Luxury Maldives holidays
A private-island escape is only as good as the island itself. We compare the reef, beach, transfer, dining and atmosphere before recommending where you should stay.
Why the Maldives?
The Maldives can be wonderfully simple once you arrive, but choosing well takes more thought than picking the prettiest photograph.
Some islands are small and barefoot, others have several restaurants, busy watersports centres and plenty for families. One resort may have a superb house reef, while another is better for a wide beach or an exceptional overwater villa.
We look at how you want to spend your days. That gives us a much clearer idea of the island, room type and meal plan that will suit you.
Considered combinations
These journeys are ideas to begin with. The islands, hotels, room choices and number of nights can all be tailored.
9 nights
Island relaxation followed by two city nights
Spend seven unhurried nights on a Maldives island, then finish with two nights in Dubai for striking architecture, excellent dining and a livelier end to the holiday.
14 nights
A privately tailored tour followed by the beach
Travel from Colombo to Galle, Udawalawe, the tea country and the hills around Digana before slowing the pace completely with seven nights in the Maldives.
15 nights
A gentle city stop and two contrasting islands
Pause for a night in Singapore before dividing two full weeks between Hurawalhi and Six Senses Kanuhura. It is an unhurried way to experience two distinct sides of the Maldives in one holiday.
Find your island style
We narrow the choice by deciding what the resort needs to do particularly well for you.
A small island, an easy rhythm and fewer reasons to check the time.
Marine life takes priority, with rewarding snorkelling or diving close at hand.
Privacy, thoughtful dining and an atmosphere suited to couples and celebrations.
Space, activities and dining that work for everyone without losing the sense of occasion.
Our specialist view
An overwater villa gives you the ocean beneath your feet, while a beach villa can offer more privacy, shade and direct access to the sand.
We consider where each room sits, whether the water is suitable for swimming, how exposed the terrace feels and how far you will be from the restaurants. The category name alone never tells the whole story.Ask us about the Maldives
Culture first, island afterwards
The islands work especially well after a busy touring holiday, giving you somewhere beautiful to stop rather than simply another place to visit.
Temples, tea country and wildlife followed by an island selected for complete relaxation.
Explore Sri Lanka →A few energetic city nights before exchanging the skyline for a private island and clear lagoon.
Ask about this journey →Add a restful island stay after a fully escorted holiday, with the flight route and season considered together.
View escorted tours →Beyond the villa
The right island lets you do as much or as little as you please. Reef quality, watersports and boat excursions vary, so we match them to your interests rather than assuming every resort offers the same experience.
Choose between a strong house reef and guided trips to the best nearby sites.
Turtles, rays and reef fish are a joy, but sightings and conditions vary by atoll and season.
Sunset cruises, quiet lunches and unplanned afternoons are every bit as important.
Good to know
The driest period is generally between December and April, although the Maldives can be visited year round. Rainfall, wind and marine conditions vary, so we consider your dates, budget and priorities before recommending an atoll or resort.
Start with the kind of stay you want, then compare the transfer, beach, house reef, room location, dining and atmosphere. We use those details to reduce a very long list to a few suitable choices.
Neither is automatically better. Beach villas can offer shade, privacy and sand outside the door. Overwater villas feel wonderfully special and give direct lagoon access. Some holidays work well with a few nights in each.
Yes. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are a natural culture-and-beach pairing when the flights and weather suit your dates. We can arrange the complete journey, including flights, hotels and private transfers.
No. The resort, room, board basis, flights, transfers and length of stay are chosen around you and quoted using current availability.
Find your island
Tell us about your dates, who is travelling and how you picture the stay. We will recommend the islands worth considering.
