Most Popular Boutique Resorts in the Maldives


Book Your All Inclusive Vacation and save 25% in Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts, Maldives
Book Your All Inclusive Vacation and save 25% in Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts, Maldives

Updated August, 2024

For those who are hoping to avoid crowded luxury mega-resorts, the Maldives is definitely the top destination. Boutique hotels here are the rule, not the exception and many exclusive resorts offer less than 100 ... or even less than 50 rooms.

Add to this the fact that each resort is a private island, guaranteeing tranquility and privacy among the crystal clear turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and an amazing marine life with a good house reef. The list below features the best of the best, to stay.

1 COMO Cocoa Island

soneva maldives resort
Booking.com

Best Experience:   for couples, Spa & Health, Beach, Diving

Only with 34 romantic water villas and 3 suites on the island, Cocoa Island Resort is rated the most lovely resort for the honeymooners and there is not any kind of child-oriented facilities. Located 40 minutes by speedboat from Malé Airport, the hotel also has a high rating in the Maldives based on guest reviews, so it is ideal for adults. Uniquely inspired by dhoni boats the style and design of our newly refreshed 34 overwater suites and villas are like that of no other luxury resort in the Maldives. Throw open the glass doors, and you can breathe the sea, day and night, as it laps your private jetty. Of course, in addition to luxury accommodation and gourmet dine options, diving and snorkeling there is an excellent spa and even a pavilion for practicing yoga with a teacher. READ FULL REVIEW

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2 Fushifaru Maldives

Fushifaru Maldives aerial
Booking.com

Best Experience for:   couples, families, activities, beaches, quiet and private

63 Beach and Water villas
An idyllic island retreat with a powder soft sands, Fushifaru Maldives is a 5-star resort located in Lhaviyani Atoll. With "Fushi", that means "island" and "Faru", which means "reef" in Dhivehi, Fushifaru is an ideal reflection of its name. If you need little more than a sensational beach and a comfortable bed, this little laid-back resort might be the one for you. Facilities are few, although there is a dive and watersports centre, swimming pool and spa – but really it's all about the beach. Nestled between a national Marine Protected Area and three of the Maldives’ most iconic dive sites, Fushifaru Maldives is a boutique and intimate resort with an endless promise of adventure, excitement, discovery and serenity all in one diverse landscape. READ FULL REVIEW

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3 OBLU SELECT Lobigili

Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort

Best Experience for: adults only, underwater restaurant, diving, activities, spa

Opened on March 2022, OBLU SELECT Lobigili is a new adults-only resort under Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts’ COLOURS OF OBLU brand. Nestled in Malé Atoll just a 15-minutes speedboat ride from Velana International airport Lobigili translates from Dhivehi as ‘Island of Love.’ With 68 vibrant chic beach and overwater villas, all assuring gorgeous views of the incandescent turquoise-blue lagoon, the private island is ideal for a chilled-out couples getaway without kids. Named as No. 1 Luxury Hotel Worldwide 2024 OBLU SELECT Lobigili blends alluring tropical vistas with elegant design, heartfelt service that is as discreet as it is personalised.

With the resort’s exclusive Lobi Plan guests can immerse in a blissfully carefree stay. This generous plan includes specialty fine-dining, unlimited beverages, spa services, Indian Ocean excursions, a selection of non-motorised watersports as well as a fully stocked minibar replenished daily. Adding to the indulgence is the Only Blu Underwater Restasurant. The unique, multi-sensory culinary journey features gourmet cuisine with champagne set against a colourful backdrop of marine life. READ FULL REVIEW

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4 Naladhu Private Island Maldives

Naladhu island holiday
Booking.com

Best Experience:    quiet and private, honeymoon, gourmet dining, activities

20 beach houses with pool
Naladhu Island in the Anantara's Maldives chain - the most secluded resort. Meaning "a beautiful island," the description is rather modest, given what he offers. The ideal holiday in Naladhu Private Island begins with an ideal location on a secluded paradise island next to two other Anantara resorts: Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli. With high levels of privacy, first of all guests are accommodated in ultra elegant 20 spacious beachfront and ocean facing houses instead of ordinary water villas or bungalows. Featuring the concept of a new era for the age-old tradition of excellent service and style in the Maldives, Naladhu is the place where everything is as it should be. In November 2021 Naladhu Private Island in the Maldives has reopened its doors with a new look after a complete redesign by New York-based designer Yuji Yamazaki. All is familiar here, not because you were here before, but because it looks just like you would like to imagine. Create your own timeless moment from a collage of three islands, sand, sun, sea and exceptional service. READ FULL REVIEW

