, and then there are spacious residences with mini wine cellars. Impressive complexes can house all the family, however big your group of loved ones is. These complexes also have their own private gym to keep you fit if all that swimming isn’t enough.
All villas have king-size beds, which can be converted into two single beds, a marvelous semi-open-air private bathroom, and a separate glass-walled shower area. The bathroom is very special, indeed. Of course, you also have the usuals if you must reconnect. Your villa also features satellite TV, DVD, Hi-Fi, and free Wi-Fi.
Water villas enjoy their own overwater sundecks with sun loungers as well as a large open-air living and dining area with daybeds and a rooftop terrace with a daybed and dining area. Larger residences include air-conditioned living rooms, private overwater hammocks, a private couple’s spa including sauna and steam room, and even a private cinema.
All villas are guaranteed spectacular sea views, impeccable service from both housekeeping and your personal Mr. Friday, and luxurious finishes throughout.
The best way to choose your villa is to take a peek at the island map and pick your ideal location before booking. Our own travel advisors can also advise you on what would suit you best. Jetty 3 is generally considered one of the most peaceful areas, though the whole island is quiet and boasts the best sunset views. Jetty 1 is a great choice if you like the idea of snorkeling right by your villa.
If you want exceptional culinary experiences, Gili Lankanfushi is a great choice. From the vast and varied breakfast buffet to the sustainably sourced and traditionally fished seafood, every meal here is delicious.
For the ultimate in romance, you must dine on the beach surrounded by lanterns or in the garden where much of the produce is grown, with the fragrance of herbs all around you. However, if the idea of being on your own and being fussed on by staff exclusively horrifies you, you can always just eat in the more normal dining venues and can people-watch instead.
The Japanese restaurant By The Sea is a particularly good choice, and yet again, it offers an exclusive private dining experience. Try the mouth-watering tasting menu accompanied by Japanese sake. Or, for something totally unexpected, try the underground wine cellar for a memorable and atmospheric wine and cheese or wine and chocolate tasting. It’s certainly unusual and is just one of the reasons why we like Gili Lankanfushi quite so much. It is so very far from the ordinary. This hotel will cater to your preferences, whatever they are!
As you would expect, there is also a large and excellent pool with luxurious loungers that looks like it’s melting into the ocean. Many of the best activities start here.
With the clear waters and abundance of coral, colorful fish, little sharks, and rays, even just wading in the shallows is an adventure. For those who want to explore the sea life further, snorkeling and diving are the activities that almost everybody wants to do. There are multilingual PADI certified instructors who will guide you, no matter your level of ability.
Beyond enjoying the wildlife, well, water-life, you can enjoy windsurfing or boat trips to watch dolphins. For wellness, there are yoga classes or for complete relaxation, try one or more treatments at the Meera Spa. It offers massages and facials as well as saunas and steam rooms.
2. Soneva Fushi Resort, Maldives
Soneva Fushi Resort can be found in the stunning Baa Atoll island archipelago, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Soneva Fushi Resort is often ranked as one of the best hotels in the Maldives.
Kunfunadhoo Island, which is where you will find Soneva Fushi Resort, is one of the largest islands in the Maldives. The resort can be reached by a scenic 30-minute seaplane flight direct from Malé International Airport or a 12-minute speedboat ride for guests scheduled on domestic flights at the nearby Dharavandhoo Airport. Soneva Fushi has a private airport lounge exclusively for guests.
61 Eco-chic villas are hidden among dense tropical foliage and are the stuff of romantic Robinson Crusoe fantasies. In fact, they look like treehouses right out of a fairytale. All of the magical rooms or villas open to their own private stretch of sugar-white sands, and most boast their own private seawater swimming pools. Service is provided by Mr./Ms. Friday butlers who know what you want before you do!
Soneva Fushi is the sister resort to the ultra-luxury Soneva Jani, and we have compared Soneva Fushi vs. Soneva Jani in detail.
Activities are almost never-ending here with a superb Six Senses Spa, the beach with water-sports, bikes to cycle around the island, an observatory, an open-air cinema, a floodlit tennis court, plus badminton, a snooker table, group yoga, and tai chi classes, a jogging trail and an ice-cream parlor. For quieter moments, there is also a library with a load of CDs and DVDs as well as free Wi-Fi.
There is plenty of technology in your room if you need it, including a flatscreen TV, DVD player, preloaded iPod and dock, binoculars, air-conditioning, minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities. The resort can also organize scuba diving, motorized water sports, and local boat trips.
