Why stay on one island in the Maldives when you can stay on two? This is especially appealing for seasoned Maldives travellers. The luxury resorts, overwater bungalows, reefs and exceptional service make the Maldives an unbeatable destination. It’s the place to be if you’re looking for luxury and relaxation.
The Island Hopping Collection brings together some of our favourite resorts you can combine in a single trip. The resorts can be accessed with easy speedboat or seaplane transfers. Explore multiple atolls, dining options and varieties of marine life. This really is the best of the best in the Maldives.
Itinerary In Detail
Close to Male: Waldorf Astoria and One&Only Reethi Rah
At the beautiful Waldorf Astoria, you might be close to Male but you’ll feel like you’re staying on one of the Maldives’ more remote private islands. There are 11 restaurants and bars to choose from. You can even dine in a pod in a treetop restaurant.
A 40-minute speedboat will take you to Reethi Rah island. One&Only is firmly established among the Maldives’ luxury hotels. It’s an all-villa destination stretching across six kilometres of secluded coastline. Soft white sand, blue lagoons and stunning sunsets all compliment each other to bring tranquillity to your holiday escape.
Baa Atoll: Milaidhoo & The Nautilus
Baa Atoll is one of the most beautiful parts of Maldives to explore. It’s a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that’s home to a wide array of marine life, including dolphins. You can take a boat across the lagoon and even snorkel with manta rays.
Combine Milaidhoo Island The Nautilus for your Baa Atoll stay. Milaidhoo is an intimate resort located on a private island. It’s one of the only Maldivian owned resorts and also one of the only resorts to have a fully authentic Maldivian restaurant. Take a short plane ride from Malé to this stylish, understated resort. Our favourite aspect of Milaidhoo is the stunning beach and water villas.
The Nautilus is located on a tiny island. It feels very remote but it’s easily accessible by seaplane. There are just 26 villas at The Nautilus. Each one comes with a private plunge pool and direct access to the lagoon and the house reef. The glass floor section allows you to see the Maldives’ vibrant marine life swimming below your villa.
Baa Atoll: Anantara Kihavah & Vakkaru
Comprised of 80 private pool villas in the Baa Atoll archipelago, this is one of the most beautiful places to stay in The Maldives. It boasts its own SKY bar with stunning views of the cosmos: they even have an in-house astronomer on hand. Oh, and did we mention that it’s got an underwater restaurant too?
Vakkaru is a great choice for your second resort. It has a great house reef – be sure to snorkel around Hanifaru Bay. The villas at Vakkaru are far larger than average. It’s easy to transfer between Milaidhoo and The Vakkaru by speedboat. Be sure not to miss the Manta trip. You’ll also have your own private butler.
Split Atoll: Six Senses (Laamu) Gili Lankanfushi (North Male)
Experience two different atolls in one trip. You’ll divide your time between Laamu Atoll and North Male Atoll.
Six Senses Laamu is a short plane ride away from Male. Stay on land in the resort, or stay in one of the luxury overwater villas, and have the ocean right on your doorstep. This is located on quite a remote island and it’s one of the best in the Maldives. The Ocean Water Villas are especially good here. You can walk directly to the house reef from your villa.
Gili Lankanfushi was voted the best hotel in the world in TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travellers’ Choice Awards. It’s located on North Malé Atoll surrounded by a stunning lagoon. This is an eco-resort built from sustainable materials.
