Top 10 best luxury hotels in the Maldives

Widely considered the planet’s most exclusive holiday destination, the Maldives is home to a string of ultra-luxurious hotels and resorts that embody the ultimate tropical paradise getaway for honeymooners, sun worshipers, discerning travelers, scuba divers and celebrities. The Maldives are a collection of more than thousand small coral atolls, located on the equator towards the south of India and stretching across 800 km (500 mi) of the Indian Ocean on a north-south axis. The stunningly beautiful islands are the visible coral tips of an oceanic volcanic mountain range whose outer edges at some points plunge to depths of over 3 km (10,000 ft). The archipelago is blessed with some of the world’s most astonishing beaches, crystal clear turquoise lagoons, phenomenal underwater wildlife, and unrivaled luxury resorts that take up their own private islands.

Here’s my selection of the 10 best luxury resorts in the Maldives. These resorts definitely come at a price (some at more than $5000 USD per night), so make sure to read my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel. Spoiler alert: once you have experienced the otherworldly luxury of a Maldivian resort, any other beach holiday experience will pale in comparison. And I have some great news as I can offer you complimentary VIP perks at the Maldives’ most exclusive resorts! Read more here.

There is more information (with trip reports & YouTube videos) below the slideshow. Think I missed one? Share your favorite Maldivian hotel in the comments section.

*** Get the most out of your (luxury) trip to the Maldives with my online Maldives travel guide ***

10. ANANTARA KIHAVAH VILLAS MALDIVES

Set on Kihavah Huravalhi, one of the most pristine and beautiful islands in the Maldives, Anantara Kihavah Villas is a 30-minute seaplane flight from Male International Airport (an unforgettable experience in itself as the plane flies over a string of glowing coral islands amidst turquoise waters). The resort’s 79 spacious ultra-luxurious villas are either poised over the water with sweeping ocean views or nestled along a pristine stretch of private beach. All overwater villas are built out of groove-lined timber, with high ceilings and hardwood floors, and feature expansive terraces with private pools, from where to take in the horizon and catching sightings of turtles in the lagoon and dolphins in the Indian Ocean. At Anantara Kihavah Villas guests are treated to a wide range of excellent facilities, including an incredible underwater restaurant as well as a gorgeous overwater spa.

• Hotel website: Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
• Other accolades: Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas also features in my top 10 lists of the world’s best underwater hotels and the best hotels in the Maldives for families.
• Review: read my review of Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas here.

9. RAFFLES MALDIVES MERADHOO RESORT

Set on the private island of Meradhoo in the southern end of the Maldives archipelago, the Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort opened in 2019 following an extensive refurbishment of the previous Jumeirah hotel. The property boasts 21 island villas with private pools set steps from the beach and – a short boat trip away from the main island – 16 ocean villas with steps directly down to the deep blue and outdoor marble baths looking out the horizon. The resort has 3 restaurants, a scenic cocktail bar and an array of facilities and activities to relax, rejuvenate and reinvigorate the body, mind and spirit. There’s also an award winning luxury spa, over-water fitness center, private dining options, 24-hour butler and private chef service. The resort’s PADI-certified dive center offers adventures through the wonders of some of most breath-taking coral reefs in the world.

• Hotel website: Raffles Maldives Meradhoo Resort
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).

8. FOUR SEASONS RESORT MALDIVES AT LANDAA GIRAAVARU

Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru is a remote island hideaway in the secluded Baa Atoll UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, a scenic seaplane ride from Male. Combining innovation, wellness and conservation, the resort comprises 103 thatched bungalows and villas of contemporary Maldivian design spread across the island’s remote jungle wilderness. A vacation here can be combined with a stay at its sister property, Kuda Huraa, which is a lushly tropical private island close to Male airport, renowned for its exceptional surf and easy charm. Both are linked by the luxury catamaran Four Seasons Explorer, which cruises between the two resorts stopping at exceptional dive sites, tiny uninhabited beaches and remote island communities along the way. In 2017, Four Seasons also opened an ultraluxe private island, called Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah, a secluded haven that transcends the private island experience for a maximum of 22 guests.

• Hotel website: Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru
• Other accolades: The Four Seasons resorts in the Maldives also feature in my top 10 list of the best Four Seasons hotels & resorts in the world.
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).

