Perhaps the ultimate luxury destination, the Maldives has become a synonym for paradise whether it is for honeymooners, sun worshipers or scuba divers. Aside from the capital Male, there are no hotels in the Maldives, only resorts. Most resorts take up their own island, so the ratio of beach to guests must be one of the best in the world.
This list presents the best luxury resorts in the Maldives, as rated by visitors. Resorts in the Maldives are not cheap even at the bottom end, and these luxury resorts definitely come at a price, but they do offer the best the Maldives has to offer.
10. Soneva Gili Resort
flickr/juzblurbsThe Soneva Gili Resort offers 45 luxurious over-water villas, including several villas that can only be reached by boat. Every villa has been designed and built with the utmost attention to detail. Each has its own private water garden and sun decks. The bathrooms have a separate shower accessed along an open-air walkway. Guests have the option to dine on the villa deck under moonlight and enjoy the sunset.
9. Lily Beach Resort & Spa
The Lily Beach Resort & Spa offers piece, serenity and beautiful natural surroundings combined with excellent resort facilities. After an extensive renovation the resort was reopened in 2009 as an all-inclusive 5 star luxury resort.
8. Naladhu Resort
Naladhu is a small Maldives Resort with just 19 villas. The villas feature lavish floor to ceiling glass sliding doors and a large living and bedroom area. Rooms are equipped with bathrooms that have their own outdoor area with both a rainshower and infinity edge terrazzo bathtub.
7. Veligandu Island Resort
flickr/oder345nnThe Veligandu Island Resort is the only 4-star hotel on this list of luxury resorts in the Maldives. The designs of the resort’s architecture, right down to the final touches, are authentically Maldivian. The resort offers 76 rooms, including 54 Jacuzzi Water Villas, 10 Water Villas and 12 Jacuzzi Beach Villas.
6. Mirihi Island Resort
flickr/KAZ2.0Perhaps the most affordable on the best luxury resorts in the Maldives, The Mirihi Island Resort offers 36 villas that are equipped with the standard amenities of a 5 star-hotel. Blessed with white beaches, turquoise blue waters and one of the most amazing house-reefs, this is truly a great resort.
5. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa contains several thatch-roofed bungalows stretching over a pristine beach. The resort offers several swimming pools, water sports, restaurants, lounges, a library, and spa facilities. Many of the guest bungalows at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa offer glass floors for observation of the sea below. Each guest room boasts a balcony or terrace with views of the Indian Ocean.
4. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru offers 44 acres of unspoiled wilderness in the heart of the Baa Atoll, the only UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. Snorkel with turtles, manta rays and whale sharks in one of the Maldives’s largest natural lagoons. Guest accommodation is in thatched beach villas and over-water villas. Resort facilities include 3 dining options, an infinity pool and a serene spa located on its own island.
3. Taj Exotica Resort And Spa
flickr/pyjamaMost of the Taj Exotica Resort And Spa’s luxurious villas are perched over the lagoon with nothing but blue ocean waters and glorious sunsets to block the view. All the villas are palm-thatched, and the interiors are designed in classic Maldivian style. The villas offer sun-decks, and some offer private plunge pools, outdoor showers, and verandas with day beds and private spa rooms.
2. Baros Maldives
flickr/nattuThere are 75 wooden villas at the Baros Maldives Resort which are comfortably styled and all offer a variety of amenities. Guests of the hotel will have many amenities offered to them, including an on-site spa that offers Swedish massage, body wraps and tropical fruit facials, waterfall plunge pools, in-house restaurants and bars and scuba diving lessons.
1. Cocoa Island Resort
Rated as the best luxury resort in the Maldives, Cocoa Island Resort is ideally located along crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches and breath-taking sunsets. Most of the rooms are uniquely inspired by dhoni boats, the style of vessel used by local fishermen in the Maldives. They are adjoined by simple wooden walkways built above the shallow lagoon. The view from the wide platform bed is directly out to the ocean. The bathrooms share the horizon views.
I have been lucky enough to stay at Coca Island and yes it is as wonderful as the photos – even my attempts with a camera look like a brochure photo. What the review doesn’t show is the great food, the charming staff and the chilled vibe – sometimes it felt that we were the only people on the island. Oh and there is the snorkeling (steps from the room straight into the lagoon) and diving (PADI dive centre on site)- truely fab
Great post. Was looking for different resorts in Maldives and found your blog. Thanks so much!
those huts/villas look nice,this pics look like they were edited thats how good this place really is,pure heaven.
Amazing pictures! Really beautiful places đŸ™‚
Wow! The water and small cabins at the Soneva Gili Resort look amazing. That looks like my kind of vacation.
My dream is to stay in one of those huts on the water, these look spectacular!
the pictures look enticing huh! and i just added Maldives on my to go places!
Maldives is truly a paradise. Look at every resort, I myself cannot pick which is the best. They all look good for vacation and relaxation
What a great list of resorts! They all look amazing. I would so love to to go the Maldives one day.