13 retreats · 4 local islands
Kaafu Atoll.
The capital atoll. Malé itself is one of the world's most densely populated cities. Velana International airport, plus over fifty resorts within an hour of the city.
- Full name
- Malé Atoll
- Capital
- Malé
- Inhabited islands
- 9
Retreats
In Kaafu Atoll.
- North Malé
Patina Maldives
A modern island, drawn in clean line and quiet colour.
- 90 villas
- 45 min · speedboat
- Design-led couples
- North Malé
One&Only Reethi Rah
A large island with twelve beaches — for the party that wants space.
- 118 villas
- 45–55 min · boat
- Multi-generational
- South Malé
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
Three islands held under one register — a luxury retreat drawn over a private archipelago.
- 119 villas
- 30 min · yacht
- Whole-island parties
- North Malé
SO/ Maldives
Island couture — bold strokes on a quiet lagoon.
- 80 villas
- 15 min · speedboat
- Design-curious couples and families after graphic style over driftwood neutral
- Kaafu
dusitD2 Feydhoo
Bright island, all hands open — seven minutes from the runway.
- 127 villas
- 7 min · speedboat
- Families and couples after an active, social all-inclusive
- North Malé
OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi
A short crossing from Velana — all-inclusive ease for the open week.
- 268 villas
- 15 min · speedboat
- The shorter, livelier family week
- North Malé
Joy Island
A butterfly-shaped island held for the easy all-inclusive week.
- 151 villas
- 40 min · speedboat
- The all-inclusive week
- South Malé
Embudu Village
One of the country's first retreats — a divers' island, held quietly.
- 122 villas
- 20 min · speedboat
- The dive-led week
- North Malé
Summer Island Maldives
The eco-led Kaimoo retreat — coral propagation, glass-bottled water, a barefoot register.
- 156 villas
- 45 min · speedboat
- The value-led over-water week
- North Malé
Bandos Maldives
The country's second resort, opened December 1972 — origin-story Maldives.
- 215 villas
- 15 min · speedboat
- The short transfer
- North Malé
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
The first international luxury retreat in the country — the garden island of the Four Seasons pair.
- 96 villas
- 25 min · speedboat
- The family week
- South Malé
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives
The surf-led IHG retreat — Kandooma Right at the door, the family programme held.
- 160 villas
- 45 min · speedboat
- The surf-led family
- South Malé
COMO Cocoa Island
All over-water — villas drawn from the line of the Maldivian dhoni.
- 33 villas
- 40 min · speedboat
- The design-led couple
Local islands
The atoll, as it lives.
Thulusdhoo
Two famous breaks, a working harbour, and a long shadow of swell.
Dhiffushi
A small island held close to the capital and yet entirely apart from it.
Maafushi
The first inhabited island to open to the traveller — and still the busiest.
Malé
The country's only city, held on a single mile-wide island — and its reclaimed twin, Hulhumalé.
