Slip from your suite's private pool into the lagoon breeze, dine Japanese at Yu Hi and fusion at Krystal, then carry a nightcap onto the Paradise bar's deck — room service runs 24 hours.
5-Star Resort Flight + Boat 60 min 72 Overwater Suites
The polished half of RIU's twin pair: 176 suites on Kedhigandu, all 40 sqm or more, 72 over the lagoon and 36 with private pools. All Inclusive 24 is the only board basis, while the kids club and louder animation stay a walkway away on Riu Atoll. Club-class RIU, not boutique luxury.
Where this resort sits across the dimensions that matter most when choosing a Maldives property.
BudgetUltra-Luxury
Riu Atoll
Niyama
St. Regis Vommuli
Riu Palace
LivelySecluded
Riu Atoll
Baglioni
Soneva Fushi
Riu Palace
Easy AccessRemote
Kurumba
Niyama
Park Hyatt Hadahaa
Riu Palace
CouplesFamily
Komandoo
Riu Atoll
Siyam World
Riu Palace
BoutiqueLarge Resort
Makunudu (36)
Coco Bodu Hithi (100)
Riu Atoll (264)
Riu Palace (176)
Poor ReefExceptional
Riu Atoll
Baglioni
Riu Palace
Riu Palace
Reference resorts
Accommodation
Choose Your Villa
All 176 keys are suites of 40 sqm or more, split evenly between the beach and the lagoon. On land, junior suites sit either garden-side or right on the sand; over the water, 36 suites open straight onto the lagoon and another 36 add a private pool on the deck — the category that sells the island.
BeachNo pool
Beach Junior Suites
From
$494
40 sqm ·70% smaller than avg
Junior Suite Ocean View40 sqmNo pool$494
Junior Suite with Beach Access40 sqmNo pool$5••
Overwater1 of 2
Overwater Suites
From
$7••
47–60 sqm ·59% smaller than avg
Suite - Overwater47 sqmNo pool$7••
Suite with Private Pool - Overwater60 sqmPool$8••
Not sure which villa is right? We'll match you based on your group size, budget and priorities.
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.
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Dining
5 Restaurants & 4 Bars
RIU counts five restaurants in the Palace's dining line-up: the Palm buffet, fusion Krystal and Japanese Yu Hi here on Kedhigandu, plus Italian Sofia and the Beef Steak House across the walkway on Riu Atoll, alongside four bars crowned by the overwater Paradise.
Palm
International
The Palace's own buffet, a calmer room than its Riu Atoll counterpart, with live cooking stations at every service, a broad breakfast spread and themed evenings through the week.
SettingMain restaurant · All meals
Our tipThemed dinner evenings rotate through the week — ask at check-in
Krystal
Fusion
RIU's white-tablecloth fusion concept — the chain's most refined dining room, plating contemporary European-Asian courses à la carte. Reservation required.
SettingÀ la carte · Dinner only
Our tipTables go two days ahead — missed bookings count as used, so cancel early
Yu Hi
Japanese
Japanese à la carte by the beach — sushi, sashimi and hot mains without a yen of supplement. The five-star exclusive: only Palace guests can book it.
SettingBeachside · Dinner only
Our tipPalace-exclusive — Riu Atoll guests can't book it, so tables are easier
Sofia
Italian
RIU's signature Italian, across the walkway on Riu Atoll and part of the Palace's five-restaurant line-up — à la carte mains beside a self-serve antipasti and dessert buffet. Reservation-only.
SettingOn Riu Atoll · À la carte · Dinner
Our tipBook the cross-island venues at check-in — missed bookings count as used
Beef Steak House
Steakhouse
The twin islands' grill room, a walkway stroll or buggy hop from the Palace: steaks and sides à la carte at dinner, plus a late continental breakfast for anyone on holiday time.
SettingOn Riu Atoll · Grill & late breakfast
Our tipThe late breakfast is the lie-in move — a buggy ride from the Palace
Paradise
Cocktails
RIU bills Paradise as its overwater bar: a deck reaching over the lagoon beside the infinity pool at the main complex, pointed straight at the horizon. The natural bookend to a Krystal or Yu Hi dinner.
SettingPoolside · Overwater deck
Our tipThe deck over the lagoon edge is the sunset seat — arrive before the light goes
Pool Bar
Pool Bar
Swim-up service on the infinity pool through the day — cocktails, smoothies and snacks without leaving the water.
SettingPoolside · Swim-up
Our tipOrder without leaving the infinity pool — service runs through the day
Sports Bar
Sports Bar
Screens, snacks and the late-night pour — the Palace's own corner of the All Inclusive 24 concept, air-conditioned.
SettingIndoor · Late hours
Our tipThe late-night snack stop once the restaurants close
Lounge Bar
Cocktails
The indoor evening lounge with table service, softer music and the nightly live act or DJ set — a mellower counterpoint to Riu Atoll's Boduberu.
SettingLounge · Evenings
Our tipThe quiet corner while the nightly live set plays
Meal Plans
Dining Inclusions
All Inclusive 24, Palace grade — one plan across both islands. One wristband, no bill.
