About this hotel
General information
Anantara Veli Maldives Resort is an adults-only retreat with an island of its own in South Malé Atoll, ringed by a turquoise lagoon. Its 67 villas are mostly set on stilts over the water; others perch on the island’s rocky edge facing the open ocean, and the beach villas open straight onto the sand. Coconut-thatch roofs, hardwood floors and vivid local fabrics give the interiors an easy island calm.
The resort is shaped above all around couples — dinners on the sand under the stars, sunset cruises, spa rituals for two — with wellness as its second theme: daily yoga and meditation, a dedicated wellness menu and a host who looks after each guest’s programme. Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort shares the lagoon a minute away by pontoon boat, and Veli guests are free to dine there and use its spa and leisure facilities.
Location
The resort lies in South Malé Atoll, 21 km from Velana International Airport in Malé. Guests are met on arrival and taken to the resort’s airport lounge, from where a speedboat reaches the island in about 30 minutes; transfers run around the clock, and a private speedboat or a charter seaplane can be arranged on request. Sister resort Anantara Dhigu is a minute across the lagoon by pontoon boat.
Spa
Balance Wellness by Anantara has four treatment suites, one of them for Ayurveda, a hammam, a medi spa with aesthetic facials, a beauty salon, steam room and sauna, an outdoor shower and a relaxation garden with hot and cold plunge pools. Signature treatments include the 90-minute Lotus Indulgence, which pairs abhyanga massage with shirodhara, a stream of warm oil poured over the forehead; a bespoke massage by a wellness specialist; and a two-hour hammam ritual with exfoliation and a warm candle-oil massage. Resident practitioners cover therapeutic and aerial yoga, nutrition and detox, traditional Thai medicine, deep myofascial work, strength training and Muay Thai. Open 10:00–19:00.
Sports & leisure
Surfing is the island’s signature: the Veli Left reef break peels right in front of Dhoni Bar, a short paddle from the jetty. Tropicsurf, based year-round at neighbouring Anantara Dhigu, runs lagoon lessons, first sessions on gentle nearby waves and trips to more serious breaks such as Boatyards, ten minutes away by boat; the furthest spots are 30 minutes out. The surf season runs from April to October.
- diving with Aquafanatics: Discover Scuba dives to 12 m on the house reef, PADI courses up to Divemaster, and half- and full-day diving safaris
- snorkelling in the lagoon and on the reefs, nurse-shark outings, a coral adoption programme and talks by the resident marine biologist
- a K1 Top Cat catamaran with or without a skipper, stand-up paddleboarding, waterskiing, wakeboarding and kneeboarding, parasailing and electric surfboards
- the yacht Raaya, with en-suite cabins for six, for day and overnight voyages and fishing; Champagne sunset cruises and dolphin-spotting trips
- picnics on the uninhabited island of Gulhifushi, with its own Tiki Bar
- a golf studio with a simulator of famous courses, and beach pétanque, volleyball and badminton
- morning meditation on the beach, yoga in several styles, boot camp and personal training
- Spice Spoons cooking classes in Maldivian and Thai cuisine, with a walk through the chef’s herb garden
- a garden hair salon with manicures and pedicures and a resident photographer; the library and boutique are at Anantara Dhigu
Restaurants & bars
Veli has four restaurants and a bar of its own, and five more venues at Anantara Dhigu are open to its guests. An all-inclusive meal plan covers breakfast, lunch and dinner with selected drinks at selected venues.
- Origami — modern Japanese: sushi, sashimi, robata grill and teppanyaki at two evening seatings
- Cumin — South Asian cooking on the beach: Indian spices, Maldivian tuna curry, Sri Lankan dishes and thali platters; breakfast and dinner
- Baan Huraa — Thai sharing dishes in a teak house on stilts over the lagoon, at the edge of the reef
- Dhoni Bar — poolside bar for guests 18 and over: salads, burgers, light lunches and sunset drinks
- Designer Dining, wine dinners and 24-hour in-villa dining — private meals, including on a deserted island
- at Anantara Dhigu: Fushi Café (international and Maldivian), Sea Fire Salt (overwater grill, seafood), Aqua (pizza and Italian by the pool) and The Yellow Fin Club (bar for guests 18 and over)
Swimming
White sand edges the island and its shallow turquoise lagoon, home to nurse sharks, sea turtles and shoals of reef fish. Overwater villas have steps straight into the lagoon, and beach villas open onto the sand. The resort pool is at Dhoni Bar, and the beach, ocean and overwater pool villas have plunge or infinity pools of their own.
Rooms
Sixty-seven villas of 66–145 m², over the lagoon, on the rocky ocean edge and on the beach; the pool villas come with a Villa Host.
Every villa has Wi-Fi, a 55-inch TV, a Bluetooth sound system, a Nespresso machine and a yoga mat.
Beach Pool Villa
A beachfront villa opening straight onto the sand, with a plunge pool, sundeck and an indoor-outdoor bathroom with a freestanding tub; king bed, up to three adults.
Ocean Pool Villa
Set on the cliff edge for extra privacy, with a plunge pool above the ocean, a freestanding tub and an outdoor rain shower; king bed, up to two adults.
Over Water Villa
A thatched villa over the lagoon, with a sundeck and daybed and steps down into the water; king bed, up to three adults.
Superior Over Water Villa
On the outer edge of the lagoon for more privacy, with sunrise views from the bed, a sundeck with daybed and steps into the lagoon; king bed, up to three adults.
Deluxe Over Water Villa
A roomier overwater villa with a split-level sundeck, a dressing area beside the bathroom and a terrazzo tub for two facing the ocean; king bed, up to three adults.
Over Water Pool Villa
Over the lagoon, with a plunge pool on a split-level deck, a freestanding tub with water views and steps into the lagoon; king bed, up to three adults.
Deluxe Over Water Pool Villa
The largest overwater villa, with a 6-metre infinity pool, an overwater hammock and an oversized tub before floor-to-ceiling windows; king bed, up to three adults.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.