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Velaa Private Island is one of the Maldives’ most exclusive resorts, a 47-villa private island in remote Noonu Atoll with a golf academy, a snow room, and near 1:1 service.
Opened in 2013 in the remote Noonu Atoll, Velaa Private Island is among the most exclusive resorts in the Maldives, the passion project of Czech billionaire Jiří Šmejc. The name comes from the Dhivehi word for turtle, a nod to the sea turtles that have long lived on the island, reached by a 45-minute seaplane flight from Malé.
Accommodation is kept deliberately small at 47 villas, houses, and residences, all with private pools and either beach or lagoon access, from Beach Pool Villas up to the four-bedroom Velaa Private Residence.
What sets Velaa apart is the depth of its facilities: a José María Olazábal-designed golf academy, the Maldives’ first snow room, a fully covered tennis court, and a near 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio.
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- Just 47 villas, houses, and residences, all with private pools and a near 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio.
- A José María Olazábal-designed golf academy, the Maldives’ first snow room, and a covered tennis court.
- Signature dining at ARAGU and the TAVARU teppanyaki and wine tower, with a 500-plus-bin cellar.
Accommodation
Deluxe Beach Pool Villa
Velaa Private Island One-Bedroom Beachfront Pool Villas feature a large separate living room, outdoor terrace, private pool and indoor bathroom.
The Zen-like outdoor bathroom features a huge bath and deck, and a reclining daybed under a pillared podium connected by a garden atrium.
The alfresco dining area by the pool is the place to be at sunset.
Velaa Private Residence
Velaa Private Island Residences set a new level of ultimate luxury in the Maldives for friends and families alike, the Four Bedrooms Velaa Private Island Residence accommodates up to 10 guests.
These two-story Velaa Private Island Residences are laid out with privacy in mind. Each of the four bedrooms faces the ocean and beach; the first floor bedrooms have generous balconies, while the ground floor rooms open onto the pool.
Indoor and outdoor bathrooms are connected by a garden atrium.
Flanked by two gazebos for dining, relaxation, or playing, the pool reflects the ocean and is the central focus. Behind the living space a gym, spa room, and outdoor living area offer plenty of quiet spaces to retire to.
Sunrise Water Pool Villa
Along an extended jetty, the villas on this crescent have uninterrupted views of the ocean and private pools.
Overhanging thatch offers shade over the dining area, while the bedroom and bathroom open onto the terrace, pool, and sun deck, with steps leading into the ocean.
Inside, the comfortable living room is designed around a viewing window set into the floor, while the bed faces the ocean.
Ocean Pool House
Prestigiously located on the tip of the island in an exclusive private domain, Velaa Private Island Maldives Two Bedroom Overwater Residence offers an elegant living space with carefully curated elements, such as traditional Maldivian thatched roofs.
Louvered shutters let the breeze flow through, while a deep sofa is covered in scatter cushions.
Romantic Pool Residence
Accessible only by boat, this ultra-private Velaa Romantic Pool Residence is a one-bedroom villa suspended above the lagoon with uninterrupted views of the ocean. It offers the utmost privacy, making it perfect for ultra-luxury honeymooners. The Residence includes a private chef and butler.
All rooms open onto the terraces, where the Jacuzzi, pool, sundeck, and sunken bath.
With a personal gym and spa treatment rooms inside the Velaa Private Island residence, there’s little reason to leave.
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Dining
Velaa runs three restaurants and two bars. Aragu is the signature, serving modern European cooking with a sustainability focus under chef Gaushan de Silva. Tavaru is the showpiece, an elevated white tower combining teppanyaki with the Maldives’ largest private wine cellar, holding over 500 bins. Athiri is the main all-day restaurant, with chefs from 14 nations, while Faiy covers light garden-to-table dishes. Cru is the champagne lounge, with Avi and the Beach Bar handling casual drinks.
Wellness
The spa is one of only a handful in the world run in partnership with My Blend by Clarins, with six treatment suites set over the lagoon, two of them for couples. The standout features are the Maldives’ first snow room, for a post-sauna chill, and the Cloud 9 flotation pod, the only one of its kind in Asia. The menu spans Velaa Signature Rituals, Ayurvedic therapies, and oriental treatments, with an outdoor jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna alongside.
Activities
The headline is the Velaa Golf Academy, a nine-hole course designed by José María Olazábal and managed by Troon, the first of its kind in the Maldives. The island also has the country’s only fully covered tennis court and runs one of the Maldives’ largest coral restoration projects, led by in-house marine biologists. Water sports stretch to a semi-submarine, Seabobs, flyboarding, big game fishing, and guided snorkeling with a resident marine biologist.
Our Experts
Maria Gardner
Luxury Travel Expert"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."
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Jaike Rowe
Luxury Travel Expert"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."
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