17 luxury hotels in the Maldives

Located in the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, Amilla Maldives is an enchanting island resort for couples, families, and groups to relax and play. Fringed by white sand beaches and one of the Maldives’ best house reefs, the island’s 67 Pool Villas and Residences each offer private pools and are thoughtfully designed with indoor and outdoor living spaces.

The Sultan’s Village kids club provides entertainment for the kids, while activities such as kombucha-making, ensure there is plenty to do alongside snorkelling and diving at world-class sites and Amilla’s own famous Blue Hole.

An EarthCheck silver-certified member of Small Luxury Hotels’ Considerate Collection, an IncluCare-certified resort and a member of the Conscious Travel Foundation, Amilla is committed to wellbeing, inclusivity and sustainability.

To book Amilla Maldives click here

Patina Maldives, Fari Islands is the inaugural flagship property from sophisticated lifestyle brand Patina Hotels & Resorts, the latest hospitality concept by Capella Hotel Group. Designed by renowned Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan, Patina Maldives offers 90 contemporary one- to three-bedroom Beach and Water Pool Villas, alongside 20 Fari Studios. All the villas embody a harmony of sanctuary and stimulation.

Set in the Fari Islands archipelago in North Malé Atoll, guests can immerse themselves in a new expression of island life through tailor-made wellness journeys, interactive music programmes, captivating culinary experiences and bask in the light-filled Amarta — a James Turrell Skyspace pavilion — as well as embrace the vibrant social scene that emanates from the destination’s communal heart: the Fari Marina Village and Fari Beach Club.

To book Patina Maldives, Fari Islands click here

Located in the stunning Raa Atoll, the all-beach, all-sunset, all-inclusive Ifuru Island Maldives offers a wealth of amenities and experiences, including the Maldives’ first permanent skydiving dropzone, created in collaboration with 21k-jump World Champion skydiver Will Penny. The resort’s 147 elegant beach suites and villas provide direct beach access, are designed as a series of ‘Retreats’ and ‘Villages’. They are arranged in small coteries that seamlessly balance sociability and seclusion. Six restaurants and four bars create a culinary journey to indulge in the resort’s 24-hour, premium all-inclusive, dine-around experience, while its Xanadu Spa offers several relaxing treatments.

*The skydiving season runs from the beginning of November to the end of March.

To book Ifuru Island Maldives click here

Siyam World is a brand-new, luxury 24-hour all-inclusive resort in the Noonu Atoll, amid 52 acres of breathtaking surroundings. Siyam World has an innovative approach being the first multi-experiential resort in the Maldives. It comprises a collection of luxury villas and suites set over the water, on the beach, or among the tropical vegetation, complemented by a veritable lineup of restaurants, bars, activities and experiences including a floating water park with slippery slides, fun parkours, loads of obstacles, water trampolines, climbing walls and rafts. There’s also a FIFA-standard football pitch.

Siyam World is surrounded by a 1.5 km house reef teaming with wildlife and an array of aquatic life.

To book Siyam World  click here

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island opened in 1997 as Hilton Maldives Resort and Spa and rebranded in 2007 as part of their high-end luxury collection of Conrad Hotels and Resorts. The resort is committed to sustainable hospitality; encouraging its guests to make smart eco choices and pledging to eliminate the use of plastic on the property. There are two outdoor infinity pools, two award-winning spas, a 24-hour gym and 12 restaurants and bars. Conrad Maldives is also a proud trailblazer: opening the world’s first undersea restaurant and more recently, the world’s first undersea residence, The Muraka.

To book Conrad Maldives Rangali Island click here

Located in the North Male Atoll and just 29km (18 miles) from the capital, Coco Bodu Hithi is one of the smaller, but no less luxurious, islands in the Maldives. Owned by four local brothers, the resort is part of the Coco Collection and opened its doors to the public 2006. Every space at Coco Bodu Hithi is designed to connect you to the water, whether running on the treadmill, reading a book in your villa or dining at one of six restaurants. Every month the hotel takes part in a coastal cleaning of the island to collect plastic from the water and help preserve the surrounding reef from further ecological damage.

To book Coco Bodu Hithi click here

Furaveri Island Resort & Spa is in the Raa Atoll near “Hanifaru Bay”, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. There are 107 spacious, private villas at Furaveri. For the ultimate luxury, the two-room suite with an infinity pool is a real showstopper – honeymooners often rent this for a day or two as a special treat on their trip. On the island, there is also a spa, gym, diving school, tennis court, badminton court and large outdoor pool, and guests can dine in four different restaurants.

To book Furaveri Island Resort & Spa click here

Fushifaru Maldives goes beyond the typical confines of sun, sea and sand. Located on the eastern fringe of Lhaviyani Atoll, the island’s surrounding ocean is a nature-lover’s paradise and home to eagle rays, parrotfish and even the occasional hammerhead shark. Accommodation options include Beach Villas and Water Villas and the island also has three restaurants, including Raakani Grill, which serves flavourful Asian delicacies and a wide range of fresh seafood. For a more private dining experience, guests can also pick a spot anywhere on the island or sandbank to enjoy a customised meal.

