A small 4-star island in North Ari Atoll with one of the atoll's best-known house reefs, a coral wall right off the beach, and 112 bungalows and rooms.
Ellaidhoo is a small island in North Ari Atoll, about 350 by 190 metres, 25 to 30 minutes from Malé by seaplane or about 90 minutes by speedboat. Its draw is the house reef: a coral wall and drop-off reached straight from the shore, with reef fish, turtles, eagle rays and sometimes reef sharks, and a dive school on the island. Stays are on full board or all inclusive, at a lower price than the five-star resorts nearby.
There are 100 rooms and bungalows on the island and 12 over the water. Beach Bungalows (38 m²) open onto the sand with a veranda facing the sea, and Jacuzzi Beach Bungalows add an outdoor Jacuzzi on the terrace. Superior Rooms (52 m²) have sea views and an open-air bathroom, and the Water Bungalows (79 m²) stand on stilts on the sunset side, with steps into the lagoon, a glass floor panel over the reef and an open-air bathtub.
Madi is the main buffet restaurant, on the beach, and Seanic Café & Bar by the pool serves the water-bungalow guests their meals and everyone else à la carte and cocktails. The Junction cooks Indian, Malaysian, Maldivian, Indonesian and Sri Lankan dishes, and the Iruohsenee Bar looks out over the ocean for sunset drinks. The Chavana Spa does Balinese treatments.
This profile comes from travel agencies, because the resort's own website couldn't be checked. It's a simpler, mid-range resort that's chosen for its house reef rather than its rooms; the price is only maldives.com's 'starting from' range, so treat it as a rough guide.
A free-standing bungalow on the shore with a king bed and a furnished veranda with loungers facing the sea, steps from the house reef. Two guests as standard, up to three.
King bed
A thatched beachfront bungalow with a king bed facing the sea and a private terrace with an outdoor Jacuzzi and steps onto the sand. Two guests.
King bed
A room with sea views, a king bed and an open-air bathroom. Two guests as standard, up to three.
King bed
A thatched bungalow on stilts on the sunset side, with a private deck and steps into the lagoon, a glass floor panel over the reef, a king bed and an open-air bathtub. Two guests.
King bed
The same resort and the same villa, booked through people who live here.
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The main buffet restaurant: international and local dishes; breakfast 7–9.30am, lunch 12.30–2.30pm, dinner 7.30–9.30pm
Meals for water-bungalow guests, and à la carte and cocktails for everyone
À la carte: Indian, Malaysian, Maldivian, Indonesian and Sri Lankan dishes; noon to 11pm
Sunset drinks and cocktails, from 9am until the last guest leaves
Private dinners
Balinese treatments
Diving on the house reef and around North Ari Atoll, plus a water-sports desk
The shape comes from OpenStreetMap, simplified: a guide to the layout, not a survey. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
A 25 to 30-minute seaplane flight from Malé, or about 90 minutes by speedboat.
Dates, budget, who is coming. We will come back with three resorts that fit, and why.