7. THE ST REGIS MALDIVES VOMMULI RESORT

Located in the Dhaalu Atoll – a 40 minute seaplane ride southwest from Malé – the iconic St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is surrounded by dreamy landscapes, thick tropical vegetation, a fine white-sand beach, a pristine lagoon, and the glistening turquoise Indian Ocean. Combining contemporary design and local craftsmanship, with a profound appreciation for the ecological environment, the resort’s 77 luxuriously appointed villas feature expansive private terraces leading to pristine beaches and infinity pools with the magnificent Indian Ocean as a tranquil backdrop. The resort also boasts one of the largest three bedroom over-water villas in the Maldives, the John Jacob Astor Estate. Guests can savor epicurean delights from all over the world in the six restaurants and bars and restore their well-being at the over-water Iridium Spa.

• Hotel website: The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
• Other accolades: The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort also features in my lists of the best overwater villas in the Maldives and the best new luxury hotels of 2016.
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, welcome bottle of Champagne, $300 USD resort credit, and a one time hydrotherapy spa experience per couple).
• Review: read my review of The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort here.

6. CHEVAL BLANC RANDHELI

The ultraluxe Cheval Blanc Randheli Resort calls the spectacular Noonu Atoll its home, and Soneva Jani and Velaa Private Island (cf below) its neighbors. The property is built on a handful of tiny islands protected from the ocean by a large coral reef which houses a dazzling sampling of multicolor fish, rays and sea turtles. Getting there involves a trip onboard a Twin Otter of Havilland seaplane that has been exclusively designed for the Maison, combining the brand’s signature taupe with Randheli’s solar yellow. The famous resort offers 46 island, water and garden villas in neutral colors and tones that complement the open design of the space. The accommodations feel like elegant cathedral-style lofts, each featuring a variety of contemporary design elements, high doors and ceilings, outdoor areas for relaxation, stunning private swimming pool and lagoon-side pontoons. Cheval Blanc Randheli was the playground of Kate and William during their Maldivian getaway a few years ago.

• Hotel website: Cheval Blanc Randheli
• Other accolades: Cheval Blanc Randheli also features in my top 10 lists of the best overwater villas in the Maldives and the world’s most over-the-top hotel experiences.

5. JOALI MALDIVES & JOALI BEING

JOALI offers two spectacular islands in the Maldives, with both properties sharing a common vision, while each has its own distinct identity. The Joali story began with the launch of JOALI Maldives, a 73-villa property tucked away in the stunning Raa Atoll where travelers can experience the joy of beachfront living through an incredible collection of artworks that unfold across the island. Innovative dining concepts include Japanese restaurant Saoke, authentic Asian Vandhoo and Levant restaurant Tuh’u, and Tuscan-inspired Bellinis, as well as numerous destination dining experiences. The Spa by ESPA invites guests on a wellness journey along with a world-class fitness center and expert trainers. Opened in 2021, JOALI BEING is set in the same atoll as its sister property, blending ancient wisdom with modern science to bring guests on a transformational journey.

• Hotel website: JOALI MALDIVES
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $150 USD food & beverage credit).

4. VELAA PRIVATE ISLAND

Located in the Noonu Atoll, 187 km (110 mi) north of Malé, Velaa Private Island is the realization of a dream to create a ‘beyond luxury’ exclusive hideaway where guests are treated like royalty. Its name derived from the generations of sea turtles that flock there to nest and hatch, Velaa was developed to embody the very best of this unique archipelago, bathed by azure skies in the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean. The resort comprises 45 private villas, houses and exclusive residences – sleeping from 1 to 10 guests – and also includes a romantic pool residence which can only be reached by boat, allowing even more exclusivity. Each villa comes with stone pavements from the desert in Jordan, Indonesian flowerpots, luxury wood paneling from Borneo, and glimmering Italian marble. Privileged guests can relax in luxury at Velaa Spa, hone their short game at the Velaa Golf Academy by Ryder Cup captain José María Olazábal, or explore the undersea world with a Seabob or a James Bond-style semi-submarine.

• Hotel website: Velaa Private Island
• Other accolades: Velaa Private Island also features in my top 10 lists of the most fabulous overwater villas in the Maldives, and the most expensive hotels in the world.
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $150 USD food & beverage credit).
• Review: read my review of Velaa Private Island here.