To book the Fashifaru Maldives click here

Bringing stylish mid-scale accommodation to the pristine south of the Maldives, Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort provides travellers with one of the best value accommodation options. The resort has 68 villas, including 43 over the water and 25 on the beach. It is built using local materials, bright colours and stylish furniture and interiors designs, all of which reflect traditional Maldivian culture and the spirit of travel.

To book Mercure Maldives click here

Translated to ‘beautiful reef’ in English, Reethi Faru is unsurprisingly surrounded by stunning white beaches, coconut groves and lush vegetation. Along with a beautiful house reef to explore, the four-star resort promises guests a relaxing atmosphere, friendly service, a comprehensive selection of activities and facilities, and a tasteful choice of cuisine. Located on the compact Maldivian island of Filaidhoo in Raa Atoll, the resort will feature 150 well-furnished homely detached and semi-detached villas. All of these will be set amid tropical foliage or on stilts over the lagoon and built in a traditional style to blend perfectly into the natural beauty of the environment.

To book Reethi Faru click here

Italian-owned Baglioni Resort Maldives, located on Maagau in Dhaalu Atoll, offers island paradise, with a blend of sport, relaxation and mouth-watering gourmet dining. The 96-villa resort’s elegant Italian design is complemented with the Baglioni Spa, which along with a yoga pavilion, offers guests a deeply relaxing experience via a host of deluxe natural treatments in a lush, tropical setting. Meanwhile, beach volleyball, the beach gym and a range of watersports keep the more active guests entertained.

To book Baglioni Resort Maldives click here

Colour of Oblu (part of Atmosphere Core hospitality company) has a sensational resort in the Maldives: OBLU SELECT Sangeli . Located in Male Atoll, the five-star deluxe resort features 137 villas, positioned along the beach and over the water. For newlyweds, the resort hosts to exclusive overwater Honeymoon Pool Suites, situated in a separate sand bank within the Sangeli Lagoon providing skylight features and a private pool. Activities at the resort include music and DJ nights, sunset fishing, and daily kids’ activities, and facilities include a full gymnasium and a recreation centre. There will be more openings from Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts in the new year – we will keep you posted.

To book OBLU SELECT click here

Situated on the remote Kuredhivaru Island in Noonu Atoll, Mӧvenpick Resort & Spa Kuredhivaru Maldives is the brand’s first resort in the Maldives. The 102-unit resort provides guests with a choice of 32 Beach Villas and 70 Over Water Villas, all designed with both comfort and style in mind. While intended as a destination for relaxing and rejuvenating escapes offering a high degree of privacy, the resort also features an array of onsite recreational facilities to entertain a wide range of guests, from honeymooners to adventurous families. The waters surrounding the resort are rich in marine life and the first Marine National Park in the Maldives is just a 15-minute speedboat ride away, providing guests with excellent diving opportunities.

To book Mӧvenpick Resort & Spa click here

Carpe Diem Beach Resort & Spa is one of the only brands in the Maldives to offer both liveaboard cruises and resort stays. Located in Raa Atoll, on one of a trio of uninhabited islands on the edge of Baa Atoll, the resort’s vast lagoon is home to 115 Pool Villas, a spa, a selection of restaurants, and a private water park of inflatable slides. The Carpe Diem name has become renowned in the travel industry for diving and leisure, and the current portfolio includes three high-end liveaboard cruises, each catering 20 guests at a time.

To book Carpe Diem Beach Resort & Spa click here

LUX* South Ari Atoll is one of the largest resorts in the Maldives. Thatched-roof beach bungalows and villas perched over the Maldivian waters create a stylish seaside haven. Ten one-bedroom Romantic Beach Pool Villas of 136m² are ideal for couples and small families as they feature a secluded beach spot and an infinity pool overlooking the panoramic ocean. Tropical indoor-outdoor bathrooms with spacious bathtubs elevate the island-chic style of the villas. To complement the experience the team have come up with a relaxing bikini lunch served by the pool, a dedicated in-villa mixology experience and an exclusive cinema screening on the beach.

To book LUX* South Ari Atoll  click here

Spanning three islands in the South Male Atoll, approximately 23 kilometres from Velana International Airport and about 20 minutes away from the Maldivian capital of Male, Waldorf Astoria Maldives offers travellers the best of both worlds – an exclusive, charming escape with easy access to the mainland. The Waldorf Astoria Maldives is the second hotel in the Maldives for Hilton and boasts 10 dining outlets, including nine speciality restaurants, providing guests with a selection of unique experiences.

To book Waldorf Astoria Maldives click here

Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa offers 60 beach villas and 60 over the water, all including contemporary and tropical touches. The resort is located on the island of Fasmendhoo in Raa Atoll and guests can reach the island via a 40-minute scenic seaplane journey from Malé. Along with a spa and gym, Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa has four restaurants, including a grill restaurant, situated on the beach, and a South American-style steakhouse.

To book Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa click here