8 of the Best Luxury Hotels in Maldives

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giravaaru

What you’ll like:

• The incredible bio diversity of the Baa Atoll’s waters. This is a diver’s paradise for sure
• Adrenaline junkies will love the extreme water sports on offer
• The gorgeous contemporary overwater villas are spacious and all come with plunge pools

The Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru sits right in the midst of the UNESCO preserved Baa Atoll, a natural breeding ground for multiple species of fish and manta rays. But even if you’d rather keep your feet on land (or the wooden flooring of your overwater sundeck to be precise), the Four Seasons’ exquisite villas alone are a good enough reason to visit. Contemporary, spacious and guaranteeing complete privacy, they are the perfect place to spend a few days in paradise and their private plunge pools.

One & Only Reethi Ra

What you’ll like:

• The spacious island and its 12 beaches you can enjoy in peace and quiet
• The resort’s five restaurants are exceptional
• Jean-Michel Gathy designs look exquisite

The home of the One & Only Reethi Ra is a partially man-made private island spanning 44 acres in the North Malé Atoll.

By Maldivian standards, that’s plenty of space, and the resort encourages you to explore- and stumble upon its 12 private beaches- by putting bicycles and buggies at your disposal.

Other wonders include three glasslike infinity pools stretching out over the ocean, and private villas with large infinity edge pools where you’ll be spending the bulk of your early evenings in ( unless you’re out snorkeling of course).

Cheval Blanc Randheli

What you’ll like:

• The resort’s ” Alchemists” know exactly how to design the perfect holiday under the sun.
• Breathtaking designs are among the most striking in the Maldives
• Limited number of rooms makes for a discreet and intimate hotel experience.

The Cheval Blanc Randheli might just be one the most gorgeous resorts in the Maldives. Considering the competition it’s got, that’s no small feat, but with designs by Jean-Michel Gathy and a location in the pristine Noonu atoll, it’s impossible to deny that it has a lot going for it.

Private butlers lie at the ready to spoil you rotten and the only Guerlain spa in the Maldives is a short Dhoni rode away on a separate island. A limited room count of only 45 villas guarantees that the cheval blanc randheli is one of the most exclusive resorts in the Indian Ocean, and each and every one of them comes with its own plunge pool.

Shangri- La’s Villingili Resort & Spa Maldives

What you’ll like:

• Home to the only 9-hole golf course in the Maldives.
• The dining experiences which take place in exotic locations such as meditation pavilions or beneath the thick jungle canopy.
• The resort’s Spa Village is one of the best wellness centers you can experience.

By Maldivian standards, the Shangri- La Villingili Resort & Spa, is a behemoth. Spread over 12 acres, it’s the largest single resort island in the Maldives and offers – among many other things – the luxury of space to its guests.

There’s more to it of course. The surrounding waters are teeming with life, and diving or sailing the Indian Ocean on a Dhoni guarantees you’ll catch a glimpse of dolphins, manta rays, whale sharks and other colorful denizens of the deep.

If you’d rather stay on land, exploring the island is just as entertaining with a lush forest, mangrove swamps, and freshwater lagoons to discover as you explore the island on your bicycle.

Constance Halaveli

What you’ll like:

• The waters of the North Ari Atoll are teeming with rare marine fauna
• The spa- set on stilts above the waters of the Indian Ocean- is exceptional
• Exquisite selection of wines and culinary experiences in the resort’s restaurants

If you think the Maldives is a honeymooners paradise only, the Constance Halaveli will prove you wrong. There’s plenty of space- and the right kind of activities- to keep newlyweds and rowdy young families content (yes it’s possible), making the Constance Halaveli one of the more well-rounded and kid-friendly resorts out there. Veritable parlors of indulgence, each of the resort’s villas come with private plunge pools and furnished terraces to better take in the beautiful sunsets of the Indian Ocean.

Anantara Kihavah Villas

What you’ll like:

• The underwater restaurant not only looks good, but serves up exceptional fare as well
• The “rustic chic” of the overwater villas
• Sunken glass bottom bathtubs offer breathtaking views of the ocean

At the Anantara Kihavah Villas, you can walk out of bed, and jump right into the water of your infinity pool, or go down the stairs and dip into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

When you’re freshened up, make your way to your sundeck- or back to bed if you’d like- and dig into a hearty breakfast with one of the most gorgeous views in the world stretched out in front you. If you know of a better way to start the day, we’d like to hear it.

The atmosphere at the Anantara Kihava Villas is very laid back, but not quite the barefoot luxury of the Six Senses property on this list. Sure, there’s the thatched rooves and wooden jetties stretching out over the water, but the contemporary styled rooms- dark wood tones, handcrafted furniture, day beds in the bathroom, Arabian lamps, etc… – would look right at home in an urban setting.

Out of the many bucket list items to tick off while you’re there, make it a point to try the “Sea” restaurant, one the world’s few underwater wine cellars and restaurants. 

Six Senses Laamu

What you’ll like:

• The jungle cinema, unique to the resort
• One of the best example of eco-friendly luxury you will find
• Rooftop decks are ideal for stargazing

With over an hour’s travel from the island of Malé to get there, the Six Senses Laamu is one of Maldives’ most far-flung resorts. It’s also one of the most picturesque.

Dolphin and manta ray sightings are regular; the surf is excellent – the Yin Yang break is only 10 minutes away and one the best in the Maldives – and last, but not least, there’s an al-fresco ice cream parlor on the resort with over 40 flavors to choose from. What’s not to love?

Just like its sister resort, the Soneva Fushi, the Six Senses Laamu has the “barefoot luxury” vibe down pat. Guests are assigned bicycles to travel around the island, there’s a cinema out in the jungle, and the rustic – but oh so chic- overwater villas are the kind of places you want to be stranded in for eternity. Not only do many come with a private pool for you to enjoy, but they also come with a treetop deck for you to catch those perfect Maldivian sunsets.

Soneva Fushi

What you’ll like:

• The “barefoot luxury ” vibe of the resort is incredible
• Personal Butlers offer a professional but friendly service. You can’t help but like them
• Dining options – including the sushi at the Mihiree Mitha – are excellent

Is calling the Soneva Fushi a luxury hippy resort a bad thing? The “no news, no shoes” motto sets the tone, so does the private butler (think super friendly and helpful locals, not livery and white gloves) and the rustic, eco-friendly villas help as well.

There’s a feel good and friendly vibe here, and even if you’ve flown in with the weight of the world on your shoulders, everything about this resort was designed to lift it right off. The Soneva Fushi is spacious – but made up only 65 villas- and occupies the whole island, meaning that whether you’re flying in for a family getaway or some quiet time, it’s the place to be.