3. ONE&ONLY REETHI RAH

This chic resort offered a level of style and sophistication unsurpassed in the world when it opened in 2005 and it still delivers as the Grand Dame of the Maldivian archipelago. Set on a partly man-made, octopus-shaped island in the North Male Atoll, the resort is blessed with an extraordinary 6 km (3,7 mi) of coastline, dotted with white sand coves and turquoise bays. All 130 spacious villas are discreetly placed amidst beautiful landscaping, each occupying its own secluded piece of sandy shore or private deck over the lagoon’s crystal clear waters. Food is innovative and of the finest quality, prepared in an inspiring variety of ways, and staff are always receptive to the personal requirements of each and every guest. Set apart from the rest of the resort, the spa is located within tranquil gardens and manicured lawns. One&Only Reethi Rah is a favorite among royals and A-list Hollywood celebrities.

• Hotel website: One&Only Reethi Rah
• Other accolades: One&Only Reethi Rah also features in my top 10 lists of the world’s best hotel spas, the most astonishing beach retreats in Asia, the most fabulous overwater villas in the Maldives, the best luxury hotels in the Maldives that can be reached without a seaplane, and luxury hotels loved by celebrities.
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. villa upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and exclusively designed Reethi Rah Kaftans coupled with a One&Only Maldives at Reethi Rah Signature Organic Candle).
• Review: read my review of One&Only Reethi Rah here.

2. SONEVA FUSHI

Soneva Fushi, the first ‘Robinson Crusoe’ style hideaway in the Maldives, is set on the privately owned tropical island of Kunfunadhoo in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The island – which is 1,400 m (4,600 ft) long and 400 m (1300 ft) wide – ranks among the largest islands in the Maldives. Apart from the crystal clear waters, white beaches and tropical climate, the island’s unusually rich vegetation offers a unique natural experience. Massive, multi-bedroom, fairytale-like luxury villas and private residences are hidden among dense tropical foliage. In keeping with the castaway theme, many are built to resemble tree houses. All open to their own private stretch of sugar white sands, and most boast their own private seawater swimming pools. In summer 2020, Soneva Fushi also unveiled eight fabulous water retreats, which are the largest and most luxurious overwater villas in the world.

Contact me to get complimentary Soneva ambassador benefits at Soneva Fushi (e.g. best rate, resort credit, and two personalized Soneva experiences).

• Hotel website: Soneva Fushi
• Other accolades: Soneva Fushi also features in my top 10 lists of the best family hotels in the world, the most astonishing beach retreats in Asia, the best resorts in the Maldives for snorkeling, and the world’s most insanely beautiful hotel beaches.
• Tip: get complimentary VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. villa upgrade, breakfast, early check-in , late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).
• Review: read my review of Soneva Fushi here.

1. SONEVA JANI

Located on an uninhabited five-island cluster in the Noonu Atoll, the Maldives’ most exclusive resort is fringed by pristine beaches, blanketed with lush tropical greenery, and surrounded by a 5.6 km (3,4 mi) lagoon of crystal clear waters with uninterrupted Indian Ocean views. The world-famous resort features 51 overwater pool villas, spread along two jetties that curve into a 5.6 km (3,4 mi) magnificent lagoon of crystal clear waters. Known as Chapter One and Chapter Tow, both jetties are connected to the Maldives’ largest resort island, a tropical paradise fringed by pristine beaches and blanketed with lush tropical greenery. Highlights at Soneva Jani include the villas’ retractable roofs, private water slides, a wide range of sublime restaurants, personalized experiences & excursions, and a spectacular new spa facility, Soneva Soul. Guests staying at Chapter Two can benefit from an all-inclusive way to experience the best of the resort with Soneva Unlimited.  

Contact me to get complimentary Soneva ambassador benefits at Soneva Jani (e.g. best rate, resort credit, and two personalized Soneva experiences).

• Hotel website: Soneva Jani
• Other accolades: Soneva Jani also features in my lists of the most fabulous overwater villas in the Maldives, the best new luxury hotels of 2016, the most astonishing beach retreats in Asia, and my favorite hotels in the world.
• Review: read my review of Soneva Jani here.

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