Excellence Luxury Villas · Maldives
Luxury Villa Rentals in The Maldives
Water villas and beach pool villas across the atolls, from the reefs near Malé to the manta bays of Baa
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Coral islands, clear lagoons and a long way from anywhere
The Maldives is a country made almost entirely of water. Around 1,190 coral islands are scattered across 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka, and hardly any of them rise more than a couple of metres above the sea. The reefs that built them are the reason most people come, and here the snorkelling often begins a few strokes from the beach.
We offer 80+ villas in the Maldives, set within resort islands. There are water villas on stilts above the lagoon, beach pool villas under the palms, and larger residences with up to 4 bedrooms for families travelling together.
This guide covers the atolls, the seasons and how to get there, which matters more here than almost anywhere else.
The Maldives at a glance
- Villas
- 80+ water and beach villas, with up to 4 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £6,900 to £27,500 a week, from around £5,300
- Best areas
- Kaafu Atoll near the airport; Baa, Raa and Lhaviyani to the north; Gaafu Dhaalu in the far south
- Best time
- December to April for dry, calm weather; May to November for the mantas of Hanifaru Bay
- Getting there
- Direct flights from Heathrow to Malé take around ten and a half hours, then a speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight
Browse all 80+ villas in the Maldivesor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Indigo Ocean Maldives1 bedrooms
Villa Sapphire Pool Maldives2 bedrooms
Villa Blue Taro Maldives2 bedrooms
Villa Lime Maldives1 bedroomsWhere to stay in the Maldives
Kaafu Atoll for short transfers from Malé, Baa for manta rays and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Raa for quieter reefs, Lhaviyani for wreck diving, and Gaafu Dhaalu for remote southern waters.
The North and South Malé atolls, a short boat ride away
Kaafu covers the North and South Malé atolls, and its great advantage is speed. Most islands here are a speedboat ride of somewhere between a quarter of an hour and an hour from the airport. That means no wait for a seaplane and no first afternoon lost to travel. It is a sensible choice for a shorter stay, a late landing or a family who would rather not add another leg to a long journey.
Being close to the capital also puts Malé within reach. The Old Friday Mosque, built of carved coral stone in the seventeenth century, and the morning fish market make a good half day, ideally with a guide.
Browse villas in Kaafu Atoll
Manta rays and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
North of Malé, Baa Atoll was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011. At its centre is Hanifaru Bay, a small funnel-shaped reef that traps plankton during the southwest monsoon. From roughly May to November, manta rays gather there to feed, sometimes in their hundreds, and a whale shark occasionally joins them. Diving is banned in the bay and visitor numbers are capped, so you snorkel with a licensed guide.
Neighbouring Raa is quieter, with reefs and lagoons of its own. Both atolls are usually reached by seaplane, a flight of around 30 to 45 minutes with the reefs spread out below you.
Browse villas in Baa Atoll
Wrecks in the north, open water in the south
Lhaviyani, further north again, is a compact atoll that divers know for the Shipyard, two wrecks lying off Felivaru. Its channels are also good for reef sharks and turtles.
Gaafu Dhaalu lies far to the south, just above the equator. To get there you take a domestic flight of around an hour, followed by a boat. What you get in return is space: fewer resorts, open ocean and outer reefs that see few visitors. It is the place for a longer stay, when the journey is part of the point.
Browse villas in Gaafu Dhaalu
Mas huni, two monsoons and warm water all year
A Maldivian breakfast is mas huni, which is tuna, coconut, onion and chilli mixed by hand and eaten with warm roshi flatbread. Garudhiya, a clear fish broth served with rice, lime and chilli, is the national comfort food. Ask for both, and for an evening of bodu beru drumming if the resort puts one on.
The northeast monsoon brings the driest, calmest weather from around December to April, which is the high season. From May to November the southwest monsoon brings more rain and wind, but also the plankton that draws the mantas. The sea stays warm all year. Our concierge can arrange transfers timed to your flights, Hanifaru trips and dive guides.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in the Maldives
Parrotfish Villa Maldives2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £36,392 a week
Tiggerfish Villa Maldives2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £33,752 a week
Seaturtle Villa Maldives1 bedrooms · sleeps 2From £33,752 a week
Villa Roshi Maldives3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £32,997 a week
Villa Sapphire Sunset Maldives1 bedrooms · sleeps 2From £31,965 a week
Manta Ray Villa Maldives1 bedrooms · sleeps 2From £31,111 a week
Villa Sapphire Water Maldives1 bedrooms · sleeps 2From £29,007 a week
Villa Cuvier Maldives1 bedrooms · sleeps 2From £27,582 a weekWhy book your Maldives villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
In the Maldives, the transfer shapes the holiday as much as the villa, and we know which atolls suit a short stay, a young family or a trip timed for the mantas. With 80+ properties in the Maldives, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Seaplane and speedboat transfers timed to your flights, snorkelling trips to Hanifaru Bay, dive guides, sandbank picnics, local island visits and an overnight stay near the airport when you land after dark. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which atoll is best for a villa holiday in the Maldives?
Kaafu Atoll is the easiest, with most islands a short speedboat ride from Malé. Baa suits snorkellers hoping to see manta rays, Raa is quieter, Lhaviyani suits divers, and Gaafu Dhaalu in the far south is for those who want space and quiet.
When is the best time to visit the Maldives?
December to April is the dry season, with calm seas and the most sunshine. May to November is wetter and windier, but it is manta season at Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll, and the sea is warm all year round.
Is alcohol available in the Maldives?
The Maldives is a Muslim country, and alcohol is not sold on local inhabited islands, including Malé. Resort islands serve it as normal. If you visit a local island, modest dress is expected away from designated beaches.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in the Maldives?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in the Maldives cost?
Across our 80+ villas in the Maldives, weekly rates typically range from £6,900 to £27,500, with the most affordable from around £5,300 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to the Maldives from the UK?
There are direct flights from London Heathrow to Velana International Airport at Malé, taking around ten and a half hours. From there you continue by speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight, depending on the atoll. Seaplanes fly only in daylight, so evening arrivals for the outer atolls may need a night near the airport first.
Are there villas in the Maldives for large groups?
Yes. Our Maldives collection includes properties with up to 4 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in the Maldives
80+ villas across the atolls of the Maldives, booked direct with our concierge on hand