For dining, Soneva Fushi has nine incredible restaurants, plus you can book a romantic supper on Soneva Fushi’s private sandbank in the middle of the ocean, which is wildly romantic.
Yes, this is one of the best Maldives hotels to enjoy powder-white sands, crystal clear waters, and understated luxury.
3. Soneva Jani
Soneva Jani is located on the island of Medhufaru in the northern Atoll of Noonu, 40-minutes by seaplane from Malé International Airport and 1 hour by speedboat from Soneva Fushi. Soneva Jani is smaller than its sister hotel and newer and features just 24 overwater villas and 1 island villa.
Inspired by a word that means ‘wisdom’ in Sanskrit, Soneva Jani is an island sanctuary set within a lagoon of crystal clear waters, fringed by pristine beaches and blanketed in lush tropical greenery.
The resort offers barefoot luxury with 4 kilometers of unspoiled beach. Eco-tourism is big here, so the silent open-air cinema allows you to listen to the movie on Bluetooth earphones. This way, you do not disturb the local wildlife.
The 24 spacious over-water villas have their own private pool; some of the villas even feature a huge water slide into the Indian Ocean! There’s also a private island villa for an extra-exclusive stay. The bedrooms are fairly amazing with retractable roofs and are made from sustainable materials so that you can sleep under the stars in a warm and rather exclusive bed.
4. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
Four Seasons offers the most comprehensive resort experience in the Maldives with two distinctive Resorts, an exclusive-use private island, and a luxury live-aboard catamaran, offering leisurely cruising between their resorts so you can discover everything that the Maldives has to offer.
Of course, there is no Four Seasons rewards program, but if you are a regular guest of the Four Seasons or even want to try this iconic brand for the first time, you can take advantage of loyalty style benefits at Four Seasons hotels for no extra cost by booking your next stay via our luxury travel concierge.
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru is a 30-minute seaplane transfer from the main airport and offers a natural 44-acre wilderness in the secluded Baa Atoll. This is just the perfect place to snorkel with turtles, dolphins, and lemon sharks, which all swim around in the 2-kilometer lagoon.
The spa here is incredible. Immerse in the healing treatments at the Spa and Ayurvedic Retreat. These treatments are also complemented by ayurvedic options in all four restaurants.
Those who want to be educated can join pioneering marine research projects. If you just want to escape, you can simply hide away in one of the beach villas hidden down dense jungle paths or choose to stay over the water so that you can swim with the fish first thing in the morning.
They say: “Imagine white-sand beaches and turquoise waters punctuated with pops of green jungle stretching out as far as you can see – and that’s just the beginning. On Landaa Giraavaru, you can dive deep into the Indian Ocean to visit manta rays in their natural habitat, reset body and mind at our island Spa & Ayurvedic Retreat, lead your taste buds on an international journey from Morocco to Italy and back again, sip sundowners at our floating Seabar to the mingling sounds of ambient music and the rustling waves, or relax in your villa and do absolutely nothing at all.”
5. Four Seasons Maldives At Kuda Huraa Resort
Four Seasons Maldives At Kuda Huraa Resort is the second Four Seasons hotel in the Maldives and is a colorful garden ‘village’ bathed by crystal waters just 25 minutes from the airport by speedboat. This Four Seasons hotel is extremely convenient for those who do not fancy the drama of flying in a tiny seaplane or don’t want to spend a massive amount of money on transfers whilst still wanting to enjoy a ridiculously luxurious resort, one of the best in the Maldives.
Engage in exhilarating activities from surfing to shark safaris, dolphin-watching to diving. Retreat to beach accommodations surrounded by tropical blooms or water bungalows with mesmerizing ocean views.
They say: “Gently rising from a sheet of turquoise, at Kuda Huraa, it’s hard to tell where the ocean ends and the sky begins. As captivating beneath the waves as above them, we embrace our stunning surroundings to bring you closer to the sea and its secrets.”
6. Four Seasons Private Island Maldives At Voavah
The third and final Four Seasons hotel in the Maldives is Four Seasons Private Island Maldives At Voavah. This is a hideaway and, due to its size, is more suited to larger parties and groups than couples.
Four Seasons Private Island Maldives At Voavah offers an exclusive-use paradise hideaway and is rented out as entirely yours. Yes, you get your own island with this option. There are seven bedrooms, plus you have your own dive school, a Beach House, and a private spa.
