COMO Maalifushi
Set in the far southern waters of Thaa Atoll, roughly 50 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport, COMO Maalifushi holds 65 land and overwater suites and villas across a genuinely remote setting. It's the sister property to COMO Cocoa Island, COMO's first Maldives resort, and guests can island-hop between the two. Japanese architect Koichiro Ikebuchi designed the resort as the country's first true boutique hotel, favouring restrained, nature-led architecture over anything flashy. New Zealand pine and thatched Kajan roofs frame each room, with floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto generous decks, and high-raftered ceilings and teak floors carrying the sea-and-sand palette indoors. Beyond the design, the island is known for its surf break at Farms, run in partnership with Tropicsurf, and for diving trips out to a lively house reef. In the kitchen, fresh local seafood turns up as sushi and sashimi at the Japanese restaurant Tai, alongside organic, health-focused dishes at Madi, Thila, and through the COMO Shambhala menu — with chefs happy to adapt for allergies, kids, or more particular palates.
Room Types
1/3Garden Rooms
Set in the shaded centre of the island, these open-plan rooms are a short walk from both the COMO Shambhala Retreat and the restaurants. Each has an outdoor deck furnished for alfresco dining, and interconnecting rooms can be arranged on request.
1/7Beach Suites
Shaded by lush garden planting, these spacious suites open directly onto the beach and suit couples or families with young children. Floor-to-ceiling French doors lead out to a private terrace and pool, with the bedroom, a separate living area, and an outdoor bathroom completing the layout.
1/7Beach Villas
These one-bedroom villas have their own stretch of beach and a private pool just outside. Simple, elegant interiors make the most of large windows and French doors linking the bedroom directly to the terrace.
1/3Two Bedroom Beach Suite
This version of the Beach Suite adds a second bedroom with twin beds and its own smaller shower room, a practical option for families.
1/3Two Bedroom Beach Villas
With a king bedroom and a smaller twin room, this two-bedroom villa keeps its own beach access and private pool. French doors connect the bedroom to a terrace built around a private plunge pool.
1/5Two Bedroom Beach House
This two-bedroom duplex opens onto its own private lawn, wrapped around a large pool and a secluded sundeck. It's set up for lounging through the day, from sunrise coffee to a sunset drink.
1/6Maalifushi Beach Villa
Two comfortable double bedrooms make up this villa, which looks out over sunrise views across the ocean. A private lawn and pool provide space for alfresco dining, with full butler service included.
1/9COMO Residence
This two-storey, four-bedroom residence pairs sweeping sea views with a contemporary living area, a media room, and a full kitchen. The sundeck is set up for private dining, and butler service is included throughout the stay.
1/4Water Suites
Occupying their own private jetty, these overwater suites face the sunrise with a large bedroom and living space. A terrace with a plunge pool opens straight onto the lagoon, and the bathroom includes a sunken bath and outdoor shower.
1/10Water Villas
Each of these overwater villas has a private pool, sundeck, and full-length windows looking out over the Indian Ocean. The bedroom includes a separate dressing area, the bathroom a sunken bath and outdoor shower, and the airy sitting area can double as extra sleeping space for children.
1/10Maalifushi Water Villa
Among the resort's most striking overwater villas, this oversized two-bedroom bungalow sits on its own secluded jetty, with a light-filled interior, a private pool, and a sundeck.
1/3COMO Villas
This two-bedroom overwater villa sits above the lagoon with a large private pool and dedicated butler service, ranking as the resort's top-tier villa — spacious enough for two couples sharing or a family.
Dining
Madi
International
Named after the Dhivehi word for manta ray, Madi draws on fresh local produce and seafood for a light, flavour-forward menu spanning local, Mediterranean, and international dishes from breakfast through late evening. Three weekly themed nights add variety: a Middle Eastern feast on Mondays, a Taste of the Indian Ocean with traditional Boduberu drumming on Wednesdays, and a Friday seafood barbecue under live music.
Tai
Japanese
Named for the red snapper, a fish celebrated in Japanese culture, Tai serves sustainably caught Indian Ocean seafood alongside a cocktail bar with sunset views. It's open six nights a week, standing aside on Fridays for the beachside seafood barbecue.
