Snorkel one of the Maldives' most celebrated house reefs from shore, swim with whale sharks year-round in South Ari waters, and enjoy a resort that balances seclusion with family warmth.
4-Star Resort Seaplane 25 min Top-Tier House Reef All-Inclusive
Atoll
South Ari
Villas
184
Transfer
Seaplane
Transfer Cost
~$385 pp RT
Packages From
$2,449 / couple
Meal Plans
FB / AI Plus
$2,449 / couple
Save $1,150 per coupleSAVE 32%From $2,449
Get a Personalised Quote
More inclusions than direct
Opened1994Renovated2010
One of the Maldives’ best-value 4-star resorts — a 184-room island in the whale-shark heartland of South Ari Atoll with a house reef consistently rated among the finest in the country. A genuine all-inclusive with Euro-Divers PADI 5-Star diving, adults-only overwater Jacuzzi villas, and a family zone. The house reef benchmark.
261 new reviews in the past 6 months across Google, TripAdvisor & Booking.com. Average rating 4.5 / 5 from 10,479 total reviews.
+37% review volume vs. prior 6 months
50
Awards since 2010
TripAdvisor Hall of Fame
TripAdvisor
Travellers' Choice Best of Best
TripAdvisor '25
Travellers' Choice
TripAdvisor — 15 consecutive years
Guest Review Award 9.5/10
Booking.com '23
Travelife Gold
Travelife Sustainability
Best Value Resort
Maldives Travel Awards
How It Compares
Vilamendhoo vs. the Field
Where this resort sits across the dimensions that matter most when choosing a Maldives property.
BudgetUltra-Luxury
Adaaran Club
LUX* South Ari
Soneva Fushi
Vilamendhoo
LivelySecluded
Kuredu
Lily Beach
Kudadoo
Vilamendhoo
Easy AccessRemote
Gili Lankanfushi
Anantara Kihavah
Park Hyatt Hadahaa
Vilamendhoo
CouplesFamily
Komandoo
W Maldives
Siyam World
Vilamendhoo
BoutiqueLarge Resort
Makunudu (36)
Coco Bodu Hithi (100)
Meeru Island (286)
Vilamendhoo (184)
Poor ReefExceptional
Finolhu
Vilamendhoo
Vilamendhoo
Reference resorts
Accommodation
Choose Your Villa
Vilamendhoo offers 184 rooms across five categories — from garden rooms set amid tropical foliage to adults-only Jacuzzi Water Villas on stilts above the reef. The island is cleverly divided: family-friendly rooms on the eastern half, adults-only Jacuzzi villas on the western half. All rooms feature partially open-air bathrooms, king beds, and that classic Maldivian tropical aesthetic.
GardenNo pool
Garden Rooms
From
$245
50–55 sqm ·64% smaller than avg
Garden Room50 sqmNo pool$245
BeachNo pool
Beach Villas
From
$277
55 sqm ·60% smaller than avg
Adjoining Beach Villa55 sqmNo pool$277
Standalone Beach Villa55 sqmNo pool$290
JacuzziAll pool
Jacuzzi Beach Villas — Adults Only
From
$296
65 sqm ·53% smaller than avg
Jacuzzi Beach Villa65 sqmPool$296
OverwaterAll pool
Jacuzzi Water Villas — Adults Only
From
$337
85 sqm ·39% smaller than avg
Jacuzzi Water Villa85 sqmPool$337
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.
Dining
4 Restaurants
Vilamendhoo offers two buffet restaurants (guests are assigned based on room category) and two specialty venues. Funama serves all garden and beach villa guests while Ahima is the adults-only buffet for Jacuzzi villa guests. Asian Wok sits overwater with teppanyaki theatre, and Hot Rock lets you cook your own steak, seafood, or chicken on volcanic stone at the table.
Funama
International Buffet
The island's main dining hub — open-air buffets with live cooking stations, themed nights, and Sunday sparkling wine at breakfast. Assigned to Garden Room and Beach Villa guests.
SettingMain buffet restaurant in the centre of the island. Open-air, sand-floor dining with thatched roofs and live cooking stations. International and regional cuisines with Friday Maldivian themed night.
Our tipFriday Maldivian theme night is a highlight — traditional dishes and waiters in local attire.
Ahima
International Buffet
The adults-only buffet — same international quality as Funama but in a quieter, sunset-facing setting reserved for Jacuzzi villa guests.
SettingAdults-only buffet restaurant with sunset views. Same quality as Funama with a quieter, more refined atmosphere. Jacuzzi Beach and Water Villa guests.
Asian Wok
Teppanyaki
Overwater Asian dining with teppanyaki theatre — watch chefs work the grill while the Indian Ocean stretches beneath you. Sushi, sashimi, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes.
