A simple, old-school island resort near the airport, with a lively house reef and some of the lowest prices in the Maldives.
Embudu Village has been welcoming guests since 1979, the first resort of the Maldivian Kaimoo group. It sits on the northern edge of South Malé Atoll, 20 minutes by speedboat from the airport, a small, green island fringed with white sand.
There are two kinds of room: Superior Beach Bungalows in the trees a few steps from the sand, and Water Villas on the island's edge with four-poster beds, balconies over the ocean and a window in the floor for watching fish.
The house reef, with table and mushroom corals, black-tip reef sharks, turtles and rays, is the reason many guests come, and the Diverland dive centre reaches the best sites of both Malé atolls. Meals are buffets in the main restaurant, there's a seaside bar and coffee shop, and Serena Spa offers Ayurvedic and Balinese massages.
This is a basic, traditional resort, with no pools, plain rooms and buffet meals in one restaurant. It's very good value, especially for divers and snorkellers, but don't expect luxury.
Simple bungalows in the greenery a few steps from the beach, with dark wooden furniture and a private patio.
Double bed
Over the water on the edge of the island, with a balcony, ocean views and a sea-level window in the floor.
Four-poster double bed
The same resort and the same villa, booked through people who live here.
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International buffets with locally sourced ingredients and themed nights, from Italian to seafood
Seaside bar for cocktails and coffee, with an à la carte coffee shop in the afternoon
Ayurvedic and Balinese massages, scrubs, wraps and facials in a wood-decked spa
Dive centre for the house reef and sites across North and South Malé atolls
The shape comes from OpenStreetMap, simplified: a guide to the layout, not a survey. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
A 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport. Return transfers cost $98 per adult and $49 per child from November 2026.
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