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Sea and islands · The Maldives
Staying in an overwater villa
The defining Maldives experience: wake to the ocean and step from your deck straight into the lagoon.
The Maldives
The experience
Overwater villas are the defining Maldives experience. They stand on stilts above the turquoise lagoon, reached by a wooden walkway from the island, each with a private deck and steps straight into the water, so you swim among reef fish from your own terrace.
Many newer villas have a private pool, some have glass floor panels over the lagoon or a slide into the water. You choose between a calm sunrise view and the sunset view that honeymooners prefer.
Families have options too: two-bedroom water villas, or a beach villa for the children next to an overwater villa. For small children we recommend beach pool villas, since the deep water beneath water villas needs constant care.
We help you choose by privacy, distance from the restaurants and water depth, and ask the resort to provide a prayer mat and the qibla direction.
Where to stay
Stays close by
Private island
North Malé Atoll
One&Only Reethi Rah
Beach and water villas on a green island with many beaches, a speedboat ride from Malé.
Price on requestExplore
Private island
South Malé Atoll
Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort
Beach and overwater villas facing sunrise or sunset, a kids' club and family pool villas, a short boat ride from Malé.
Price on requestExplore
Private island
Baa Atoll
Soneva Fushi
Spacious villas and residences in the forest, on the beach and over the water, with an observatory and a children's den, near Hanifaru Bay.
Price on requestExplore
The Maldives
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Swimming with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay
In the south-west monsoon, manta rays gather by the hundred in a small bay in Baa Atoll, and you snorkel beside them.
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Dining beneath the sea
A meal in a glass restaurant five metres beneath the surface, surrounded by the reef and its fish.
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Sea and islands
Whale sharks in South Ari
Snorkelling beside the largest fish in the world, in a protected area whale sharks visit all year.
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