Plan
Restaurants
Alcohol
Minibar
~pp/day
All Inclusive 24
All 5 restaurants across both islands · 7 bars
Premium
Daily
Included
All Inclusive 24Included
All 5 restaurants across both islands · 7 bars
AlcoholPremiumMinibarDaily
Meal plan prices are a guide only — generally an average across the year. Resorts can change them at any time, they often vary by season, and a plan sold in one season may not be offered in another. We'll confirm what's available and the exact price for your dates.
Experiences & Activities
Your Days on the Island
The Palace day runs at a gentler rhythm: RiuFit classes and a daytime adults' entertainment programme, free kayaks, SUP boards and snorkel gear from the water-sports centre, Renova Spa treatments in the palm grove, and the full Riu Atoll facility list — gym included — a boardwalk stroll or buggy ride away.
Water Sports & Diving
Free non-motorised water sports · PADI school · lagoon snorkelling
Snorkelling gearLagoon zone off the water-sports centre
Kayaks, SUP boards & pedaloesComplimentary
Scuba try-out in the poolOne free session per stay
Scuba Caribe dive school (PADI)RIU’s dive partner · courses and guided Dhaalu trips · extra cost
Snorkelling from the overwater suitesRays and reef fish under the jetty at first light
Guided snorkelling boat tripsOuter-reef runs bookable at the excursion desk
Snorkelling the suite jetty at first lightRays work the sand flats under the walkways at dawn
The Lagoon Commute. The 800-metre walkway between the two islands doubles as the best free wildlife platform on the property — juvenile blacktip sharks, rays and shoals of needlefish patrol beneath it at all hours.
Excursions & Cruises
Sunset cruises · dolphins · Kudahuvadhoo local island
Sunset cruiseSpinner dolphins ride the bow through Dhaalu's channels
Dolphin watching trips
Local island visitKudahuvadhoo · 15 min by boat
Sandbank photo stops
Traditional line fishingEvening hand-line sessions
Boardwalk to Riu Atoll800 m over the lagoon · buggy shuttle for the lazy leg back
Spa & Wellness
Renova Spa & Wellness · yoga sessions · RiuFit
Renova Spa & Wellness centreMassages and beauty treatments · extra cost
Adults' daytime programme · infinity pool · nightly live music
Infinity pool with swim-up barChildren's pool alongside
Daytime entertainment programme for adultsLower-key than Riu Atoll's — quizzes, aqua fit, mixology
Live music or DJ nightlyIn the Lounge Bar
24-hour room serviceIncluded — rare at any Maldives price point
Beach volleyball on Riu Atoll
Boutique & shops
Boutique & shops
Kids & Family
Children welcome · RiuLand kids club across the walkway
RiuLand kids clubOn Riu Atoll · ages 4–7 and 8–12 · 6 days a week · free
Children's poolBeside the Palace infinity pool
Children's playgroundOn the Riu Atoll side
High chairs & cotsOn request · no charge
Family suitesJunior suites take 2 adults + 2 children
Resort Facilities
What's on the Island
Checked against the resort's own information. If something you need isn't listed, ask us before you book.
Dive centre
Spa
Gym
Yoga
Kids club
Family & Kids
Family-Friendly Features
Families split the twin islands by mood: mornings at the Palace children's pool or spotting baby sharks from the walkway, afternoons at RiuLand and the playground on Riu Atoll (ages 4–7 and 8–12, free, six days a week), evenings back on the quiet side for an à la carte dinner the kids sleep through. Cots and high chairs cost nothing, and the all-inclusive means ice-cream diplomacy is always affordable.
RiuLand (on Riu Atoll)
Ages 4-12 · 6 days a week
Shallow Lagoon
Calm, shallow water safe for young children
–
Highlights for Kids
Boardwalk shark-spotting walksChildren's poolRiuLand across the walkwayBuggy rides between islands
Family Villa Options
Junior Suite Ocean View (2 adults + 2 children)
Snorkeling & Marine Life
House Reef & Underwater
6.5
Good House Reef
Lux Atolls Reef Score · solid for a lagoon island
Lagoon entry · calm, shallow water · life concentrates under the jetties
Rays under the suites at dawn · Juvenile blacktips off the walkway · Glass-clear lagoon
Kedhigandu shares Maafushi's geography: a flat island inside a huge, calm lagoon, ringed by sand rather than a snorkel-from-shore coral wall. The compensation is life in the shallows — rays, juvenile blacktip sharks and needlefish work the water beneath the overwater suites and the connecting walkway, and the water clarity across the lagoon is exceptional. For coral density, join the guided boat runs to outer Dhaalu reefs or the PADI school's dhoni trips to Dhaalu's channels and thilas.
PADI dive center on-site. Night snorkeling available. Marine life observations sourced from dive logs and guest reports.
