Originally opened in 1984, Veligandu reopened in November 2024 as a fully rebuilt 5-star property. Crown & Champa invested in 100 new villas — 47 with private pools and glass floors — plus an overwater spa, teppanyaki restaurant, and 3,003 solar panels. North Ari Atoll puts hammerheads, mantas, and whale sharks on the doorstep.
since 2020
Veligandu vs. Other Resorts
Where this resort sits across the dimensions that matter most when choosing a Maldives property.
Choose Your Villa
Veligandu's 2024 rebuild replaced every villa on the island. The 100 new rooms span four categories — from beachfront villas tucked into the tree line to overwater pool villas with glass floor panels and private infinity pools. Every villa features a king-size bed, private porch, Nespresso machine, rain shower, minibar, and 55- or 65-inch Smart TV.
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.
4 Restaurants
Veligandu's dining was completely redesigned in the 2024 rebuild. The main buffet anchors daily meals, a new teppanyaki grill brings theatrical cooking overwater, and a dedicated seafood restaurant showcases local lobster. The All-Inclusive Dine-Around package opens all venues without reservation hassle, and the Thundi bar runs snacks and cocktails from morning to midnight.
Dining Inclusions
Veligandu offers three meal plan tiers. The All-Inclusive Dine-Around is the flagship — unlimited premium drinks, full access to all specialty restaurants, complimentary water sports, spa treatments, yoga, and a local island excursion. The dine-around format eliminates reservation stress at the à la carte venues.
AI Dine Around includes: unlimited premium spirits, wines, beers, and cocktails, dine-around at Madivaru and Raalhu (20% discount on à la carte), Thundi tapas and high tea (15:00–16:30), complimentary water sports (1 hr daily: windsurfing, SUP, kayaking), group yoga sessions, local island excursion (1 per stay), intro dive for certified divers (7+ night stays), 1 × 60-min spa treatment (7–10 nights) or 2 treatments (11+ nights), 20% off additional spa treatments (first 2 days), and specialty coffees and teas throughout the day.
| Plan | Restaurants | Alcohol | Minibar | ~pp/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Board | Dhonveli buffet (B+D) | — | — | Base plan |
| Full Board | Dhonveli buffet (B+L+D) | — | — | +$60 pp/night |
| All-Inclusive Dine Around | All restaurants + Thundi tapas | 50+ wines, premium spirits, cocktails | Daily refill | Most popular |
Your Days on the Island
Veligandu's 2024 rebuild added pickleball (only the second resort in the Maldives to have it), padel tennis, and a completely new water sports centre. The North Ari Atoll location is one of the best in the Maldives for marine encounters — hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and whale sharks are all accessible from the resort's dive centre. On land, 3,003 solar panels make Veligandu the country's first solar-powered resort.
House Reef & Underwater
Shore entry from southern tip · equipment provided · guided snorkel trips
Hammerhead sharks · manta rays · whale sharks nearby · Maya Thila dive site
Veligandu's house reef wraps the eastern and southern sides of the island — the southern tip offers the best shore-entry snorkeling with direct access to the reef drop-off. The eastern side faces the open ocean and delivers the pelagic encounters: reef sharks, turtles, and occasional eagle rays along the wall. The island's North Ari Atoll location is the real asset — hammerhead sharks at Hammerhead Point, manta rays at cleaning stations (December–May), and Maya Thila (one of the world's top dive sites) are all within short boat rides.
PADI dive center on-site. Night snorkeling available. Marine life observations sourced from dive logs and guest reports.
Transfer from Malé
Veligandu is in the North Ari Atoll — a quick 20-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport. For late arrivals or budget-conscious guests, a 90-minute speedboat transfer operates day and night. A dedicated seaplane lounge with refreshments and documentation services is available for seaplane guests.
Who This Resort is For
Ideal for
- Couples and honeymooners — a romantic 100-villa island with intimate dining, overwater spa, and no kids club to dilute the atmosphere
- Divers — North Ari Atoll is world-class: hammerhead sharks at dawn, manta rays in season, Maya Thila night dives, and 18 sites within reach
- Snorkelers who want easy house reef access — shore entry from the southern tip with reef sharks, turtles, and eagle rays
- Guests wanting a freshly built resort — every villa, restaurant, and facility is brand new as of November 2024
- Eco-conscious travellers — the Maldives' first solar-powered resort with 3,003 panels and an in-house marine biologist
Consider elsewhere if
- Families with young children — children are welcome but there's no kids club, teen club, or family-specific programming
- Guests wanting a large resort with endless options — 100 villas and 4 restaurants is intimate, not sprawling; sister resort Jawakara has 290 villas and 6 restaurants
- Budget travellers — the 4-to-5-star upgrade brought 5-star pricing; Crown & Champa's Kuredu and Vilamendhoo offer more per dollar
- Guests who avoid seaplanes — the speedboat alternative is 90 minutes, which is long for a resort only 60 km from Malé
More inclusions than booking direct
Everything bundled into the package price above — taken directly from the package terms we'll honour at booking time.
