Dreaming of a vacation in one of Maldives’ overwater bungalows? The Maldives are a group of islands in the Indian Ocean famous for their crystal-clear waters, stunning beaches that go on forever, and magnificent overwater bungalows.
The archipelago’s natural beauty and various activities, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, and watching breathtaking sunsets, make it a haven for tourists.
You’ll be spoiled for choice if you wish to stay in an overwater bungalow during your Maldives vacation. Overwater bungalows are plentiful in the Maldives. Keep reading to choose the best overwater bungalows in the Maldives for your next romantic vacation.
1. Soneva Fushi
Soneva Fushi is one of the best overwater bungalows in Maldives. It is a private island resort with spacious luxury villas discreetly tucked away in the jungle of the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The flight time on a seaplane from Male International Airport is around 30 minutes.
Each spacious villa and room at this eco-friendly resort has its own private entrance to the beach. Moreover, the outdoor showers and freestanding tubs in the bathroom’s signature garden setting are excellent.
Complimentary bicycles are available for guests to use while on the island. In addition, there are six restaurants, 500 wines, and an open-air cinema where you can watch movies while counting Saturn’s rings in a state-of-the-art observatory.
Sail on Soneva’s luxurious two-bedroom boat, Soneva in Aqua, or take a glassblowing class at the Maldives’ only glass workshop. Moreover, there are also non-motorized water activities for you to enjoy.
Overnight stays at the sandbank provide guests with an unrivaled opportunity for romance under the stars.
2. St Regis Maldives Vommuli
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort fulfills every traveler’s fantasy of vacationing on a remote tropical island with overwater bungalows. It covers nine hectares and sits on Vommuli Island in the Dhaalu Atoll of the Maldives.
St. Regis features lush flora, pristine white sand beaches, and pure blue waters. Moreover, marine life abounds in the island’s lagoon, making this resort a haven for ocean enthusiasts.
Among the resort’s 77 villas, 44 are perched on the water’s edge, while 33 are spread around the beach. Each room has a plunge pool with a view of the ocean or the garden.
Moreover, a butler can attend to your every need. There are a total of six restaurants available, making this an excellent destination for foodies. Furthermore, there is an Italian specialty restaurant, a sushi bar outside an Asian restaurant, and a temporary Middle Eastern food stand.
Additionally, there’s a pizza place on the beach and a continental restaurant with a five-course menu hidden beneath the sand. This bar and lounge are ideal for unwinding with a drink and tapas while the sun goes down over the ocean.
3. W Maldives
Located on a secluded island in the North Ari Atoll is the W Maldives. It’s a 25-minute flight from Male or a 1.5-hour speedboat ride. The W resort in the Maldives ranks among the best overwater bungalows in the Maldives.
Private plunge pools, direct beach access, and other wow factors are standard in every room category. The glass-floored living area is among the most stylish in the Maldives.
In the resort’s AWAY spa, visitors may indulge in some much-deserved me-time. Water sports, yoga, and aqua aerobics are just some things to do here. There are a total of four dining options, plus two bars.
However, this unique resort’s primary attraction is the beach’s clear sea and white sand. The overwater villas are the epitome of heavenly cool. In addition, guests can enjoy the seamless transition between indoors and outside thanks to the glass flooring, infinity pools, wraparound sun decks, extra-large sun loungers, and floor-to-ceiling sliders.
This resort has some of the most excellent overwater bungalows in the Maldives. It does it with the characters’ personalities and elegance of the W brand.
4. Soneva Jani
The opulent Soneva Jani is the posh sibling of the more well-known Soneva Fushi. This enchanting resort is home to some of the Maldives’ most luxurious overwater bungalows. It is another highlight of the island paradise. It’s ridiculous how many villas there are in this area.
Of course, these residences are more than just villas. These lodgings, called Water Retreats and Water Reserves, can have as many as four bedrooms and 1291 square meters of space. You’ve seen them in Maldivian online video compilations, right?
The rooms’ retractable ceilings and glass flooring expose guests to the night sky and the azure sea below. The villas have private pools and outdoor showers, many of which also have the resort’s signature slides.
Moreover, each visitor can request individual butler service. A floating movie theater and observatory help guests maximize their time under the stars. Whatever the case, this resort is an adults-only paradise featuring some of the Maldives’ finest overwater bungalows.
Regarding overwater luxury, cutting-edge cuisine, and all-around wellness, Soneva Jani sets the bar exceptionally high.
5. COMO Cocoa Island
Cocoa Island is more of a honeymoon destination for adults than a family vacation spot. It’s one of the top overwater bungalows in the Maldives. Guests may relax in one of the resort’s 33 luxurious water bungalows while enjoying the island’s tranquil, natural setting, just 35 minutes from Male.
Although families with children are welcome to stay, the accommodations are not kid-friendly. Instead, families should visit COMO’s sister resort, COMO Maalifushi.
Gorgeous beaches, an infinity pool, a reef right on the property, a fantastic a la carte restaurant, and an expensive spa with a hydrotherapy pool and free daily yoga lessons are just some of the features of this property. Considering the quality of the hotel, the room rates are reasonable. It’s still a more budget-friendly substitute for Gili Lankanfushi.
Despite its diminutive size, the island’s natural splendor is a significant draw. Its composition is magically temporary due to its sandbank’s shifting sands, strong tides, and transient nature. The minimalist furnishings at COMO, such as the wicker chairs in the spa and the dark wood floors in the yoga pavilion that contrast so nicely with the blue of the ocean fit in seamlessly.