Thila
Casual
Named after the Maldivian term for reef rock formations, Thila is the resort's casual heart — an open-air restaurant and pool bar serving salads, fresh seafood, and pizza in a relaxed, family-friendly setting, with pool tables and easy background music. Its Pizza Cabana runs daily from noon to 6pm.
Private Dining
Private Dining
For something more intimate, the resort arranges private meals ranging from a gourmet dinner on the villa deck to a candlelit beach picnic, or even a chef-prepared meal on a nearby uninhabited island at sunrise or sunset, served by a private butler.
COMO Shambhala Cuisine
Health-Focused
This health-focused menu concept uses organic, nutrient-rich ingredients prepared raw, steamed, or grilled, with a tandoor oven adding smoky depth without extra fat. It's available at Madi, through in-room dining, and as part of private dining experiences on nearby uninhabited islands.
In-room Dining
In-Villa
In-room dining covers salads, pastas, and fresh juices, available around the clock.
Activities
Night Snorkelling
As the sun sets, guides lead a night snorkel over the house reef to spot shy nocturnal creatures like lionfish and moray eels, while the resident jackfish school picks up speed after dark.
Marine Biologist Presentation
Twice-weekly talks from the resident marine biologist cover local marine life and ecosystems, with time for guests to ask questions or share what they've spotted on the reef.
Surfing
In partnership with Tropicsurf, the resort offers surf lessons for every level, with the nearby Farms reef delivering consistent, well-shaped waves for a range of styles.
Romantic Beach Dinner
A private table can be set up beside the villa's pool or on a quiet stretch of beach, with a butler serving a three-course dinner and Champagne under the stars.
Coral Propagation
Following coral bleaching events tied to past El Niño cycles, the resident marine biologist works with marine consultancy Seamarc to plant new coral frames on the seabed. Guests can sponsor a frame and track its growth through biannual photo updates and complimentary guided dives on return visits.
UV Night Snorkelling
Special UV torches and mask lenses reveal the fluorescent pinks, greens, yellows, and purples that some corals and reef creatures give off at night, on a guided house reef snorkel.
Turtle Expedition Snorkel
After a short briefing on the island's turtle species, a 20-minute boat ride reaches an outer reef where green turtles are commonly seen up close, sometimes drifting near the boat out of curiosity.
Family Castaway Picnic
A gourmet picnic is set up on the shoreline for a relaxed family day of swimming, sunbathing, and napping, with treats for kids and a private bar for the adults.
Romantic Sailing by Traditional Dhoni
A traditional dhoni carries couples out for a sunset sail, with lounge cushions and Champagne on hand while the captain navigates across the atoll.
Transfers
Around 50 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport
Policies
Check-in, check-out, cancellation and other resort-specific policies are confirmed directly with the resort at the time of booking.
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
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
Intercontinental Maldives Resort
InterContinental Maldives Resort sits in Raa Atoll, a 35-minute seaplane transfer from Velana International Airport, close enough to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve at Hanifaru Bay to make manta ray encounters a realistic part of the stay. Across the resort's 81 villas, guests move easily between white-sand beach, open ocean, and the large lagoon that wraps the entire island, itself home to several snorkelling spots thick with reef fish, blacktip reef sharks, dolphins, and turtles. As the first and only all-Club InterContinental property, every stay comes with a set of built-in privileges — a smoother pre-arrival process, a warm island welcome, and complimentary food and drink throughout. Dining runs across six venues, including a 360-degree lighthouse restaurant serving Mediterranean-inspired tapas and a sea-to-table Fish Market where guests pick their own catch. The resort's Marine Discovery Centre, staffed by resident biologists, runs weekly presentations and coral restoration work, and partners with the Manta Trust Foundation on an 'Adopt a Manta' conservation programme. Between the AVI Spa, the Planet Trekkers kids' club, and consistent access to some of the atoll's richest marine life, the resort covers honeymoon, family, and experience-led travel in equal measure.
View Resort