Maldives: best waterfront hotels

Along with white beaches and vibrant ocean waters, water villas (bungalows) are the hallmark of the Maldives archipelago, attracting travelers from all over the world. Despite the fact that these original structures first appeared in French Polynesia, they were brought to perfection in the Maldives.

Today's Maldives offers a myriad of hotel options on the water, from humble, cozy bungalows to exclusive water residences that captivate holidaymakers with their exquisite luxury. Let us take a closer look at some of them.

Angsana Velavaru

1. Soneva Jani

At this luxurious sandal resort, guests can experience the benefits of the slow life philosophy from the first minute, allowing you to get rid of unnecessary things, including shoes, and enjoy life at a leisurely pace while enjoying the simple things.

Most of the resort's villas are located on the water, and the resort itself is divided into two sections by the immaculate Chapter One and the recently launched Chapter Two, offering guests accommodation in one of 27 luxurious water reserves.

The Chapter Two Reserves are impressive (from 555 square meters) and are positioned to provide guests with the ultimate in privacy and great views of sunrise or sunset.

The villas are equipped with large terraces, swimming pools and open bathrooms. Some of them have their own water slides, from which guests can slide directly into the clear waters of the lagoon, as well as a retractable roof above the master bedroom, offering views of the starry sky.

The culmination of this collection is a huge two-storey villa of 1226 square meters with four bedrooms and stunning panoramic ocean views.

The villa has a study, gym, outdoor shower and bathtub with separate access to the lagoon, storage room, minibar, bicycles, private wine cellar and a water slide leading to the lagoon.

Guests staying at Chapter Two have the opportunity to experience the Soneva Unlimited package, which includes

• unlimited branded experiences including diving;
• spa treatments, massages and wellness treatments;
• butler service;
• food and unlimited access to dinners and events from a Michelin-starred chef and much more.

Soneva Jani

2. Kudadoo Maldives Private Island

One of the best luxury all inclusive hotels in the Maldives, designed by Japanese architect Yuji Yamazaki, offers its guests a holistic vacation in one of its 15 elegant overwater residences.

Villas with a minimum area of ​​300 square meters are equipped with large sliding doors, private infinity pools and an automatic lighting system. The carefully crafted design is complemented by Tasmanian oak floors and handcrafted furnishings.

Guests of Kudadoo Maldives can enjoy freshly prepared culinary masterpieces from the chef and an exclusive range of cheese and wine cellars, a variety of excursions and water activities, personal wellness programs, 24-hour butler service, comfortable yacht trips and other components of a carefree luxury holiday.

Kudadoo Maldives Private Island

3. Gili Lankanfushi

This 5-star resort features a collection of 45 stunning thatched-roof water villas designed in a rustic style and floating above the clear waters of the lagoon. Most of them are connected to the island by wooden bridges, but there are also standalone Crusoe Residences located right in the middle of the ocean a short boat ride from the island.

Private Reserve deserves special attention - a unique water reserve with a total area of ​​1,700 square meters, which is the. In addition to its impressive size, the imagination of travelers is amazed by the infinity pool, spacious sun terraces, spa pavilion with sauna, gym, cinema and a water slide that descends from the upper terrace of the Private Reserve into the calm waters of the lagoon. Guests are provided with a private boat, bicycles, and the unusual opportunity largest above-water residence in the world to create their own wine cellar from a list of 400 fine wines.

In addition to gastronomic travel, guests of Gili Lankanfushi can diversify their vacation with travels in the Indian Ocean aboard the luxury 14-meter yacht Riviera, visit famous dive spots nearby, learn the basics of surfing with instructors from Tropicsurf, improve their skills on the tennis court of the resort or choose other leisure options in accordance with your interests and preferences.

It should be noted that the resort supports the concept of no news, no shoes, which is popular in the Maldives, which allows its guests to get the most out of their vacation.

Gili Lankanfushi

4. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

From a private lounge at Male International Airport to unique villas and restaurants to impress even the most discerning traveler, Conrad Maldives, part of the renowned Hilton chain, has everything you need for a true luxury holiday.

Infinity pools, glass floors that reveal the beauty of the underwater world, steps leading from sun terraces directly to the Indian Ocean, the opportunity to get in touch with nature - these are not all the benefits that guests of the resort get from one of its beautiful water villas.

A highlight of the resort is The Muraka, an exclusive duplex residence with a master bedroom immersed 5 meters below ocean level. Guests of the residence can relax on the outdoor terrace with an infinity pool, or watch the numerous representatives of the underwater world through the transparent acrylic dome of their underwater bedroom. Residents at The Muraka can benefit from the services of a personal 24-hour butler, fitness trainer and private chef.

Of the resort's 12 upscale restaurants and bars, Ithaa stands out as the world's first underwater restaurant, set at a depth of five meters, offering visitors a fusion cuisine experience combined with panoramic views of the coral gardens inhabited by outlandish inhabitants.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

5. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Another worthy Hilton in the Maldives is the elegant Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi Resort, surrounded by white sands and crystal blue ocean waters in the South Male Atoll area.

