Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa
On Thilamaafushi Island in Lhaviyani Atoll, roughly 35 minutes by seaplane from the airport, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa builds its entire design language around the shape of the atolls themselves — their reefs, their marine life, their formation over time. The nine-hectare island keeps much of its natural flora and fauna intact, ringed by a lagoon and coral reefs where manta rays and turtles are a regular sight. Eighty villas mix beach, lagoon and overwater settings, several with private pools, all styled with a mid-century, Bauhaus-influenced aesthetic that channels Le Méridien's European roots through muted colour and clean industrial lines. Across six restaurants and bars, the flavours move from Turquoise's all-day mix of local, Asian and European dishes to Tabemasu's French-inflected Japanese cooking and Riviera's adults-only oyster and sparkling wine terrace. Beyond the table, Explore Spa channels the feel of a European bathhouse, more than 50 dive sites sit within reach across Lhaviyani Atoll, and a dedicated Kids' Hub introduces younger guests to the atoll's wildlife. It's a resort built equally for honeymooners and families drawn to its calm, design-forward take on island life.
Room Types
1/4Beach Villa
Set along the wide, white-sand beach among palms and greenery, the Beach Villa lets guests step straight from the terrace into the lagoon. Muted colour palettes and custom feature walls run through the interior, while the indoor-outdoor bathroom and shaded terrace offer a private pocket amid the greenery.
1/4Sunrise Overwater Villa
Raised on stilts above the ocean, the Sunrise Overwater Villa comes with a private sundeck, steps down into the water, and a hammock strung above the waves — a good spot for watching the sun rise. The ocean-facing bathroom includes a freestanding bath with the same view.
1/6Sunset Overwater Villa
Positioned on the resort's eastern and western edges to catch the evening light, the Sunset Overwater Villa features a private deck with an overwater hammock built for slowing down as the sky changes colour.
1/5Lagoon Villa
Set on its own stretch of beach within tropical gardens, the Lagoon Villa is entered from the island before opening out over the shore, with waves visible below. An overwater hammock, direct access to the water and an ocean-facing bathroom with a freestanding bath complete the setting.
1/4Beach Garden Pool Villa
Sharing the same design as the Beach Villa, this version adds a private pool set into a courtyard garden at the rear, surrounded by island greenery for an extra sense of seclusion.
1/6Beach Pool Villa
This villa follows the Beach Villa's style with the addition of a pool right on the beach, framed by sun loungers and a terrace that catches the ocean breeze and views across the lagoon.
1/5Sunset Overwater Pool Villa
Located on the resort's western side, this villa combines a sundeck, overwater hammock and private pool with wide ocean views. Floor-to-ceiling glass floods the interior with natural light, and the ocean-facing bathroom includes a freestanding bath.
1/72 Bedroom Beach Pool
Set among the greenery of Thilamaafushi with a beachfront private pool and garden, this villa suits families or two couples travelling together. Two king bedrooms connect through an interior door, each with its own indoor-outdoor bathroom, balancing shared and private space.
1/92 Bedroom Overwater Pool
Positioned at the end of the resort's east and west jetties, this villa offers two sundecks — one with an infinity pool for dining and lounging, the other with an overwater hammock. A glass viewing panel in the living room looks straight down into the water below, and two king bedrooms with ocean-facing bathrooms make it a fit for families or two couples.
1/9Thilamaafushi Villa
Set in its own quiet corner of the island, the Thilamaafushi Villa is built for families or groups wanting a private hideaway, with lagoon views on every side. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms and generous indoor and outdoor living space are shielded by palm trees for privacy while sea breezes move freely through.
Dining
Turquoise
International
An easygoing, all-day restaurant where the ocean breeze is part of the experience, Turquoise mixes local Maldivian dishes with Asian favourites and modern European cooking, open from breakfast through dinner.
Tabemasu
Japanese
Meaning 'to eat' in Japanese, Tabemasu blends art, design and cuisine into one refined dining experience, pairing regional Japanese techniques with a French mise en place for a distinctly modern take.
Waves Cafe
Healthy
A lighter, more mindful dining spot, Waves Cafe focuses on organic, sustainably sourced ingredients served simply, without unnecessary fuss.
Velaa Bar + Grill
Grill
This beachside venue runs from morning to night, pairing light-bodied wines and hand-crafted cocktails with easy daytime dishes, before shifting to grilled seafood, meats and wood-fired specialities once the stars come out.
