One of the Maldives' most exclusive islands, in Noonu Atoll: 47 pool villas and residences, a teppanyaki tower, a 500-bin wine cellar, a snow room and a golf academy.
Velaa is a private island in Noonu Atoll, 45 minutes from Malé by seaplane, at the very top of the Maldives market. Its 47 villas and residences all have a private pool and are among the largest in the country, with teak interiors and thatched roofs, and there's a butler and a resort doctor around the clock. The island has a golf academy designed by José María Olazábal, a PADI dive shop, a marine biology team running what it calls the largest coral restoration programme in the Maldives, and a house reef worth exploring.
Beach Pool Villas (287 m²) and Deluxe Beach Pool Villas (313 m²) have 8 and 9-metre pools, and over the water the Sunrise Water Pool Villas (223 m²) and Sunset Deluxe Water Pool Villas (245 m²) sit on an extended jetty with direct lagoon access. For families there are two-bedroom Beach Pool Houses (581 m²) and Ocean Pool Houses (493 m²) at the tip of the jetty. The Romantic Residence (598 m²) is a one-bedroom overwater villa reached only by boat, and the four Velaa Private Residences (about 1,324 m²) each have four bedrooms and a 17-metre pool; the Nika residence was redesigned by Patricia Urquiola and the Kuredhi by Winch Design.
Aragu is the signature restaurant, over the water with a piano, serving contemporary European food with Asian influences and an 800-bin wine list. Athiri is the beachfront all-day restaurant, with chefs from 14 countries and a wood-fired oven, and Tavaru serves teppanyaki and Japanese tasting menus at the top of a tower, the tallest building on any Maldivian resort island, above a wine cellar of more than 500 bins. CRU pours rare Champagnes over the water, Avi is the poolside sunset lounge with a DJ and live music, and Faiy serves wellness food in the gardens. The overwater Velaa Spa has six double treatment villas and the Maldives' only snow room, and the Eveylaa Wellbeing village offers Ayurveda and manual medicine.
This profile comes from travel agencies; Velaa's own website doesn't publish rates, so the price is only maldives.com's 'starting from' range and should be treated as a rough guide. It's among the most expensive resorts in the Maldives.
One of eight villas on an extended jetty, facing the sunrise, with a 7-metre private pool and direct lagoon access. Two adults and a child.
One of eight overwater villas facing the sunset, with a 9-metre pool, a large terrace with a daybed, floor-to-ceiling glass and direct lagoon access. Two adults and a child.
One of nine beach villas with an 8-metre private pool, natural materials and ocean views. Two adults and a child.
One of nine larger beach villas with a 9-metre private pool and panoramic beach views. Two adults and a child.
One of two overwater houses at the tip of the jetty, with two bedrooms, a big living and dining area with 180-degree ocean views and an 11-metre infinity pool. Four adults and a child.
One of seven two-bedroom beachfront houses for families, with open living spaces and a 10-metre infinity pool. Four adults and a child.
The most secluded place on the island: a one-bedroom villa suspended over the lagoon, reached only by boat, with a 17-metre pool. Two adults and a child.
Four beachfront residences (Funa, Kuredhi, Nika and Nirolhu), each with four bedrooms, a 17-metre pool and big indoor-outdoor living spaces; Nika was redesigned by Patricia Urquiola and Kuredhi by Winch Design. Up to ten guests.
Four king beds
The same resort and the same villa, booked through people who live here.
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The signature restaurant: contemporary European cooking with Asian influences, tasting menus and an 800-bin wine list; 7–11pm
All-day dining from chefs of 14 nationalities, with pizzas from a wood-fired oven
Teppanyaki and Japanese tasting menus at the top of the tower, above a wine cellar of more than 500 bins
Balanced, seasonal wellness cuisine
Sunset cocktails, a DJ and a live band
Rare Champagnes and vintages with the sommeliers
Juices, cocktails, salads, pizzas, sandwiches and ice cream
Private dinners on the beach and around the island
Six double treatment villas, facials, massage, sauna and steam, and the Maldives' only snow room; 11am–8pm
Ayurveda with resident doctors, manual medicine, a floatation pod and steam rooms
A seaplane playground, an energy studio with motion games, a cooking and experiment pavilion and a quiet room
A short course designed by José María Olazábal and managed by Troon, with a covered driving range
A PADI dive shop, house-reef tours and a large coral restoration programme run by a marine biology team, plus yacht trips
The shape comes from OpenStreetMap, simplified: a guide to the layout, not a survey. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
A 45-minute seaplane flight from Malé, with private seaplane charters available.
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