Overwater Escapism in the Maldives

A taste of exquisite seclusion and unrivalled exclusivity awaits in the Maldives. These ethereal white beaches, punctuated by palms, feel as though plucked from another world: jewel-like archipelagos, atolls and private islands, home to impossibly vibrant coral reefs, extinct volcanoes and innumerable miles of dramatic shoreline licked away by the technicolour blues of the Indian Ocean.

With all those dreamy romantic villas hovering over water, the Maldives is a perfect choice for honeymoons, but equally, we find that families love it for the balance of spa-like calm, watersports and wildlife activities. At 360 Private Travel, we have our favourite resorts, of course, but here, we stride a few sandy footsteps further, to show you what we believe are some of the most impressive overwater villas, everywhere from remote atolls fine-tuned for wellness to delightful art-filled islands just a quick seaplane flight from Malé.

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Wellness & Renewal

The Water Villa at COMO Maalifushi

The Water Villas at COMO Maalifushi hover above the shimmering shallows of the remote Thaa Atoll, where vibrant coral gardens (beneficiaries of impressive sustainability initiatives) hide rich marine life, steps from ivory beaches. We love these villas because each is perfectly placed for privacy, bright and spacious, with a sunny deck and cabana, a plunge pool by the water, and steps leading directly into the warm blue water. Interiors are chic, defined by teak, stone, and soft linens, and an overall design philosophy that’s restrained enough to echo COMO’s usual minimalist, wellness-tuned aesthetics, while providing an abundance of amenities. At dawn, light floods through floor-to-ceiling windows, while evenings invite lingering in the sunken bath with unobstructed horizon views.

The resort has a range of dining options, of which our favourite is Tai, a Japanese restaurant, serving sustainably sourced seafood, but there are lashings of private space to take advantage of, so you could also opt for a private dinner on a hidden beach, a private island or on your deck, just as the sun sets. COMO Maalifushi has one of the largest iterations of the renowned COMO Shambhala spa, with visiting therapists from a range of disciplines, as well as treatments and activities best enjoyed in the idyllic overwater therapy suites.

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Wildlife & Watersports

The Sunset Laamu Water Villa with Pool at Six Senses Laamu

Olhueveli, home to Six Senses Laamu, is a lush island in the Laamu Atoll, with chic barefoot properties placed within jungle-like enclaves and over the impossible blues that wash over its powdery sands. Reached by a scenic flight and a short speedboat ride, its wooden jetties stretch across crystal shallows leading to some of the Maldives’ most beautiful villas. But our choice, suspended above a palette of Maldivian blues, is the Sunset Laamu Water Villa with Pool, featuring a private infinity pool and a glass bathtub set over the water, perfect for spotting marine life with little effort. Inside, the design echoes the resort’s eco-conscious ethos with sustainably sourced materials in sun-blushed tones. Climb the stairs to the treehouse deck in the evening, and you’ll find the villa is ideally placed for those Instagrammable apricot sunsets over the Indian Ocean.

This island paradise can be as active or as relaxing as you like, with catamaran sailing and surfing the famous Yin Yangs break, a short boat trip away, or you can indulge in Ayurvedic treatments and regional rejuvenation therapies in the spa. The sunsets continue with sunset cruises to spot dolphins from a traditional dhoni boat, or you can head underwater to explore the vibrant sea life.

 

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Space & Seclusion

The King Grand Reef Villa with Pool at Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi

Yacht transfers to the Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi take around 45 minutes from Malé and, such is the level of service, are scheduled to coincide with guests’ flight arrivals, making it wonderfully convenient. Set across three private islands across the South Malé Atoll, the resort is all glossy white sands and waters so blue they look almost unreal. The villas are exceptional, straddling lagoons and linking the islands like necklaces. Our preference is the exceptional King Grand Reef Villa with Pool, a sprawling sanctuary suspended over the lagoon, with soaring ceilings, soft neutral tones, and artisanal craftsmanship that create a tranquil, airy atmosphere. Floor-to-ceiling glass opens onto a large terrace with an infinity pool and steps disappearing into the sea. A spacious outdoor dining area sets the stage for romantic dinners, while the bathroom is finished with an outdoor shower and a luxurious deep stone soaking tub with sublime sea views.

Days at the Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi unfold with sunrise yoga over the water, snorkelling with reef fish, or lounging at one of 11 restaurants and bars, and there’s more than enough space in your villa for private dinners with the family, too, should you wish.

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Romance and Indulgence

The Water Villa with Pool at One&Only Reethi Rah

The water at One&Only Reethi Rah is an ethereal, shimmering turquoise, and this villa, the Water Villa with Pool, is one of the best ways to experience it. The resort needs little introduction, as one of the Maldives’ most iconic luxury escapes, defining private-island chic with villas embraced by lush foliage, set on miles of white sands, and hovering above stunning aquas. The overwater villas are among the largest in the Indian Ocean, gracefully posed above the lagoon in such a way as to blur the boundary between sea and sanctuary.

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Our pick, the Water Villa with Pool, exemplifies the resort’s luxuries, with an expansive deck suspended above the lagoon, netted hammocks hovering above the water and an attractive infinity pool glimmering at the edge. Interiors are refined and stylish, but the vaulted ceilings and vast windows framing panoramic ocean views bring a deep sense of calm.

