A five-star island in Baa Atoll's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with 103 pool villas, the AyurMa wellness centre, resident marine biologists and manta ray trips.
Landaa Giraavaru is a 900-metre island in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, 30 to 35 minutes from Malé by seaplane. It was a coconut plantation, and much of the original vegetation was kept; the design follows Maldivian tradition, with steep thatched roofs and coral walls. All 103 villas have a pool, there's a house reef off the shore, a two-kilometre lagoon, a 50-metre pool with a swim-up bar, and resident marine biologists who run the education programmes. Manta ray snorkelling is one of the big excursions.
On the island, the Premier Oceanfront Bungalows (77 m²) have a 12-metre pool and a lagoon kept calm by a sea wall, Beach Villas with Pool (137 m²) are walled, with a lap pool and a sea-gazing loft, and the family versions add a study with a sofa bed. Over the water, the Water Villas with Pool (90 m²) face the sunrise or the sunset, with overwater nets and steps into the lagoon, and the Family Water Villas (112 m²) add a study. For groups there are two- and three-bedroom water suites, a Two-Bedroom Royal Beach Villa with a 20-metre pool, and the Four-Bedroom Landaa Estate on its own 80-metre beach.
Café Landaa is the main restaurant, with a teppanyaki counter; Blu serves Italian food by the beach, Al Barakat Arabian dishes such as its braised lamb shank, and Fuego Grill seafood for sharing. Five Degrees North is the lounge, and the Poolside Bar is in the main pool. AyurMa is the wellness centre, with Ayurvedic doctors, naturopaths and yoga therapists, programmes from one night to three weeks and overwater treatment pavilions. The Kuda Velaa Kids' Club and a teens' club look after younger guests, and there's a dive centre, tennis and water sports.
This profile comes from Four Seasons' official press facts and travel agencies, because the resort's own website couldn't be checked. It's one of the more expensive resorts, and the price is only maldives.com's 'starting from' range, so treat it as a rough guide.
One of 22 renewed bungalows with a 12-metre pool, a big outdoor living space with a lounging net, an open-air bale for dining and direct access to a lagoon kept calm by a sea wall. Three adults, or three adults and a child.
King bed or twin beds, and a sofa bed
One of 15 walled beachfront villas, through a turquoise gate: a private lap pool with a daybed, an open-air living and dining pavilion, a sea-gazing loft and a courtyard with an outdoor shower. Three adults, or three adults and a child.
King bed or twin beds
One of five family bungalows with a 12-metre pool, an outdoor living room with a lounging net, a study with a sofa bed and its own bathroom, and calm lagoon swimming behind a sea wall. Four adults, or three adults and two children.
King bed and two sofa beds
One of 15 family villas steps from the lagoon, with a big bedroom and sitting area, a separate study with a pull-out sofa and its own bathroom, and a sand-floor living and dining pavilion opening onto a lap pool. Three adults, or three adults and a child.
King bed and a sofa bed
On the north side of the island: two bedrooms linked by a corridor that opens onto open-air living and dining, an 18-metre lap pool and a lounging net by the beach. Six adults, or four adults and three children.
King bed and two twin beds
A private three-pavilion compound a few steps from Blu Beach Club, around a 20-metre pool with an open-air lounge, daybeds, a 'floating island' dining room, an in-water lounger, a beach gazebo and its own beachfront. Six adults, or four adults and four children.
Two king beds and two sofa beds
A four-bedroom hideaway with an 80-metre private beach, a 20-metre lap pool with a sundeck and sunken lounge, an open-air living pavilion, a rooftop terrace, an air-conditioned library, a kitchen and a personal attendant. Up to nine adults, or eight adults and six children.
Three king beds, two twin beds and three sofa beds
One of 30 overwater villas at the north-west end of the island, facing the sunrise or the sunset, with a private pool, overwater nets, a sea-gazing loft, open-air living and dining, an outdoor shower and steps into the lagoon. Three adults, or three adults and a child.
King bed or twin beds, and a sofa bed
A family overwater villa on the sunrise or sunset side, with a private pool, overwater nets, a sea-gazing loft, a separate study with a pull-out sofa and its own bathroom, and steps into the sea. Four adults, or three adults and two children.
King bed and two sofa beds
A two-bedroom overwater suite around a 15-metre lap pool, with decks, overwater hammocks, a swinging sofa, indoor and outdoor living and dining, a sea-gazing loft, two outdoor showers and direct lagoon access. Up to four guests, including up to three children.
King bed and twin beds
The largest overwater suite, with a 20-metre lap pool, a sunken outdoor living room, semi-submerged sun loungers, overwater hammocks, a circular bath in the main bathroom, a guest bathroom and a pantry. Up to six guests, including up to five children.
Two king beds and two twin beds
The same resort and the same villa, booked through people who live here.
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The main restaurant, with a teppanyaki counter
Italian, with homemade cavatelli with red prawn, reef fish and langoustine as the signature
Arabian, with a braised lamb shank and saffron rice as the signature
Grilled seafood, including 'The Whole Ocean' platter for two
The lounge, indoors and out
A swim-up bar in the 50-metre main pool
Ayurveda, naturopathy and yoga therapy with resident doctors and therapists, from single treatments to 21-night programmes, plus a hair spa and nail salon; overwater treatment pavilions
Supervised crafts, hermit crab races, beach games, a touch tank and yoga, with a teens' club and a children's pool
Snorkelling excursions to see manta rays, plus diving, water sports, fishing and tennis
Resident marine biologists run education programmes for guests and staff
The shape comes from OpenStreetMap, simplified: a guide to the layout, not a survey. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
A 30 to 35-minute seaplane flight from Malé, or a 25-minute domestic flight and a 20-minute boat ride.
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