- Accommodation staying at Veligandu Resort Island & Spa
- Representative of Veligandu will meet you outside the arrival gate
- Complimentary welcome drink on arrival.
- Indulge in daily breakfast served from 07:30 to 10:30, lunch from 12:30 to 14:00, and dinner from 19:00 to 21:30 at Dhonveli Restaurant.
- Casual Snack Day Menu, featuring pizzas, burgers, nibbles, and ice cream, available from 10:00 to 22:30 at the Thundi Bar.
- Discover the unlimited Dine Around Option, featuring 3-course lunch and 3-course dinner at Madivaru Silk Restaurant, and dinner at Raalhu Restaurant daily. Prior reservations are required and are subject to availability. We suggest booking your spot in advance.
- Enjoy a 20% discount on all food items at Madivaru and Raalhu Restaurant (Excluding special events).
- Guests staying four nights or more in Sunset Ocean Pool Villas, Ocean Pool Villas, 2-Bedroom Sunset Ocean Pool Villas, and 2-Bedroom Ocean Pool Villas can enjoy a one-time floating breakfast during the stay.
- Guests staying four nights or more in Sunset Ocean Villas, Ocean Jacuzzi Villas, Sunset Jacuzzi Beach Villas, Jacuzzi Beach Villas, and Beach Villas can enjoy a one-time In-Villa Breakfast experience during the stay.
- Guests staying four nights or more can enjoy a one-time beach dinner during their stay. Pre-bookings are required and subject to space availability.
- Daily High Tea, including tea, coffee and snacks, served at the Thundi Bar from 15:00 to 16:30.
- Unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are served at the Raalhu Bar from 10:00 to 23:00 and at the Thundi Bar from 08:00 until the last guest leaves the bar for the night, as follows: A diverse range of alcoholic cocktails, including our exclusive signature blends. All non-alcoholic cocktails. A variety of premium branded spirits, liqueurs, port, and sherry. An extensive wine selection of over 50 labels, combining red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. Selection of international draught beer, bottled beer, and ciders. Freshly brewed coffee, tea, iced coffee, iced tea, espresso, cappuccino, latte, and macchiato. Smoothies, Milkshakes, and Freshly Squeezed Fruit Juices. A selection of soft drinks, including Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta Orange, Sprite, Ginger Ale, Bitter Lemon, Iced Tea, Tonic, and Soda.
- Veligandu mineralized still water (1 litre bottle) and Veligandu sparkling water (1 litre bottle).
- Mini bar alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as follows: House wines (750ml) include red, white, rosé and sparkling. Bottled Beer. Bottled Spirit Selection. Soft drinks include Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta Orange, Sprite, Bitter Lemon, Tonic, and Soda. A selection of coffees (Nespresso machine) and teas. Assorted snacks. The mini bar is refilled once per day according to the regular schedule.
- Each villa receives a 750ml bottle of Champagne upon arrival.
- Each villa is entitled to one bag of laundry per stay for guests staying a minimum of 2 nights.
- Complimentary access to the Fitness Center, Pickleball Court, Paddle Tennis Court, Table Tennis, Billiards, Dart, Shuffleboard, and Foosball, with all equipment provided.
- Explore a Local Island once, during your stay, as per the regular schedule.
- Certified divers staying 7 nights or more will receive one introduction or orientation dive per stay.
- Enjoy complimentary use of the following water sports activities, with equipment provided for 1 hour daily. Basic experience is required: Windsurfing. Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). Single/Double Kayak. Two-person paddleboard. Four-person paddleboard.
- Complimentary use of snorkeling equipment throughout your stay, including snorkel fins, a mask, a snorkel, and a deluxe carrying bag for snorkeling gears.
- Complimentary group yoga sessions, including asanas and yoga Nidra, held at regularly scheduled times.
- Each adult (aged 15 years and above) is eligible for one spa treatment per stay, based on the duration of their stay: For stays of 7-10 nights, guests are entitled to one 60-minute selected spa treatment. For stays exceeding 11 nights, guests are entitled to two 60-minute selected spa treatments. Enjoy a special 20% discount from selected Spa treatments taken during the first two days of your stay.
- Honeymooners will also receive a complimentary fruit plate, bottle of sparkling wine and flowers in room. A copy of the wedding certificate will be required upon check-in.
