Anantara Kihavah Maldives
Anantara Kihavah Maldives sits inside a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in Baa Atoll, roughly 35 minutes from Velana International Airport by seaplane. The setting alone sets it apart: turquoise lagoons, powder-white sand and a house reef rich enough to count over 300 fish species and 130 coral varieties, including the celebrated Golden Wall dive site, plus easy access to manta ray gatherings at nearby Hanifaru Bay. Eighty villas and residences range from beachfront pool villas to overwater retreats and expansive multi-bedroom homes built for groups, giving couples, families and larger parties plenty of room to spread out. Dining leans into spectacle as much as flavour: SEA is one of the world's few genuinely underwater restaurants, complete with an underwater wine cellar, while SKY tops the resort with rooftop cocktails, international tapas and the Maldives' first overwater observatory for guided stargazing. Beyond the table, the overwater Anantara Spa runs Ayurvedic therapies and Thai massage alongside saunas and plunge pools, and a resident marine biologist keeps guests connected to the reef just offshore. It all adds up to a resort built around a handful of genuinely singular experiences layered onto classic island luxury.
Room Types
1/6Beach Pool Villa
Wrapped in tropical greenery with direct beach access, this villa pairs a private pool with generous outdoor living space and interiors styled around contemporary island design. Indoor and outdoor showers plus a bathtub built for two round out a setting made for total privacy.
1/6Sunset Beach Pool Villa
On the island's sunset-facing side, this villa combines the same beachfront privacy with a front-row seat to the evening sky. A private pool and roomy indoor-outdoor living areas make it an easy base for slow, scenic days.
1/4Over Water Pool Villa
Raised above the clear lagoon, this villa delivers panoramic ocean views alongside a private infinity pool, a hammock and steps straight into the water. Life above the reef comes with the bonus of watching marine life pass beneath the floor.
1/4Sunset Over Water Pool Villa
Facing the Indian Ocean's sunset side, this villa adds a private pool, a king-size bed and the resort's signature glass-bottom bathtub, turning an already dramatic outlook into a fully immersive overwater stay.
One Bedroom Family Over Water Pool Villa
Built with families in mind, this overwater villa adds a separate sleeping area for children alongside a private pool and direct lagoon access. The glass-bottom bathtub and lagoon-side lounging keep everyone entertained without ever leaving the villa.
1/8One Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villa
Designed for families, this beachfront villa gives children their own separate sleeping quarters, with wide outdoor space and a private pool set among the island's tropical planting.
1/5Two Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villa
This two-bedroom family retreat centres on a 12-metre swimming pool, with shaded outdoor dining and barbecue facilities plus direct beach access - a set-up built for long, easy family holidays.
1/9Two Bedroom Sunset Over Water Pool Residence
Set at the very end of the boardwalk, this residence delivers wide-open ocean views from a private infinity pool, generous living space and two separate ensuite bedrooms designed for privacy as much as comfort.
1/8Two Bedroom Beach Pool Residence
Spanning 1,330 square metres, this beachfront residence gives families or groups serious room to spread out, with expansive indoor and outdoor living zones, private bedroom wings and wide decks that keep everyone comfortably apart when needed.
1/10Three Bedroom Beach Pool Residence
Suited to families and larger groups, this residence offers three ensuite bedrooms, private gardens, a sizeable pool and jacuzzi, and outdoor dining spaces, all with direct beach access wrapped in tropical surroundings.
1/7Four Bedroom Beach Pool Residence
The resort's largest residence pairs expansive indoor and outdoor living with two separate infinity pools and generous entertaining space, backed by a dedicated Villa Host - built for big families or groups who want it all.
Dining
Sea
Fine Dining
One of the world's few genuinely underwater restaurants, SEA also houses the first underwater wine cellar anywhere, serving fine-dining courses with the reef's marine life passing right by the glass.
Fire
Japanese-Peruvian
Set in a stylish overwater room, FIRE brings together contemporary Japanese and Peruvian cooking, with dishes built around precision and presentation.
Spice
Pan-Asian
Overwater and theatrical, SPICE serves Asian haute cuisine from live show kitchens, backed by handcrafted cocktails and flavours drawn from across the continent.
Sky
Bar
Combining rooftop cocktails and international tapas, SKY also holds the Maldives' first overwater observatory, where the SKY Guru leads stargazing sessions through the country's most powerful telescope.
Plates
International
The resort's international buffet venue, PLATES serves fresh tropical fruit, live cooking stations, Maldivian seafood and themed dinner nights built to suit every taste.
