Vilamendhoo Maldives 2026 — Whale Sharks & House Reef 9.2/10

Opened 1994 · Renovated 2010

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.

01 Villas· 02 Dining· 03 Inclusions· 04 Activities· 05 Reef· 06 Transfer· 07 Verdict·08 FAQ

Lux Pulse™Updated Aug 14, 2026How we score

Excellent & Consistent

303 new reviews in the past 6 months across Google, TripAdvisor & Booking.com. Average rating 4.5 / 5 from 10,686 total reviews.

+2% review volume vs. prior 6 months

How we score

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. Other Resorts

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

Reference resorts

@vilamendhoo34.2K followers

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 · 62% smaller than avg

Garden Room50 sqmNo pool$245

BeachNo pool

Beach Villas

From

55 sqm · 58% smaller than avg

Adjoining Beach Villa55 sqmNo pool$2

Standalone Beach Villa55 sqmNo pool$2

BeachAll pool

Jacuzzi Beach Villas — Adults Only

From

65 sqm · 50% smaller than avg

Jacuzzi Beach Villa65 sqmPool$2

OverwaterAll pool

Jacuzzi Water Villas — Adults Only

From

85 sqm · 35% smaller than avg

Jacuzzi Water Villa85 sqmPool$3

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.

Packages From Get your secret price

$2,199 / couple

5 nights · Tropical Villa · Full Board · Transfers extra

Check-in

Check-out

Adults

Children

Preferred room type

Lux Partner Rate

Save $2,400 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.

From $2,199 $4,599 SAVE 52%

View full list of inclusions →

More inclusions than booking direct

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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.

Similar Resorts

Kuredu Island Resort

Lhaviyani · Same brand

SPECIAL $1,589 / 5 nights

Meeru Island Resort

North Male · Same brand

SPECIAL $2,129 / 5 nights

Dusit Thani Maldives

Baa · Great reef

From $450 /night

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.

Our tipOnly Jacuzzi villa guests eat here - check your category before you arrive.

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

AlcoholUnlimited all dayMinibarDaily 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.

Water & Marine

Euro-Divers PADI 5-Star, whale sharks, house reef

House reef snorkelingShore entry · 12 channels · 10 marked trails · unlimited access

Euro-Divers PADI 5-Star centre40-50+ dive sites · complimentary 32% Nitrox · beginner to advanced

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

Fishing trips

Movie nights & themed dinners

Live music & DJ nights

Spa & Wellness

Duniye Spa overwater, yoga, Healing Earth products

Duniye SpaAward-winning overwater spa · Healing Earth & PURE products · 10 AM–8 PM

Heaven on Earth treatment90 min signature ritual with Tibetan singing bowls — $149

Maldivian Serenity Ritual120 min coconut-based body scrub, massage, hair treatment — $194

Group yoga sessionsComplimentary · Pranayama, Asanas, Yoga Nidra

Fitness centreFully equipped · 6 AM–8 PM · complimentary

Two swimming poolsAdults-only infinity pool (west) + family pool with Boashi bar (east)

Sports & Recreation

Tennis, mini golf, volleyball, table tennis

Tennis courtEquipment and lessons complimentary with AI Plus

Beach volleyball

Badminton

Table tennis & ping-pong

Billiards & snooker

Darts

Football

Mini golf / putting green

Family & Kids

Children's pool, playground, babysitting

Children's pool & playgroundNear family pool area on the east side

Babysitting availableAdditional charge · advance booking recommended

Kids TV channels in rooms

Family-friendly room categoriesGarden Rooms, Adjoining Beach Villas, Standalone Beach Villas — max 2 adults + 2 children

Snorkeling & Marine Life

House Reef & Underwater

9.2

Exceptional House Reef

Lux Atolls Reef Score · top 5% of Maldives resorts

Shore entry · 12 channels · 10 marked trails · unlimited access

150+ species · blacktip sharks · eagle rays · turtles · whale sharks nearby

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.

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

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

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

Lux Special Inclusions

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 Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa
Breakfast (07h30 – 10h00), lunch (12:30 – 14h00), and dinner (19:00 – 21h00) is served in Funama Restaurant for guests staying in the Garden Rooms and the Beach Villas, while Ahima Restaurant is for guests staying in the Jacuzzi Beach Villas and Jacuzzi Water Villas, both feature ‘all you can eat’ buffets with a variety of menus to please everyone’s taste.
Snack Day and after hours Menu, served at the Bonthi Bar and Sunset Bar from 11:00 – 22:00
A 20% discount on all food items from Asian Wok menu or at the Hot Rock (not valid for special events and teppanyaki)Dine Around Option of one 3-course set menu for Lunch and Dinner in the Asian Wok (pre-booking required and are subject to space availability)
Unlimited ‘all you can eat’ special snack menu including pizzas and burgers from 10:00 – 19:00, served in Bonthi Bar and Sunset Bar, Ice cream can be enjoyed at Boashi Bar.
Unlimited ‘all you can drink’ alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages ‘all day and night’, as follows: - Vilamendhoo bottled water - non-carbonated, house brand, Soft drinks, Fruit juice - packaged, Draught beer, Coffee, tea, iced coffee, iced tea, espresso, cappuccino, latté, macchiato and hot chocolate, Milkshakes and Smoothies, House Wine - red, white and rosé, House Spirits - gin, vodka, rum, whisky, tequila and brandy, The cocktails and mocktail selection are served with house brand ingredients
Minibar - A selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and snacks: Vilamendhoo bottled water – non carbonated, house brand (2 x 1 litre), Soft drinks, Juice, Beer, Wine - red, white and rosé, Coffee, tea, iced coffee and iced tea, Assorted snacks.
The minibar is refilled once per day on a regular schedule
One 1/2 bottle of Champagne, per room, per length of stay.
One Sunset Cruise, as per schedule.
One 1/2-hour Group Snorkeling Lesson (equipment not included), as per schedule.
One Dhangethi Island Excursion, as per schedule.
One 1/2-hour Group Windsurf Lesson (equipment included), as per schedule.
One 1/2-hour Group Tennis Lesson (equipment included), as per schedule.
Free use of the fitness centre, daytime use of the tennis, volleyball and badminton courts, table tennis, billiards, snooker, darts and football grounds (equipment included).
Free use of the kayaks and windsurfers (equipment included).
Free Yoga Session in Duniye Spa: group sessions, as per schedule; includes Pranayama, Asanas and Yoga Nidra.
A 20% discount from selected spa treatments taken during the first two days of the guest stay (not all treatments are entitled for this discount. Subject to space availability).
Honeymooners will also receive Complimentary selection of chocolates, selection of chocolates, bottle of sparkling wine and bed decoration with local flowers *A copy of the wedding certificate will be required upon check-in. Honeymoon Benefits are subject to Change

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

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.

Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa

Vilamendhoo vs. Other Resorts

Choose Your Villa

4 Restaurants

Dining Inclusions

Your Days on the Island

House Reef & Underwater

Shore entry · 12 channels · 10 marked trails · unlimited access

Transfer from Malé

Who This Resort is For

Ideal for

Consider elsewhere if

More inclusions than booking direct

More Than Just a Booking

Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa — FAQ

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