6. Fushifaru Maldives
Fushifaru Maldives is a brand-new, exquisitely beautiful island just 35 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport. Visitors can find it on the northeastern edge of Lhaviyani Atoll. The Maldives’ Fushifaru Boutique Resort is nestled amid three of the country’s most famous diving spots and a national Marine Protected Area.
Fushifaru Maldives’ 63 beach and water villas are homey and elegant thanks to a design combining traditional Maldivian elements with contemporary aesthetics. Each lovely villa has its own plunge pool and an open-air bathroom with an indoor and outdoor shower, a double vanity, a daybed, and a view of the dazzling lagoon.
The various regional and international flavors can meet every diner’s needs. Korakali is where you can get your fill of delicious breakfast buffets and foreign fare. At the same time, Raakani on the beach is the place to go for some surfing and turf, and Teppanyaki is where you can get your fill of interactive eating.
7. AYADA Maldives
Private island resort Ayada Maldives provides a luxurious escape from authentic Maldivian culture. Located on the southernmost atoll of the Maldives, Gaafu Dhaalu, just a few kilometers from the equator, the island is among the best resorts in Maldives that have luxurious overwater bungalows.
It features 122 luxurious villas and suites, each with a private pool, butler service, and other five-star amenities. Moreover, the resort features both beach villas and traditional thatched-roof water villas. The latter offers complete seclusion amid lush tropical vegetation and a backdrop of powdery white sands and palm trees.
Diners can choose from one of six eateries. At the same time, those looking to unwind can head to the resort’s expansive spa, surrounded by lush tropical gardens and features a Turkish Hammam, Vichy Shower, and eight separate treatment villas.
The resort’s gardens and tropical flora have earned it a reputation. Its beautiful coral reef is a popular attraction for dolphins.
In the resort, guests can engage in various physical activities, such as tennis, badminton, watersports, yoga, and a 24-hour gym. Alternatively, they can venture on multiple excursions, such as tours to the equator, local towns, and fishing trips.
8. Jumeirah Maldives
The Jumeirah Maldives is a five-star resort with some of the finest overwater bungalows in the Maldives. It is part of the Dubai-based Jumeirah company. It is on the North Male Atoll, and it takes about an hour to get there by speedboat from Male.
There are 67 villas in all, each with a private pool. The Three-Bedroom Water Retreat with Pool in Jumeirah is the one that makes the cut. This water castle has been dubbed “your very own marine palace” and is fit for a sheik.
Each villa has a private pool, flat-screen TV, and a prime beachfront or waterside location. The bright and airy villas provide multiple seating and lounging areas, from rooftop decks to sun terraces with views of the Indian Ocean. All the spacious private bathrooms feature both an indoor and an outdoor shower, a bath, and a couple’s rain shower.
All of these features would only be meaningful with first-rate service. Simply said, Jumeirah is the perfect overwater house in the Maldives.
9. Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giraavaru
The Baa Atoll World Heritage Site is the backdrop for most action in The Four Seasons. Only a half-hour seaplane ride from Male, this is the ultimate in relaxation and pampering. The first type of accommodation is a collection of cottages suspended over the lake.
Everyone is made with the same care and precision as a product from the Four Seasons. However, the Sunrise Three Bedroom Water Suite is their most luxurious oceanfront option.
The land-based rooms feature a private beach, pool, outdoor bathrooms, and extensive private gardens. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the Water Villas look out over the Indian Ocean. The accommodations also feature outdoor bathrooms and nets for lounging over the ocean.
A large infinity pool and a hammock strung over the sea are assured, taking in the breathtaking scenery. In addition, there are three complete bathrooms, an outdoor shower, and plenty of room to relax in the fresh air.
Nonetheless, there is enough to do in the resort. Visitors to the Marine Discovery Center can do sea turtle rehabilitation or snorkel with manta rays. The multiple-award-winning AyurMa provides a wide range of services, including a full-service hair salon. Four Seasons Maldives’ overwater bungalows are among the country’s most luxurious.
10. Gili Lankanfushi Maldives
Gili Lankanfushi is known to have one of the best overwater bungalows in the Maldives. It is just a 20-minute boat journey from Malé International Airport.
The island is a tiny coral atoll in a clear lagoon, and it’s connected to the mainland by a network of jetties leading to magnificent houses.
There is abundant marine life nearby, and guests may use the resort’s PADI diving school and other water activities. Those in the know unanimously agree that this location is at the top of their bucket list.
Only 45 lavish overwater villas, including the exclusive Crusoe Residences and The Private Reserve, are available. You may enjoy your private slice of paradise. Each property was meticulously planned and constructed with sustainability in mind.
You can live right on the lake with your own water garden and sun deck, with a separate shower connected to your bathroom through a boardwalk in the open air. Villas on Gili Lankanfushi are very secluded and spacious.
Bottom Line
No matter your vacation style—relaxing in a private pool overlooking a turquoise lagoon, zipping down a waterslide into the ocean, or making honeymoon memories in a luxurious home high above the calm waters of the Indian Ocean—the Maldives have an overwater bungalow to suit your needs.
It’s no secret that the Maldives are home to some of the world’s most lavish and picture-perfect resorts. Its extensive selection of hotels and other lodgings will make you want to spend every future holiday with your significant other or family there.