SettingOverwater restaurant on the eastern end of the island. Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese-inspired menu with a teppanyaki table seating 8 guests.
Our tipBook the teppanyaki by noon — only 8 seats and they fill fast. One complimentary meal per 5 nights for all-inclusive guests.
Hot Rock
Grill
Cook-at-your-table dining on volcanic hot rocks — choose your seafood, steak, or chicken and sear it to your liking on heated stone. A unique and interactive evening.
SettingAdults-only a la carte restaurant near the Sunset Bar pool deck. Cook your own seafood, steak, or chicken on heated volcanic stone at the table.
Our tipBook by noon on the day. The lobster option is worth the supplement.
Meal Plans
Dining Inclusions
Vilamendhoo offers Full Board as the base plan with an excellent All-Inclusive Plus upgrade. The AI Plus package is generous — unlimited drinks, daily minibar refills, sunset cruise, snorkeling lesson, windsurfing, tennis, Dhangethi Island excursion, and 20% off a la carte restaurants. Most guests book AI Plus and consider it excellent value.
AI Plus includes: unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, daily minibar refill, snack menus at bars (11 AM–10 PM), 1 half-bottle champagne per stay, 1 sunset cruise, group snorkeling lesson, group windsurfing lesson, group tennis lesson, free kayak and windsurfer use, Dhangethi Island excursion, free fitness and yoga, 20% off Asian Wok and Hot Rock food, 1 complimentary Asian Wok meal per 5 nights.
Plan
Restaurants
Alcohol
Minibar
~pp/day
Full Board
Assigned buffet (B+L+D)
—
—
Included
All-Inclusive Plus
All restaurants + snack menus
Unlimited all day
Daily refill
+$70
Full BoardIncluded
Assigned buffet (B+L+D)
Alcohol —Minibar —
All-Inclusive Plus+$70 pp/day
All restaurants + snack menus
Alcohol Unlimited all dayMinibar Daily refill
Experiences & Activities
Your Days on the Island
Vilamendhoo balances reef-based experiences with enough land activities to fill a week. The Euro-Divers PADI 5-Star centre runs whale shark and manta ray excursions in the species-rich waters of South Ari Atoll, while the Manta Trust marine biology centre offers guest workshops. On land: two pools, tennis, mini golf, yoga, and a Duniye Spa with overwater treatment rooms.
Whale shark excursionsYear-round trips to Maamigili Marine Protected Area
Manta ray excursionsPeak season June–October at nearby cleaning stations
Night snorkelingGuided torch-lit house reef tours · see sleeping turtles and hunting jackfish
Fluorescent (fluo) night snorkelingSee reef creatures glow under UV light
Windsurfing (complimentary with AI Plus)
Kayaking (complimentary with AI Plus)
Stand-up paddleboarding
Catamaran sailing
Jet ski & wakeboarding
One of the Maldives' finest house reefs. Vilamendhoo's fringing reef encircles the entire island with 12 entry channels and 10 marked snorkel trails. The dramatic drop-off at the reef edge attracts blacktip sharks, eagle rays, hawksbill turtles, and 150+ fish species — all accessible directly from shore. Nearby South Ari waters offer year-round whale shark and manta ray encounters.
Excursions & Experiences
Whale sharks, Manta Trust, sunset cruises
Sunset cruiseComplimentary with AI Plus — 1 per stay
Dhangethi Island excursionLocal island visit — complimentary with AI Plus
Manta Trust marine biology centreOn-site research centre with guest workshops and presentations
Gomafulhu yacht excursionsTraditional wooden motor yacht for private cruises and Ocean Discovery day trip
Coral planting programmeParticipate in reef restoration — 2 active stations showing growth
Vilamendhoo's house reef is consistently rated among the finest in the Maldives. A fringing reef encircles the entire island with 12 designated entry channels and 10 marked snorkel trails through the shallow lagoon to the outer reef edge. The dramatic drop-off plunges into deep blue and attracts blacktip reef sharks, eagle rays in groups of 6–10, hawksbill sea turtles, and 150+ fish species. Nearby South Ari Atoll waters provide year-round whale shark and manta ray encounters.
Regularly spotted here (+8)
Reef Sharks
Blacktip and whitetip reef sharks — many juveniles on the flat, adults on the drop-off, nurse sharks on night dives
Sea Turtles
Hawksbill turtles found all around the island — regular sightings on every snorkel
Stingrays
Spotted eagle rays often in groups of 6–10 along the outer reef edge
Tropical Reef Fish
150+ species — anemonefish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, angelfish, lionfish, triggerfish
Octopus
Spotted on reef dives and night snorkeling trips
Dolphins
Spinner dolphins on sunset cruises — regular sightings
Whale Sharks
Year-round in nearby South Ari waters — excursion trips to Maamigili Marine Protected Area
Manta Rays
Peak season June–October at nearby cleaning stations
PADI dive center on-site. Night snorkeling available. Marine life observations sourced from dive logs and guest reports.