Located in Baa Atoll, the Maldives’ only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the fun here revolves around your impressive marine neighbors, dive with whale sharks, snorkel with manta rays, swim with neighborhood turtles, and fish for your dinner.
You can also visit local islands and cruise into breath-taking Baa Atoll sunsets on your 62 foot (18.9 meters) private yacht. You can honeymoon here if you have buckets of cash, or you can bring 21 of your closest friends and family with you and split the cost.
Four Seasons Private Island Maldives At Voavah has got to be the ultimate beach house!
7. St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is one of the few resorts in the Maldives which is perfect for your Honeymoon and where you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points. Even on points, this category 8 property will cost you, on average 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night and, in peak season, 100,000 points per night, so you will be blowing a lot of points to stay here, but what a place!
This iconic St Regis is just a 40-minute seaplane ride southwest from Malé airport located on a private atoll spanning more than 20 acres, surrounded by beaches and a secluded lagoon with sparkling turquoise waters.
The resort features 33 on-land and 44 over-water villas, all stunning and inspired by the island’s natural materials and color palette. The overwater villas have been made in the shape of manta rays and have a large private outdoor terrace with a plunge pool daybed, sun loungers, and overwater hammocks. Sit out and enjoy the sunshine and neverending skies over your own private lagoon.
Inside your villa, contemporary design intermingles with local craftsmanship and an appreciation for the ecological environment.
The Iridium Spa and outdoor infinity pool are where you need to head for complete relaxation. A large variety of water sports and excursions at their diving center can be arranged by the hotel’s butlers. Exquisite food also awaits at six restaurants and bars.
8. Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
Like a perfectly round coin, the Park Hyatt Maldives is another wonderful barefoot luxury resort, and we particularly like this one as you can earn and spend your World of Hyatt loyalty points here.
This gorgeous Hyatt is located at the heart of one of the largest and deepest natural atolls in the world. It costs 30,000 World Of Hyatt loyalty points per night, but we think this is a great deal on points when you consider the level of luxury you are getting in this resort.
This private and secluded island resort is utterly romantic and perfect for a honeymoon or for a family bonding trip away. Hadahaa is untouched and authentic, and in its unique location, away from the teeming atolls of the north, it shares a pure Maldivian experience with its guests.
Featuring a total of 50 land and water villas, the minimalist-style villas are designed beautifully and either sit within the island’s tropical foliage or are elevated above the water. Whichever you choose, you will be within touching distance from the cool ocean waters and picture-perfect beach.
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa also offers luxurious villa options. The Deluxe Park Pool Villas and 2-Bedroom Park Pool Villas both include a 55 sqm pool and an outdoor bale, and the refreshed Park Sunset Ocean Pool Villas are also brilliant for larger groups.
Dining is brilliant here and includes the all-day venue The Dining Room, where long, luxurious breakfasts, healthy lunches, and hearty dinners are served in a light and airy atmosphere. The most romantic restaurant is probably the beachside eatery, The Island Grill, which opens in the evening for candlelit, barefoot dinners. The setting is both breathtakingly beautiful and yet casual at the same time. In addition to delicious à la carte dishes, the culinary team prepares sumptuous themed evening buffets throughout the week, ranging from international flavors to traditional Maldivian cuisine, enriching the private island experience. The contemporary poolside bar and the unique Dhoni offer the perfect place to kick back with a refreshing drink.
The activities team at Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa’s 5-star PADI Dive and Activity Centre, Blue Journeys, can create tailored experiences to suit any swimming ability. The resort is home to the healthiest house reef in the Maldives. It is a pure paradise for snorkeling and diving, with seemingly limitless varieties of marine life and exquisite coral formations.
Beyond the resort, you must go dolphin spotting and take a sunset cruise, and a one-of-a-kind Cross the Equator trip makes for everlasting memories.
The Vidhun Spa is also great and is inspired by the traditions and native remedies of the Maldives. This spa embraces the islands’ indigenous curative heritage and Maldivian holistic wellness with the healing techniques of Dhivehibey. There are individual and couples treatments in five private villas, plus an 80-foot tranquillity pool and Jacuzzi.
To ensure that good health truly shines both inside and out, private or shared yoga sessions with the resort instructor complete the spa’s wellness techniques.
9. One&Only Reethi Rah
https://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/one-and-only-reethi-rah-maldives
This ultra-luxurious 6-star resort is favored by royals and A-list Hollywood celebrities and is one of the best luxury hotels in the Maldives!
