Ellaidhoo
Maldives by Cinnamon

Ellaidhoo vs. the Field

Where this resort sits across the dimensions that matter most when choosing a Maldives property.

Choose Your Villa

Ellaidhoo keeps it straightforward — four room types across a compact 6-hectare island. Standard Rooms and Superior Ocean View Rooms sit in two-storey garden blocks, Beach Bungalows line the shore with direct reef access, and 24 Water Bungalows stretch over the lagoon with glass floor panels and open-air bathtubs. Rooms were upgraded in 2017, but this is a dive resort — functional and clean rather than designer.

Prices shown are indicative low-season per night. See the season guide in the sidebar for how rates vary by time of year. We'll confirm exact pricing for your dates.

5 Restaurants

Five dining venues across a compact island — a main buffet, an exclusive overwater restaurant for Water Bungalow guests, a poolside café, and two à la carte restaurants covering Asian and subcontinental cuisine. Three bars keep things social. All main meals are covered by the all-inclusive package.

Madi

International Buffet

Open-air buffet restaurant with live cooking stations and themed dinner nights. Sri Lankan favourites alongside global dishes, with strong vegetarian and vegan options. The all-inclusive backbone for Standard Room, Superior Room, and Beach Bungalow guests.

SettingMain restaurant · Open-air · Garden view

Our tipThe live pasta station and weekly BBQ nights are the highlights

All plans

Malamathi

Asian & Italian

Exclusive poolside restaurant for Water Bungalow guests, overlooking the infinity pool and ocean. Asian and Italian dishes with assigned seating — a more intimate alternative to the main buffet.

SettingPoolside · Water Bungalow guests only

Our tipRequest a table facing the infinity pool for sunset views

Water Bungalow

Seanic Café & Bar

À La Carte

Poolside à la carte dining with cocktails. Available as an alternative to the main buffet for meal plan guests. Casual atmosphere with views over the pool and lagoon.

SettingPoolside · Open to all guests

AI included

The Junction

Indian & Maldivian

À la carte restaurant serving Indian, Maldivian, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Sri Lankan cuisine. A genuine taste of regional flavours with authentic spicing.

SettingBeachside · Casual atmosphere

Our tipThe Sri Lankan curry is the standout — ask for extra sambol

AI included

Kaika Sushi Bar

Japanese

Specialty sushi bar with fresh catches prepared to order. A compact venue with counter-style seating — perfect for a lighter dinner alternative.

SettingBeachside · Intimate

Supplement

Dining Inclusions

Four tiers from Half Board to Premium All-Inclusive. The standard AI is excellent value — all meals, house drinks, non-motorised water sports, and snorkeling gear. Premium AI adds premium spirits, speciality coffees, and extra à la carte dining. Most guests choose All-Inclusive.

12% service charge and 16% T-GST apply to all F&B not covered by meal plans.

Your Days on the Island

Ellaidhoo is a dive-first resort — the PADI dive centre covers everything from discovery dives to advanced specialities across 50+ sites in North Ari Atoll. The house reef alone keeps snorkelers occupied for days. Green Globe certification reflects genuine environmental commitment.

House Reef & Underwater

Ellaidhoo's house reef is legendary in diving circles — a 1,600-metre coral wall encircling the entire island with six cut-out passes for easy shore entry. The reef drops vertically to 30m+ with multi-level ledges, overhangs, and caves covered in sea fans and black corals. Reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays, moray eels, Napoleon wrasse, and hundreds of tropical species are resident. Night dives reveal nurse sharks and octopus. The Dive & Sail PADI 5-Star centre covers 50+ sites including Maaya Thila and Fish Head.

PADI dive center on-site. Night snorkeling available. Marine life observations sourced from dive logs and guest reports.

Transfer from Malé

Ellaidhoo is in North Ari Atoll — two transfer options, both direct from Malé.

Resort island map — Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon

Who This Resort is For

Ellaidhoo is the resort you choose when the reef is the reason you're coming to the Maldives. The house reef is genuinely world-class — a coral wall wrapping the entire island with shore entry, reef sharks, turtles, and eagle rays visible daily. The rooms are simple but clean, the all-inclusive is solid value, and the dive centre opens up 50+ sites in one of the country's richest atolls. It won't win design awards, but underwater, it punches far above its price point.

Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon — FAQ