Regularly spotted here (+6)
Stingrays
Regulars beneath the overwater suites, especially at first light
Reef Sharks
Juvenile blacktips patrol the walkway pilings
Sea Turtles
Occasional in the lagoon; reliable on outer-reef boat trips
Tropical Reef Fish
Needlefish, parrotfish and fusiliers around the jetty structures
Dolphins
Spinners on the sunset cruise routes
Eagle Rays
On Dhaalu channel dives — bookable through the PADI school
Not typical at this reef (−2)
Manta Rays
Occasional in Dhaalu — Baa Atoll is the reliable aggregation
Whale Sharks
Not common in Dhaalu — South Ari is the reliable spot
Getting There
Transfer from Malé
A 45-minute domestic flight from Velana International Airport to Kudahuvadhoo Airport, followed by a 15-minute speedboat to Kedhigandu. Return cost is USD 395 per adult and USD 352 per child (2–11) including both legs and taxes. A seaplane routing is also offered at USD 776 per adult return, and RIU runs seasonal free-domestic-transfer promotions on stays of 4 nights or more.
Domestic flights operate into the evening, so late arrivals connect the same day. Seasonal promotions often waive the domestic transfer on 4+ night stays.
Resort island map — Riu Palace Maldivas
Our Take
Who This Resort is For
Reviewed by Tym Lewtak, founder of LuxAtolls·Updated Sep 27, 2026
Riu Palace Maldivas is the rare Maldives 5-star where the headline price is close to the final bill: à la carte restaurants, an overwater bar, international drinks and even 24-hour room service sit inside All Inclusive 24. The suites are compact by top-tier standards but every one tops 40 sqm, and the private-pool overwater category is genuine luxury at a package price. It trades boutique intimacy for polished, predictable comfort — exactly the deal Palace-brand guests are looking for.
Ideal for
Couples who want overwater-suite luxury with a fixed bill — a 60 sqm private-pool suite plus à la carte Japanese, fusion dining and 24-hour room service, all inside one all-inclusive price
RIU and Palace-brand loyalists — the formula from Cancún and Cape Verde translated to a genuinely spectacular lagoon, with the brand's best dining line-up
Two-centre families — parents get the calmer island and grown-up dining, kids keep RiuLand and the playground one boardwalk away
Travellers comparing against $1,000+ overwater resorts — Palace undercuts most 5-star overwater stock while bundling what others charge as extras
Consider elsewhere if
Boutique-luxury purists — 176 suites, buffet mornings and wristbands are still a resort operation, not Soneva-style barefoot romance
House-reef snorkellers — the lagoon is sand-bottomed and serene; coral means a boat trip
Guests who never want to see the livelier twin — the walkway brings Riu Atoll's animation within earshot of the connecting jetty
Adults-only seekers — children are welcome throughout the Palace
Why Book Through Lux Atolls
More Than Just a Booking
What you get with us vs. booking direct or through a generic OTA
Book with Lux Atolls
Best rate guarantee on partner resorts — we match or beat what you find elsewhere
Exclusive package inclusions negotiated through our direct resort relationships
Transparent pricing — transfers, taxes, and meal plans quoted upfront, no hidden fees
Personal trip advisor — villa matching, meal plan guidance, and honest recommendations
Maldives-only expertise — we know every reef, transfer route, and seasonal sweet spot
Direct resort contact — if something needs fixing, we call the GM, not a call centre
No booking fees, no hidden charges — the price we quote is the price you pay
Book Through Others
Published rack rate — no negotiated extras
No package inclusions beyond the standard rate
Transfer costs and taxes added at checkout
Generic customer support with no local knowledge
One-size-fits-all recommendations across dozens of destinations
Issues routed through a ticketing system, not a person
Hidden fees and service charges added late in the process
Frequently Asked Questions
Riu Palace Maldivas — FAQ
Is Riu Palace Maldivas all-inclusive only?
Yes — every stay runs on All Inclusive 24, across both islands. There is no cheaper board basis to downgrade to.
How do you get to Riu Palace Maldivas?
A 45-minute domestic flight from Velana International Airport to Kudahuvadhoo, then a 15-minute speedboat — USD 395 per adult and USD 352 per child (2–11) round trip including taxes. A seaplane option runs USD 776 return, and stays of 4+ nights often qualify for RIU's free-domestic-transfer promotions. Domestic flights run into the evening, so most arrivals connect the same day.
Can Riu Palace guests use Riu Atoll, and vice versa?
Palace guests get the run of both islands — Sofia, the Beef Steak House, bars and facilities on Riu Atoll are all open to them via the 800 m walkway or buggy shuttle. It does not work in reverse: Riu Atoll guests cannot use the Palace's restaurants, bars or pool. That one-way privilege is the main thing the 5-star price buys.
Are children allowed at Riu Palace Maldivas?
Yes — the Palace is family-friendly, with a children's pool beside the infinity pool, cots and high chairs on request, and junior suites sleeping two adults plus two children. The RiuLand kids club (ages 4–7 and 8–12, six days a week) sits across the walkway on Riu Atoll.
Which overwater suite should you book at Riu Palace Maldivas?
The 47 sqm Overwater Suite (from about $790) buys the lagoon-over-the-deck experience; the 60 sqm Overwater Suite with Private Pool (from about $890) adds the plunge pool and the extra living space. The pool category is the island's signature and books out first in the December–April high season.
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