One&Only Reethi Rah resort is designed in an octopus shape with a huge 6 km of coastline, much larger than the coastlines of most luxury resorts in the Maldives because it’s located on one of the larger islands in North Male Atoll.
As a result, villas are spacious, and guests can enjoy beautiful ocean views and access to almost endless white sand coves and turquoise bays. A 45-minute luxury launch will transport you directly to and from the terminal, allowing guests to stay as late as possible on the island paradise before leaving for their flight. This is one of the many major advantages of this luxury resort.
This is also a larger luxury hotel than many of the more boutique hotels in the Maldives. It has 128 villas, which are some of the largest resort villas in the world, with a minimum area of 135m2, high airy ceilings, and generous exterior space. In fact, your outside space will either be a private veranda, a stretch of beach or perhaps a private swimming pool with a large deck.
All villas feature air-conditioning, wide-screen plasma TVs, DVD players, surround sound systems, fully stocked beverage cabinet, sunbeds, safes, double bathrooms and dressing areas, large soaking tubs with oversized bathroom area. You could not need anything else.
When dining at One&Only, you can eat in casual wear besides the beach or, more formally, in the main restaurant. Food is innovative and made up of the finest ingredients, prepared in an inspiring variety of ways.
The six restaurants offer culinary adventures with exotic flavors and unique experiences. Reethi Restaurant is the elegant and spacious main dining room, serving a fusion of Far Eastern, Mediterranean, and international cuisine with a spectacular wine cellar. Tapasake serves tapas-style Japanese cuisine and sushi in an over-water setting. Fanditha is an exotic restaurant and bar serving Middle Eastern cuisine in a chic beach setting, with live DJ entertainment and full moon parties. Rah Bar offers a vast selection of cocktails and regular live entertainment. 24-hour in-villa dining.
The ESPA spa is set within tranquil gardens and surrounded by manicured lawns. Skilled ESPA therapists offer holistic treatments, including Thai Massage and European Aromatherapy. The emphasis throughout is on the Ayurvedic methods of the Indian subcontinent.
One&Only offers loads of activities on and offshore, including tennis, beach football and volleyball, table tennis, and indoor games. Guests can choose from numerous excursions: deep-sea fishing, sunset dhoni fishing, deluxe desert island picnics, and sandbank experiences. Live music is an integral part of the evening’s entertainment.
I guess the biggest and best selling point of this luxury resort, beyond its convenience to get to, is the crucial fact that whether you are a honeymooner, a family, or a movie star, all villas have direct access to the lagoon and offer an unprecedented degree of privacy, so you will never be spotted.
10. Milaidhoo Island Maldives
Milaidhoo is a luxury ultra 5-Star resort in Baa Atoll, 30 minutes sea-plane transfer from Male. The island is teeny tiny but completely perfect, fringed by a powdery white sand beach and right on the most beautiful coral reef, which is directly accessible from your villa. The feel is very relaxed rather than stuffy, and given the price tag (it isn’t cheap!), it is an achievement to attain such a lazy feel whilst still being superbly pampered.
It is the perfect place for honeymooners or a romantic getaway because no young children are allowed on the island, so it is unlikely to be a top choice for families.
Nestled within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Baa Atoll of the Maldives, you’ll find 30 very spacious over-water villas and 20 additional villas, lots of perfect tropical greenery, and a white sand beach. Each villa comes complete with a private freshwater swimming pool and your own personal concierge. Each private pool is 42 sq.m. and offers a breathtaking view over the ocean. The 18 beach pool villas are even more commodious, but for those requiring the ultimate luxury, there are three residences: two on the beach, the other over-water.
These gorgeous rooms have all the bits you would expect from a luxury resort, including a premium coffee machine, discreetly hidden television, walk-in wardrobe, rain shower, bath with a view, and Aqua di Parma toiletries.
From Ocean restaurant to the Shoreline Grill with its live cooking stations to Ba’theli fine dining venue, the range of food on offer is superb. It includes all the authentic local flavors as well as regional and international cuisine. For the one-off memorable night out, though, you can dine alone on a sandbank, serviced by staff who whisk you there in a powerboat. That is, as long as the tide is low. At high tide, your private island is submerged!
Idyllic beaches, world-famous diving and snorkeling, fishing trips, and cultural excursions are just some of the memory-making activities Milaidhoo will share with you. Take a dip with your dolphin, a whale shark, and a manta ray within this protected marine area.
Whichever Maldives resort you choose, rest assured that you will find paradise on earth.
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Image courtesy of Gili Lankanfushi.
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