Fine white sand, the calmest waves softly touching our feet, and beautiful overwater villas dotted over clear blue waters… Imagine having one of the best overwater villas in the Maldives all to yourself. Such a dreamy destination! With a whole range of AMAZING hotels and resorts in the Maldives, it’s hard to pick just a few, but we’ve narrowed down the selection for you. Here are our top 10 picks from our curated selection of luxury escapes in the Maldives.
The Nautilus Maldives
Escape to The Nautilus Maldives and be welcomed by your private little on-deck garden as you enter your thatched roof overwater villa. The private pools are spacious but it’s hard to say no to the steps leading straight to the calm waters down below. Can’t get enough of the mesmerizing ocean? Step into Solasta Spa and enter into a zen state of mind. They have an overwater yoga pavilion and glass-bottomed overwater treatment pavilions open 24/7. P.S. we love their romantic cinema setup on the shore…
Soneva Jani
Soneva Jani presents a playful take on overwater villas in the Maldives. Meandering over the tranquil waters of the Noonu Atoll are 51 luxury villas designed for maximum privacy. If you’re planning a getaway with friends or family, the 4-Bedroom Water Reserve with Slide is the perfect choice. As shown in the photo, it has a private lap pool, and a slide that leads straight into the crystal clear waters. It has a swing too! Bring out the child-like wonder while having several chill out spots for everyone.
Joali Maldives
Joali Maldives lets you experience barefoot luxury in ivory sands and tranquil waters of the stunning Raa Atoll. Spread across the island are 73 luxurious beach and overwater villas. The Luxury Sunset Water Villa with Pool in particular has an expansive sundeck, a separate sun lounge area, direct access to the lagoon, and can sleep up to 4 guests. We love the state-of-the art-lighting and mood control system and the expansive ocean views from the bedroom!
Patina Maldives
Being immersed in nature is beautiful and being kind to it, even more so. Patina Maldives is a wonderful resort on the Fari Islands that has a huge heart for sustainability. Atop each overwater villa are solar panels, water is recycled and used as irrigation for the organic garden, they have a zero-waste kitchen, and no single-use plastic is to be found. The stylish villas with locally sourced and biodegradable materials along with the resort’s vision definitely passes the View Retreats vibe check.
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
Shaviyani Atoll is a smaller island compared to other Maldivian islands—it takes about 20 minutes to walk from one end to another. This is where JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa is set. Romantic and intimate, much like having a little world of your own. While all villas on the island are gorgeous, the overwater villas with outdoor pools and shaded lounging areas are especially refreshing with their straight access to the dazzling waters and expansive views of the Indian Ocean.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has an amazing selection of restaurants that serve international, Japanese, and Asian fusion dishes. For those on a honeymoon in the Maldives, a private dining experience prepared by a personal chef can be arranged. Turn up the tropical romance with a picnic on the beach or a torch-lit dinner in a tucked-away location. Back at your overwater villa, you enjoy ocean views from the bathtub before taking a whiff of the bedside Sleep Well Lavender Balm to ease into sweet dreams…
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Inside any of the 44 overwater villas at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, you’ll experience luxury and maximum privacy while enjoying ocean views for days. We’d recommend the Sunset Water Villa for stunning views, your own infinity pool, a grand marble bathroom with double vanities, and a comfy king bed. For the ultimate relaxation experience, make sure to indulge in the Iridium Spa’s hydrotherapy treatments—it has the largest hydrotherapy pool in the Maldives—and its wide range of Ayurvedic treatments, scrubs, and massages.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
Set on the man-made Fari Islands on the North Male atoll, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives has a hundred contemporary circular villas over the water and some on the beach. Despite being known as one of the more traditional names in luxurious hospitality, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives is anything but. Its curved sliding glass doors turn the tear-shaped villa pools into semi-open spaces facing the ocean. We love how intimate and chic each villa is, and, of course, the very easy access to the ocean a few steps or a literal jump away.
Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi
Set on the Shaviyani Atoll which boasts one of the country’s largest lagoons, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is your luxe personal hideaway in the Maldives. It has 120 villas on the beach and over the water, furnished with locally inspired furniture and touches for that tropical island vibe. The Water Sunrise Villa has a private pool, lounging areas (love that personal hammock!), and a copper bathtub placed near a picture window with an amazing ocean view.
Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
Serene island life awaits you at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives in the Raa Atoll. Be in the shade of coconut trees on the main island or have a dreamy overwater hideaway in one of the modern villas. The minimalist overwater villas each have a private pool, furnished indoor and on-deck sitting areas, and a catamaran net right above the water. Want to spoil your senses? Indulge in soulful treatments at Spa Alila or relish the freshest seafood from Seasalt, the on-site restaurant.
Discover more hotels and overwater villas in the Maldives in our full collection at viewretreats.com
Image credit: The Nautilus
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