Manzaru
Mediterranean
Overlooking one of the Maldives' longest pools, Manzaru serves Mediterranean cooking, with lighter dishes by day giving way to a more elegant dinner service in a relaxed beachfront setting.
Designer Dining by Anantara
Private Dining
A personal chef crafts bespoke meals served in striking locations - sandbanks, private yachts or secluded stretches of beach - for a fully customised culinary experience.
Activities
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Location
Set within Baa Atoll's UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the resort offers rare access to manta ray and whale shark encounters at nearby Hanifaru Bay.
House Reef & Golden Wall
The island's house reef shelters over 300 fish species and 130 coral varieties, including Hawksbill turtles, manta rays and reef sharks, anchored by the celebrated Golden Wall dive site.
SEA Underwater Restaurant
One of the Maldives' most iconic dining experiences plays out inside an underwater restaurant and wine cellar, with the surrounding marine life as the backdrop.
SKY Overwater Observatory
The country's first overwater observatory offers guided stargazing sessions through the Maldives' most powerful telescope.
Anantara Spa
This overwater spa runs holistic wellness journeys built on Ayurvedic therapies, Thai massage, saunas and plunge pools inspired by nature and traditional healing.
Transfers
Speedboat: 30 minutes, USD 150
Policies
Check-in 2:00 PM. Check-out 12:00 PM. Children of all ages are welcome. Kids under 12 stay free when sharing parents' room.. Free cancellation up to 30 days before arrival. 50% charge for cancellations 14-29 days before. Full charge for cancellations less than 14 days before arrival.. Smart casual for restaurants. Swimwear appropriate only at pool and beach areas.
Gallery
Related Resorts
Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences
A 30-minute seaplane hop from Velana International Airport lands guests on Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences, a Maldivian-owned island inside the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. At 900 by 290 metres it's one of the larger five-star islands in the country, yet only 67 villas sit across it, over water, on the beach, and suspended in the treetops, leaving close to 70% of the land as untouched jungle. That scale shows up in the room categories: multi-bedroom beach residences with private plunge pools and full kitchens sit alongside standard water and beach villas, making Amilla as workable for a large family gathering as for a couple. The Wellness Your Way programme threads nutrition and movement coaching through the stay, while ten dining venues cover everything from overwater Japanese to South Indian tandoor. The setting earns its wellness reputation on the water too: the resort's own Blue Hole ranks among the country's best house reefs, and seasonal trips reach Hanifaru Bay for manta ray encounters. Add a genuinely engaging kids' club and a near-70%-jungle footprint, and Amilla reads as a rare five-star island built around space as much as luxury.
View Resort
Soneva Fushi
Soneva Fushi treats a stay in the Maldives as an open invitation to explore — think glassblowing lessons, cultural excursions to nearby islands, and an ever-changing roster of water-based adventures, all folded into the resort's laid-back, barefoot-luxury spirit. Set across a large, jungle-covered island in Baa Atoll, it's built on decades of hospitality innovation and a genuine partnership with its natural surroundings. Villas here range from cosy beachfront hideaways to sprawling multi-bedroom jungle mansions with private pools, wine cellars, and even personal spa suites, all finished in raw wood, thatch, and other natural materials that lean into a castaway aesthetic rather than polished resort gloss. A dedicated host guides each stay, helping guests fill their days with whatever mix of adventure and stillness feels right. Getting here takes a scenic 30-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport into Baa Atoll — home to a rich house reef and easy access to Hanifaru Bay's manta ray gatherings — setting the stage for a resort built around family time, quiet luxury, and genuinely attentive service.
View Resort
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
Set on 44 acres within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru pairs innovation, wellness, and conservation into one wide-ranging retreat. A 35-minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport delivers guests over crystalline water and remote islands before touching down on a property built around restraint rather than ornament — clean lines, deliberate framing of the surrounding jungle, and tall, airy ceilings that let the island's natural beauty do the talking. Designed by Sri Lankan architect Murad Ismail, the resort's 102 thatched bungalows and villas blend traditional Maldivian and Sri Lankan forms, from steeply pitched roofs to coral-stone walls, all wrapped in dense, privacy-giving vegetation. Beyond the villas, a dedicated Marine Discovery Centre run by resident marine biologists offers guests genuine encounters with local sea life and a chance to take part in ongoing conservation work, while a three-person DeepFlight submarine lets non-divers explore the reef without getting wet. The Spa & Ayurvedic Retreat, sandbank dinners under the stars, and sunset champagne cruises aboard the Landaa Summer round out an experience built as much for romance as for families drawn to its conservation-minded, castaway spirit.
View Resort