A natural island in Lhaviyani Atoll with mid-century design, 134 villas on the beach and over the lagoon, an overwater spa and one of the Maldives' largest hydroponic greenhouses.
Le Méridien Maldives sits on Thilamaafushi in Lhaviyani Atoll, a 30 to 35-minute seaplane flight from Malé, or a domestic flight and a speedboat ride. The island is ringed by beach and lush vegetation, and the design takes its cues from mid-century Europe. It grows produce for its restaurants in a 430 m² hydroponic greenhouse, has what Resortlife calls the largest solar installation at any Maldives resort, and runs a Marine Hub conservation centre.
There are 134 villas. Beach Villas (82 m²) have an indoor-outdoor bathroom and a terrace by the sand, and also come with a pool, either in a courtyard garden or facing the beach. Lagoon Villas (100 m²) have floor-to-ceiling glass, a bathtub facing the sea, an overwater hammock and direct lagoon access, and Overwater Villas with Pool (100 m²) add a private pool. For families there are two-bedroom beach (165 m²) and overwater (270 m²) pool villas for four, and the three-bedroom Thilamaafushi Villa (280 m²) for six; Sunrise and Sunset Overwater Villas are also offered.
Turquoise is the all-day restaurant on the beach, Tabemasu serves Japanese food and teppanyaki over the water, Riviera is Mediterranean, and Velaa Bar + Grill is a pool bar by day and a grill at night. La Vie is an adults-only rosé bar with its own pool, and Waves Café is a coffee house with a creative arts studio. Explore Spa sits over the lagoon with clear floor panels above the coral gardens, the Family Kids Hub is free, and the dive centre has more than 50 sites in the atoll to choose from.
This profile comes from travel agencies, because the resort's own website couldn't be checked. Some restaurants close one evening a week (Turquoise on Mondays, Tabemasu on Wednesdays, Riviera on Thursdays), and La Vie is adults only.
A beach villa among palms and greenery, with mid-century design, a beachside terrace, an indoor and outdoor bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe. Two guests.
King bed
A beach villa with a private pool in a tropical courtyard garden, an indoor and outdoor bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe. Two guests.
King bed
A beach villa with a private pool, either in a rear courtyard garden or facing the beach, with an indoor and outdoor bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe. Two guests.
King bed
A villa over the lagoon with floor-to-ceiling glass, an ocean-facing bed, a sea-facing bathroom with a freestanding bath, an overwater hammock, a sundeck and direct lagoon access. Two guests.
King bed
An overwater villa with floor-to-ceiling glass, a sundeck with loungers, an overwater hammock and a private pool. Two guests.
King bed
A beachfront villa with two connecting bedrooms, each with a king bed, its own entrance and an ensuite bathroom, and a private pool on a large deck for sunbathing and outdoor meals. Up to four guests.
Two king beds
An overwater villa with two bedrooms, each with a king bed, two bathrooms, a living room, a private deck with an infinity pool, an overwater hammock and 180-degree ocean views. Up to four guests.
Two king beds
The largest villa category: a three-bedroom family villa on its own stretch of beach, each bedroom with a king bed, with a living room, a dining area, a walk-in closet, a private pool and a deck. Up to six guests.
Three king beds
The same resort and the same villa, booked through people who live here.
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Local dishes, Asian favourites and modern European flavours; breakfast 7–10.30am, dinner 6.30–10pm Tuesday to Sunday
Japanese, with a teppanyaki counter and a five-course teppanyaki menu; dinner 6–10pm, closed Wednesdays
Mediterranean; lunch noon–4pm daily, dinner 6–10pm except Thursdays
Light dishes, wines and cocktails by the pool by day; grilled seafood, meats and wood-fired dishes after sunset, and the Au Soleil pool party
Adults-only bar for rosé wines and small sharing plates; 11am to 11.30pm
Coffee house for light, wholesome food and drinks, 8am to 5pm, with a creative arts studio for local contemporary art
Private dinners on the beach and on Bodu Finolhu, a sandbank island
Ayurvedic and modern treatments in six treatment rooms and two couples' suites, with clear floor panels above the coral gardens
Complimentary kids' club, 9am to 6pm daily
Diving at more than 50 sites in Lhaviyani Atoll; SSI has filmed its official training videos here
Marine conservation centre
Wakeboarding, paddleboarding, glass-bottom canoes, snorkelling, sunset dolphin cruises, a padel court and the Twilight Cinema
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 domestic flight and a speedboat ride.
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