The resort offers its guests

• 119 beach and overwater villas;
• 11 restaurants and bars, including the signature tree-top restaurant Terra;
• a world-class spa and wellness center;
• Waldorf Astoria Young Discovery Park - a recreational area on the water and a place for interesting activities for children;
• fitness center and tennis court;
• pavilion for weddings and romantic events.

Vacationers in the resort's spacious water villas can enjoy ocean views through huge panoramic windows and glass floors, swim in their own pool or ocean, relax on sun loungers or in comfortable overwater hammocks.

If you are looking for exclusivity, opt for Stella Maris Private Ocean Villas - exquisite duplex villas from 536 square meters with direct ocean access, accessible only by boat. The Stella Maris Villas have spacious living and dining areas equipped with the latest in audiovisual entertainment. Residents of the villa can use the services of a chef. The upper deck features a BBQ area, while the lower wooden deck features a private infinity pool, hot tub, overwater hammocks and direct ocean access.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

6. Angsana Velavaru

This luxurious tropical resort offers guests two categories of villas, 79 island villas for beach-minded travelers, as well as 34 InOcean villas, ideal for guests looking for a comfortable retreat surrounded by sparkling ocean waves.

Situated on stilts in the ocean, one kilometer from the main island, InOcean Villas feature a swimming pool, spacious sundeck with dining area, sun loungers and an overwater hammock. The rooftop pavilion serves as a spa treatment room, while stunning sunrise or sunset views over the ocean complement the tropical paradise.

The hotel restaurants offer Mediterranean, Maldivian, Asian and international cuisine. And the award-winning Angsana Spa invites everyone to enjoy soothing treatments in one of its 8 outdoor pavilions.

In addition, Angsana Velavaru offers a wide variety of entertainment options for adults and children. With over 30 attractive diving spots nearby, the hotel is an ideal location for both beginners and experienced divers.

Angsana Velavaru

7. LUX*

This luxury resort in North Male Atoll is the epitome of luxury and style. Its distinctive feature is the snow-white villas (penthouses), each of which is crowned with a flat roof with a terrace and is equipped with an infinity pool with pink edging, organically combined with light blue water.

In total, the hotel offers 8 different room categories, including the flagship LUX Overwater Retreat, a three-story penthouse - style overwater villa with a total area of ​​about 1000 square meters. The villa has three bedrooms, a private fitness room and sauna, a spacious infinity pool and a yacht dock. The friendly manager will provide guests with everything they need from booking dinner to organizing excursions and recreational activities.

Speaking of entertainment, it should be noted that the resort provides guests with ample opportunities for an interesting pastime. So, adrenaline lovers will appreciate the high-quality modern equipment and the professionalism of the instructors, doing all sorts of water activities from banana rides to windsurfing lessons. While snorkeling in the lagoon, you can meet stingrays and reef sharks, and those wishing to continue their acquaintance with the world of the ocean can do it, accompanied by qualified specialists from the five-star PADI dive center.

Excursions on yachts and submarines, exclusive spa villas and yoga classes, movie screenings under the stars, tennis and volleyball courts - this is not a complete list of what awaits LUX guests.

LUX * South Ari Atoll

8. W Maldives

This 5-star private island resort, owned by the Marriott chain, provides guests with designer bungalows located both on the beach and over the water and immerses themselves in exciting island life.

Here you can

• enjoy stylish cuisine and innovative cocktails;
• improve your fitness in a state-of-the-art gym;
• soak up the over-water spa, choosing for yourself a set of Ayurvedic procedures;
• explore the underwater landscapes by visiting some of the best diving spots in the Maldives;
• swim with manta rays, turtles, reef sharks, dolphins, meet a whale shark, explore uninhabited islands;
• taking a cruise on the private yacht W Maldives Escape.

The resort's bungalows, located above the lagoon, feature sun terraces and swimming pools, while the glass floor of the living room allows you to admire the fauna from the comfort of your room. By turning on the underwater lights, guests can contemplate the endless variety of marine life not only during the day, but also at night.

Each bungalow has direct access to one of the finest house reefs in the Maldives.

Wow Ocean Escape stands out from the resort's overwater residences. The 323 square meter villa features a large infinity pool, lounge area with comfortable sofas and a huge adjoining terrace, stairs leading to the lagoon, 50-inch plasma TV and large panoramic windows.

W Maldives

9. Six Senses Laamu

Six Senses Laamu is one of the finest eco-resorts in the Maldives, in perfect harmony with the environment.

Its water villas are built with sustainable materials and have direct access to the sea. All villas have a sundeck with daybeds and sun loungers, a glass bathtub with ocean views, and some have a private pool.

Cozy restaurants and bars, a waterfront gym, Ayurvedic treatments and meditations complement the peaceful atmosphere of Six Senses at the upscale spa, and the Jungle Cinema, where you can watch your favorite movie with warm popcorn and chilled champagne.

Six Senses Laamu