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5 Huvafen Fushi

Huvafen Fushi water villa
Booking.com

Best Experience:   Overwater Bungalows, Undewater Spa, Beaches, House Reef Snorkelling. Gourmet Dining

44 Villas
Located just 30 minutes by speedboat from the main airport, Huvafen Fushi ideally mixes Maldivian style with hip and chic features; thatched villas on the outside and on the inside, unique amenities, sophisticated design, contemporary furniture, high-tech equipment, and last but not least cool events which all contribute to make Huvafen Fushi a truly dreamy island. Encircled by one of the best house reefs in the Maldives, this private island paradise is home to the world’s first and only underwater spa, and with only 44 rooms it is the ultimate in luxurious privacy and intimacy. Reopened in 2024 after extensive renovation the new look of Huvafen Fushi is a paragon of contemporary luxury, seamlessly marrying its legacy as a trailblazer in impeccable Maldivian hospitality with cutting-edge design and unparalleled guest experiences. READ FULL REVIEW

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6 Kudadoo Maldives Private Island – Luxury All inclusive

Kudadoo Maldives Private Island
Booking.com

Best Experience:   for Couples (only), Luxury All Inclusive, snorkeling, diving, spa, activities

15 Villas
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island by Hurawalhi is the first top-end five-star, truly all-inclusive resort in the Maldives.The newest addition to the portfolio of leading hospitality group Crown & Champa Resorts, Kudadoo ensures a secluded getaway purposefully crafted for the more discerning guest — all accessible by a 40-minute scenic journey aboard a private seaplane. An island defined by the philosophy ‘Freedom Reimagined', the private island, located in the northern Lhaviyani atoll, comes alive with effortless adventures as the resort endeavours to offer anything, anytime, anywhere. Kudadoo promises the best escapism on the island, which will not leave even the most discerning travelers indifferent. Personal butlers are available 24 hours a day to assist in making this possible by facilitating authentic experiences that capture the senses.

If total relaxation & luxury pampering are what you want combined with a bit of snorkeling on your own reef off your deck & boat trips galore to swim with manta rays & sharks & turtles then come to Kudadoo. I wish WOW was a bigger word as this place deserves huge praise. For people looking for the best-of the best in an all inclusive, ultra-premium, adults-only property, with a feeling of being invited to a billionaire's private island created for his friends, Kudadoo cannot be beat. The island's hospitality is both exceptionally professional and friendly which contribute to making this island the most incredible sanctuary in the Maldives.  READ FULL REVIEW

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7 Kandolhu Maldives

Kandolhu Maldives
Booking.com

Best Experience:   Honeymoon, House Reef Snorkeling & Diving

30 Villas on the Beach and over  Water
Kandolhu Maldives guarantees even more than just your dreams of an unforgettable honeymoon in the Maldives. Soaked in romance, with an incredible house reef snorkeling, couples are bound to fall in love with this cozy island. Those who have heard of Kandholhu Island know that this is one of the best house reef in the Maldives. Only resorts in the country's southern atolls can compare or surpass. An additional draw is clean and soft sandy beaches, all around a small round island whose shape in Maldivian standards is a rarity. So snorkeling is the best you can find between your water villa, the beach and the many restaurants of this 5 * boutique hotel. READ FULL REVIEW

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8 Milaidhoo Island Maldives

Milaidhoo Island Maldives
Booking.com

Best Experience:   honeymoon, beach, diving, swimming with mantas

50 stylish private and secluded pool villas 
Intimate and stylish, at Milaidhoo it’s about enjoying the natural environment in understated luxury. Tucked in the heart of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, surrounded by powdery white sands and nestled beside a colourful coral reef, Milaidhoo Maldives is a luxurious natural wonder. Envisage upscale delights with a ‘Reinvented Luxury’ twist, where guests will experience an indulgent escape in the Maldives’s most unique getaway. Committed to offering a unique and authentic Maldivian experience, this new child in the best Baa Atoll hotels collection that making waves with its refreshing contemporary twist on classic Maldivian style. Created for couples and romance only, Milaidhoo welcomes children above the age of 9 years only. What's more, it is only 30 minutes by seaplane from Male or a 15 minute domestic flight followed by a short speedboat ride. READ FULL REVIEW

