Luxury Hotel · The Maldives
LUX* South Ari Atoll
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Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
LUX* South Ari Atoll occupies Dhidhoofinolhu, a private island on the edge of the South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area, 30 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport and the only year-round whale shark encounter destination in the Maldives.
193 villas and pavilions are spread across two miles of powder-fine beach and overwater positions above the crystal lagoon, with 10 accommodation categories ranging from beach villas to overwater pool pavilions. A South Ari Marine Protected Area location means the house reef holds over 50 dive sites, manta rays, turtles, and whale sharks within the lagoon year-round.
Eight restaurants, the Forbes Travel Guide-awarded LUX* Me Spa, a 5-Star PADI dive center, and over 40 complimentary activities give the resort a breadth that makes it one of the strongest family and couple destinations in the Maldives.
Pop-up cinema screenings, impromptu live music, coral planting, and handcrafted beach ice cream bring an energy to the property that sets it apart from quieter island resorts.
Highlights
- World’s only year-round whale shark encounter destination, within the resort lagoon
- Eight restaurants, including Japanese teppanyaki at Umami, with the Maldives’ largest sake selection
- Forbes Travel Guide-awarded LUX* Me Spa with overwater treatment villas and ocean-view yoga
Accommodation
Beach Pavilion
Located right on the beachfront meaning you are only a few steps away from the beautiful ocean. These rooms are light and spacious making your stay very comfortable. Every detail is well thought through, and quality is very important. Enjoy the king size bed and beautiful en-suite bathroom.
Water Villa
Suspended on stilts above the seafront, you can roll out of bed in the morning and have your morning dip in the sea within seconds. The rooms are light, spacious and modern. The bedroom leads out onto a private terrace area, where there are sun loungers and steps which give you direct access to the sea.
Beach Pool Villa
Located right on the beachfront, these villas have the added bonus of a private pool built into the terrace area. The rooms also have a beautiful bedroom with even more space and a gorgeous en-suite bathroom. You are also rewarded with more living space for you to lounge around in.
Romantic Pool Water Villa
These water villas have a private pool which is built into the terrace, not only this, but you also have steps which lead down into the sea as well. These villas are perfect if you are looking for an intimate stay with your loved one. The bedroom is spacious and light and the interior in all the rooms at LUX South Ari Atoll are designed in a modern and authentic style.
Temptation Pool Water Villa
If you want all the above and more, then the Temptation Pool Water Villa is the one for you. Enjoy incredible views of the sun rising every morning whilst lying in bed with a cup of tea. Perfect if you want more living space as the bedroom is separated giving you more privacy. The wooden deck area is very spacious as well, giving you lots of room to sunbathe on. There is a good sized private swimming pool, along with steps leading down into the lagoon and beyond.
Further information
Dining
Eight restaurants and five bars cover a range wider than almost any private island resort in the Maldives. East Market handles international dining from an open kitchen with lagoon views. Umami is a Japanese restaurant, specializing in sushi, teppanyaki, and the Maldives’ largest selection of sakes and Japanese whiskies. Beach Rouge delivers casual coastal cooking directly on the sand. Veli Bar extends poolside above the lagoon on three sides, and East Bar is an overwater cocktail bar with 360-degree views. Private beach dinners and 24-hour in-villa service complete the offering.
Wellness
LUX* Me Spa is a Forbes Travel Guide-awarded overwater facility with treatment villas above the lagoon, ocean-view yoga, and a wellness concierge program covering deeply restorative massages, body treatments, and facial therapies. A dedicated spa menu for children runs alongside the adult program. A Technogym fitness center, floodlit tennis courts, and beach yoga complete the wellness and recreation offering.
Activities
The South Ari Marine Protected Area surrounding the island delivers over 50 dive sites with year-round whale shark sightings led by a resident marine biologist. A 5-Star PADI dive center handles everything from beginner certification to expert reef dives, and flyboarding, jet ski safaris, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and kayaking cover the broader water sports program. The PLAY Kids Club runs shell expeditions and ice cream labs for ages 3 to 11, while a dedicated teens program, coral planting, and cinema screenings under the stars complete the family offering.
The Maldives
The Maldives is made up of more than a thousand coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean, each resort occupying its own private atoll. No shared beaches, no neighbouring properties, no traffic. The geography does something that no amount of hotel design can replicate: it removes you completely from everything else. The range across those islands is wider than most people expect.
Included
- Accommodation as listed
Not included
- International Flights
- Travel insurance
Our Experts
The Maldives is a stand-out when it comes to luxury travel and our most popular destination. We are also proud to be able to work with properties that are welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
Staying in an over-water bungalow is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I'd recommend to any traveller. It's amazing to swim in some of the world's most impressive coral reefs and the sunset's divine.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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LUX* South Ari Atoll
The best trips begin with a conversation, not a booking form.
Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.