Days at One&Only Reethi Rah begin with explorations of the island’s 12 secret beaches, while evenings are perhaps best spent exploring the romantic private dining options: from candlelit treehouses in the forest to intimate tables for two, elevated above the northern edge of the island, with stunning ocean views. The award-winning One&Only Spa by ESPA is a space for everything from overwater yoga and fitness classes on the beach to bespoke wellness treatments with visiting practitioners.

Style & Celebration

The Rockstar Suite at Finolhu

The Rockstar Suite at Finolhu is really quite special. You’ll reach it, at the very end of the jetty, via a personal buggy that has the looks of a dainty silver Bentley, and on entrance, you’ll be met by a bright living space that opens to a sprawling deck with a pool stretching towards the ocean, along with various lounge areas. In the living area, there’s a private bar with a huge disco ball glittering above, inviting celebration, and there are tasteful colour pops recalling the surrounding sea and sunsets. There’s enough space for either 6 adults or 4 adults and 4 children, and there are two bedrooms, one on either side of the living space, with private access to the deck. The bathrooms are spacious and chic, with indoor and outdoor showers, large bathtubs and lashings of wardrobe and storage space, making Finolhu ideal as a base for longer family holidays in the Maldives.

Its location in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the Baa Atoll makes Finolhu a remarkable destination for diving and snorkelling, but the resort caters to many tastes. There’s an Art Lab for interactive art workshops, padel tennis courts, fabulous restaurants and bars, and an eclectic collection of both motorised and non-motorised watersports.

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Family & Adventure

The One Bedroom Water Reserve with Slide at Soneva Jani

Soneva Jani captures a whimsical side of the Maldives in a private lagoon in the Noonu Atoll. Almost every villa here has a slide, but we recommend the One Bedroom Water Reserve with Slide, which, as well as having enough space for two adults and two children, has a two-storey spiralling slide for quick access to the water directly from the second floor of your reserve. There’s also a long pool on the edge of the water, a dining table set above a glass viewing portal, and a spectacular retractable roof over the bedroom, wonderful for viewing the night sky. The light-filled interiors are finished with sustainable materials and reclaimed timbers reflecting Soneva Jani’s sustainability-led ethos. Service here is impeccable, and you’ll have a personal butler to take care of your every need (or Mr/Ms Friday as they’re affectionately known), and for families with kids, the impressive Den is one of South Asia’s largest kids’ clubs.

After snorkelling amongst the rays, guests can visit the turtle rehabilitation centre, the overwater observatory to planet gaze through one of the largest telescopes in the Indian Ocean, or catch a film over the water at the Cinema Paradiso. There are so many charming spots to eat: from beaches lit by burning torches and pretty gardens to private islands and the chic Overseas by Mathias Dahlgren restaurant, which serves seafood on decks above the water.

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Art & Jungle

Luxury Sunset Water Villa with Pool at JOALI Maldives

JOALI Maldives is set on Muravandhoo Island, lush with jungle and framed by champagne-white sands. The Luxury Sunset Water Villa with Pool hovers over the water with a 35 square metre infinity pool reflecting the fiery sunset panoramas, making the villa absolutely magnetic in the evenings.

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The interiors blend natural textures with curated artworks and bespoke furnishings, and there are towering wooden doors creating grand entrances and attractive frames to every beautiful room.

Explore JOALI Maldives and you’ll find art everywhere, with installations hidden amongst the trees, and sculptural pieces such as raised seating inspired by the eggs of White Terns, that blur the lines between art and furniture. There’s also a manta ray-shaped treehouse designed by Porky Hefer, wonderful for view-laden private dining. Indeed, if art is your interest, you’ll find the art map, which leads guests around the islands’ various works of art, indispensable, while the art studio provides a spot for you to take a more hands-on approach.

Biodiversity & Cuisine

Sunset Grand Water Villa with Pool at Sirru Fen Fushi

The Sunset Grand Water Villa with pool at Sirru Fen Fushi is perfectly positioned for both spotting the incredible array of local wildlife and for watching the panoramic Indian Ocean sunsets. Set on the serene Shaviyani Atoll, this overwater villa in the Maldives offers generous living spaces that flow effortlessly from bedroom to private deck, with a pool surrounded by a sand deck that hovers close to the sea. Interiors are light with sun-bleached woods, creamy textiles, and hand-carved furnishings, echoing the artisanal spirit of Sirru Fen Fushi.

Each evening, the horizon glows gold and ruby as stingrays, reef sharks and more swim close to your villa, best enjoyed from the daybed or outdoor bathtub. The resort’s nine-kilometre coral house reef, one of the Maldives’ largest, invites immersive diving and snorkelling. For food lovers, Sirru Fen Fushi offers various dining options, but has also recently launched, as part of its Sirru Icon Series, The Michelin Series, which will see some of the world’s most renowned chefs taking over its kitchens for exclusive dining experiences (ask your Travel Designer, your personal travel expert and concierge, for more details if you would like to book, as these events are limited).

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Whether your dream Maldives escape is pure serenity in a luxury overwater villa, diving among coral gardens, or atoll hopping between the most exclusive in-the-know resorts, your 360 Private Travel Designer will tailor every detail. From private seaplane transfers and candlelit private island dinners to precision-timed spa rituals at sunset, we’ll ensure your luxury Maldives holiday is not only perfect but perfectly attuned to you and your party’s every need.

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