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9 Raffles Maldives Meradhoo

soneva maldives resort
Booking.com

Best Experience:   Honeymoon, Water Villas, House Reef Snorkeling, Spa

38 villas

Raffles Maldives Meradhoo is AccorHotel’s fourth property in the Maldives — and Raffles’ first. Enveloped in the pristine sanctuary of the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, the 38-villa resort is a destination in its own right, masterfully planned to cater to discerning travellers in pursuit of a luxurious and meaningful escape. For couples looking for an unforgettable romantic hideaway, the exceptionally spacious villas and the discreet expertise of the Raffles butler service redefines the resort experience.

A destination known for its stunning surroundings Raffles Maldives Meradhoo boasts 21 island villas and 16 ocean villas with private pools, three restaurants, a scenic cocktail bar and an array of facilities and activities to relax, rejuvenate and reinvigorate the body, mind and spirit. These facilities include an award-winning luxury spa, overwater fitness centre, yoga programmes, water sports, private dining options, 24-hour butler and private chef service, along with snorkelling and diving at its finest. The resort’s PADI-certified dive centre offers adventures through the wonders of some of most breath-taking coral reefs in the world.  It will be accessible by a 55-minute domestic flight from Male International Airport, followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride from Kaadedhdhoo Airport.  READ FULL REVIEW

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10 Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa
Booking.com

Best Experience:   Honeymoon, Water Villas, House Reef Snorkeling, Diving

50 Park and Water Villas

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is the pioneer of eco-designn in the Maldives. It was designed, developed and built to be as environmentally sensitive as possible, within a reasonable framework. Park Hyatt Hadahaa is truly a tropical island paradise set in the North Huvadhoo Atoll, 400 km south of Male international airport. Surrounded by only the vast expanse of sky and sea, the resort's 50 Park and Water Villas offer the ultimate hideaway.

You can drop the idea that something worthy should be boring, or if it is environmentally friendly, it is probably uncomfortable. This place generously exudes the reputation of luxury and expensive taste of Park Hyatt. The resort offers the ultimate Maldivian experience of turquoise and azure waters and fine white beaches, complemented by tranquil settings. Succumb to the healing sensation of holistic wellness at Park Hyatt Hadahaa, where every experience is centred on bringing your mind, body and soul towards a new equilibrium. READ FULL REVIEW

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11 Gili Lankanfushi

soneva maldives resort
Booking.com

Best Experience:   OverWater Bungalows, Honeymoon, Beaches

46 villas

Gili Lankanfushi is rated by many among the best resort in the Maldives, and with good reason. This stunning, 46-villa, eco-resort is just 20 minutes by speedboat from Male airport thriving in providing truly unpretentious, relaxed luxury. Barefoot are recommended (shoes are removed as soon as you leave the airport on the boat), and each guest is surrounded by the care of a personal butler with the title "Mr. Friday". The spacious, charmingly simple water villas are built of some types of wood and are equipped with open (and on the roof!) decks with seaviews that can evoke tears of joy. On land, a beautiful island with 683 palms offers a range of activities and an excellent dining options. This rare diamond in the Maldives is more authentic than other famous brand resorts at the same price - given the regular appearance in the Gili Lankanfushi of world celebrities. But if your own pools and air conditioning in each room are your priority, you can  READ FULL REVIEW

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12 Mirihi Island Resort

mirihi island
Booking.com

Best Experience: for Honeymoon, Beach, Value, Diving, House Reef Snorkelling

37 villas
Located on one of the smallest islands in the Maldives, Mirihi Island Resort offers 37 villas, and has its own and unique style with luxury and comfortable features that you can expect from any large 5-star resort. From a beach cinema, spa, free non-motorized water sports to a hypnotic house reef wreck diving, as well as a great selection of activities, excursions, and water sports on the island, there are many alternatives that can pull you out of bed or tear off a beach chaise longue. This tiny luxury boutique hotel with a relaxed atmosphere is ideal for couples and small groups looking for first-class food and a wide selection of wines, as well as excellent snorkeling, and a fantastic dive from more than 40 dive sites. Depending on the season, half-board and all-inclusive packages are available.  READ FULL REVIEW

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