Getting There
Transfer from Malé
Vilamendhoo is in the South Ari Atoll — a scenic 25-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport. Trans Maldivian Airways operates the service during daylight hours. The seaplane counter is at B9.
Seaplane Direct
Seaplane
Direct from Male · ~25 min · Daylight only
~$385 pp roundtrip
Seaplane operates daylight hours only. Late arrivals may require an airport hotel overnight. Children under 2 fly free. We arrange all transfers.
Resort island map — Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa
Our Take
Who This Resort is For
Ideal for
Snorkeling enthusiasts — one of the top 5 house reefs in the Maldives, accessible directly from shore with 150+ species
Whale shark seekers — South Ari Atoll is the world's most reliable year-round whale shark destination
Couples wanting adults-only luxury at 4-star prices — Jacuzzi Water Villas are overwater with reef access from $337/night
Divers — Euro-Divers PADI 5-Star with 40-50+ dive sites, complimentary Nitrox, and Manta Trust on-site
Value-conscious travellers — genuine all-inclusive package with unlimited drinks, sunset cruise, and water sports at mid-range pricing
Consider elsewhere if
Ultra-luxury seekers — this is a well-run 4-star, not a design-forward 5-star; rooms are comfortable but practical
Those wanting a large resort buzz — 184 rooms with dual zones means a quieter, more relaxed pace than Kuredu or Meeru
Families wanting dedicated kids facilities — there is no kids club; family amenities are limited to a pool, playground, and babysitting
Private pool villa seekers — no room category has a private pool; Jacuzzi villas are the premium tier
Season & Pricing Guide
Dec 20 – Jan 10Peak · Highest rates
Jan 11 – Mar 31High · +25–40%
Apr 1 – Jun 30Shoulder · +10–15%
Jul 1 – Dec 19Low · Best value
Peak season fills 4+ months ahead. Shoulder season offers the best balance of weather, price and availability.
Why Book Through Lux Atolls
More Inclusions, More Maldives
What you get booking with us vs. going direct or through an OTA
Book with Lux Atolls
Best rate guarantee — avg. 11% below OTAs
Complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability)
Welcome bottle of champagne on arrival
One complimentary 60-min couples spa treatment
Early check-in / late checkout (subject to availability)
Personal trip advisor — villa matching, transfers, meal plan guidance
Direct resort relationship — we resolve issues in real time
Book Through Others
Standard rack rate
Room type as booked — no upgrades
No welcome amenities
No spa inclusions
Standard check-in/out times
Generic customer support
No direct resort contact
Frequently Asked Questions
Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa — FAQ
Does Vilamendhoo have a good house reef?
Yes — rated among the top house reefs in the Maldives. The reef is accessible from multiple shore entry points with healthy coral, reef sharks, turtles, rays, and abundant tropical fish. Many guests visit Vilamendhoo specifically for the snorkelling.
Is Vilamendhoo all-inclusive?
Vilamendhoo offers multiple meal plans including all-inclusive. The AI plan covers meals at both restaurants, drinks, and selected water sports. It is a mid-range resort offering excellent value for money in South Ari Atoll.
How do you get to Vilamendhoo?
A 25-minute seaplane from Male to South Ari Atoll. Seaplanes operate during daylight hours only. The resort has around 184 rooms across beach and overwater categories.
Is Vilamendhoo good for diving?
Excellent. South Ari Atoll is one of the best diving regions in the Maldives with year-round whale shark sightings, manta rays, and healthy reefs. The resort has a PADI dive centre and runs daily trips to nearby sites.
Can you see whale sharks at Vilamendhoo?
Yes. South Ari Atoll is the most reliable location in the Maldives for whale shark sightings year-round. The resort runs dedicated whale shark snorkelling excursions to nearby sites where these gentle giants feed on plankton.
Packages From
$2,449 / couple
5 nights · Garden Villa · All-Inclusive Plus · Return seaplane transfers
Quote Request Sent
We'll reply within 4 hours with a personalised itinerary and exact pricing.
Lux Partner Rate
Save $1,150 per couple
5 nights in a Garden Villa with All-Inclusive Plus (all meals, unlimited drinks, snacks). Euro-Divers PADI centre on-site. Upgrade to Jacuzzi Beach Villa from $2,959 or Jacuzzi Water Villa from $3,369 per couple. Seaplane transfers ~$769 extra.