Riviera
Seafood
An adults-only spot for long, unhurried lunches, Riviera serves small plates, freshly shucked oysters and chilled seafood alongside sparkling wine, rosé and crisp spritzes, often timed to catch some of the resort's best sunsets.
Latitude
Café
The resort's social centre, Latitude starts the day as a relaxed café serving Illy coffee and deli bites, then transitions into an evening aperitif spot with artisanal liqueurs and small plates.
Activities
Explore Spa by Le Meridien
Drawing on the feel of classic European bathhouses, Explore Spa combines simplicity, nature and mindful design to create a space meant to energise as much as it relaxes.
Le Meridien Family & Kids' Hub
A dedicated space introduces younger guests to the atoll's abundant plant and animal life, both on land and beneath the water.
Waves Fitness centre
Weekly classes and yoga sessions overlooking the Indian Ocean give guests a way to stay active while taking in the view.
Weddings and Occasions
The resort hosts wedding celebrations designed to leave guests with memories to carry home long after the trip ends.
Marine Escapades
Lhaviyani Atoll is known for its rich marine life and excellent diving, with more than 50 dive sites accessible from the resort.
Transfers
Seaplane: 30-45 minutes, USD 600; Speedboat: 45 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
Six Senses Kanuhura
Wrapped in orchid-filled gardens on the edge of the Indian Ocean, Six Senses Kanuhura pairs natural beauty with a genuinely broad range of things to do. Villas rise on stilts above the sparkling lagoon or sit directly on the beach, connected by pathways lined with the resort's own namesake orchid species, found nowhere else. Days can go in almost any direction here — a treatment at the spa, an afternoon of water sports, an evening on the dance floor, or a quiet wander through the gardens. The kitchen team brings serious ambition to the table, and one of the standout dining spots sits on Jehunuhura, a private islet just off the main island reached by boat. Each villa opens onto its own outdoor space with unbroken ocean views, furnished with hand-crafted wood, rattan, and other natural materials for an elegant, rustic feel that suits its island surroundings. It's a 40-minute seaplane journey from Velana International Airport into Lhaviyani Atoll, arriving at a resort built equally for relaxation, gastronomy, and a touch of island seclusion.
View Resort
Atmosphere Kanifushi
Atmosphere Kanifushi sits in the tranquil Lhaviyani Atoll, reached by a roughly 35-minute seaplane transfer from Malé, and unfurls across a full two kilometres of palm-shaded shoreline ringed by a lively lagoon and coral reef. The all-inclusive, five-star retreat pairs 172 beachfront and overwater villas built from natural materials, each blending classic Maldivian craftsmanship with contemporary comforts, for a stay that feels both grounded in local character and thoroughly modern. Days here move at an easy pace: pedal along shaded island paths, drift in the ocean breeze, or slip into the warm shallows to meet the reef's resident marine life. The resort's Platinum Plus™ all-inclusive plan bundles fine dining, drinks, excursions, and snorkelling into the stay, making it a strong match for couples and families who want a generous, worry-free version of island life. Whether the goal is an active week of diving and water sports or long, unstructured days of doing very little, Atmosphere Kanifushi delivers a classic, unspoiled take on the Maldives in one of its quieter, more untouched corners.
View Resort
Cocoon Maldives
Cocoon Maldives holds the distinction of being the country's first true design hotel, the work of Italian studio Lago, set on its own island in Lhaviyani Atoll roughly 30 minutes from Malé by seaplane. Floating beds, reclaimed wildwood furniture and fine linens run through all 150 villas and suites, giving the resort a distinctly Italian sensibility that still leaves plenty of room for the lagoon views and tropical light to take over. Cuisine ranges across three restaurants and two bars, from Octopus's live cooking stations and themed dinner nights to overwater fine dining at Manta and Teppanyaki theatre at Japanese Garden, with sunset cocktails at Kurum Bar and pool-side nightlife at Loabi Loabi. Beyond the table, The Cube Spa, a yoga pavilion and a fully equipped gym round out the wellness side, while a dive centre gives access to nearly 50 sites nearby, including two wreck dives and shark encounters. Families are looked after too, with Kids Village offering supervised play, a cinema and its own pool, and island hosts on hand to arrange everything from dolphin cruises to private sandbank picnics — all wrapped into a stay built on style as much as seclusion.
View Resort