About this hotel
General information
Niyama Private Islands Maldives occupies two neighbouring islands in Dhaalu Atoll, joined by a bridge. Each has its own mood: Play is the island of surf, family adventures and activity, while Chill is quieter, home to the overwater villas, the spa and a slower pace. Both are thick with jungle and ringed by coves and sandy beaches, and guests cross between them on the bicycles parked at every villa.
There are 134 villas and pavilions on the beach and over the water, with one to three bedrooms. Niyama is best known for where it serves dinner: Subsix sits six metres below the surface of the ocean, and Nest is set high in the treetops of the jungle. Vodi, the resort's own surf break, peels off the tip of Play island close enough to paddle out from the shore, and evenings bring music, open-air films and fire shows on the beach.
Location
The resort lies in Dhaalu Atoll, south of Malé. From Velana International Airport the seaplane flight takes around 45 minutes; seaplanes fly in daylight only, and guests wait for departure in the resort's private airport lounge. Alternatively, a domestic flight of about 30 minutes to Dhaalu Airport is followed by a speedboat ride of a few minutes. A private seaplane can be arranged on request.
Spa
Drift by Niyama stands over the water, with six overwater treatment rooms, two garden sanctuaries with an outdoor bath, rain shower and daybed, and a lime-tree garden with sauna, steam room, plunge pools and the Vitality juice bar. Treatments are offered for one, for couples or for the whole family, using Codage and Elemis. The menu runs from a signature massage blending Hawaiian lomilomi, Japanese shiatsu and Thai technique, and the Maldivian Sagaafaiy Hoadhun ritual with coconut oil and warmed cowrie shells, to Ayurvedic Abhyanga and Shirodhara guided by a resident doctor, pre- and post-surf or dive treatments, vitamin IV drips, hair-strand epigenetic analysis, multi-day wellness programmes and private yoga.
Sports & leisure
Activities span the water, the reef and the islands themselves.
- Surfing: Vodi, a left-hand reef break off Play island reached by paddling from the beach, and Kasabu, a right-hander a few minutes away by boat; guides pick the spot by the day's conditions, beginners learn in the lagoon, and private coaching includes video analysis; the strongest swells run from April to October
- Snorkelling in the lagoon, visited by turtles in the morning, and in a three-metre coral-lined blue hole; a complimentary boat trip to the outer reef 10 minutes away (guests aged 5 and over)
- PADI 5 Star dive centre: courses, fun dives with a local guide, reef sharks and hawksbill turtles
- REEF marine centre with a resident marine biologist and hands-on coral restoration
- Dolphin and turtle safaris, sunset dhoni cruises, yacht charters and big-game fishing
- Seabob, jet skis, wakeboarding, parasailing, catamaran sailing, and jet-powered surf and paddle boards
- Floodlit tennis and badminton courts in the jungle with complimentary rackets and balls and a professional coach; beach volleyball and football at sunset
- A 24-hour gym, a jungle training circuit and an open-air studio facing the ocean, daily HIIT classes, personal training, and swimming lessons in the pool or the sea
- Daily yoga at the FLOW pavilion beside The Surf Shack
- Painting workshops with the artist in residence, the SNAP photo studio, beach cinema under the stars, the ACTIVE teen room with game consoles, pool, table tennis and mahjong, and The Lair library lounge
For children
Explorers Kids Club welcomes children aged 1 to 11 in four groups: Globetrotters (1–3), Adventurers (3–5), Voyagers (5–8) and Pioneers (8–11). Set in a jungle clearing, it has a playground, trampolines, a splash park, a climbing wall, slides, the Munch mini kitchen for cooking sessions and a stage for performances. The club is open daily from 9am to 6pm, and its programme includes snorkelling safaris, dolphin trips, outings with the marine biologist, cooking classes, mini spa treatments, kids' tennis and junior surf lessons.
Restaurants & bars
The restaurants and bars are joined by dining wherever guests choose, from a barbecue in the villa garden to a table on a deserted sandbank.
- Subsix — underwater restaurant and bar six metres down, reached by speedboat; Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) cuisine, Champagne breakfasts, lunches, dinners and adults-only DJ nights
- Nest — tables in the treetops of the jungle: teppanyaki, Southeast Asian flavours and inventive cocktails
- Edge — overwater fine dining half a kilometre offshore, reached only by boat, with its own lounge
- Tribal — African, Central and South American cooking over open fire beneath the jungle canopy: ostrich, boerewors, lobster and dry-aged beef
- Epicure — Chill island's restaurant by the infinity pool, international breakfast and dinner
- Blu — family-style poolside restaurant on Play island, Mediterranean cooking
- Dune — beach bar by the pool: light dishes, Maldivian curry, shisha at sunset and live acoustic music
- The Surf Shack — bar beside the surf break with grilled bites, rum cocktails and reggae at sunset
- The Deli — café with international treats and grab-and-go snacks
- Took Took — weekly Asian street food grilled over coals on the beach under the open sky
- Food Play — cooking classes for small groups
- Dine-In — in-villa dining
Swimming
Villas line the sandy coves of both islands and the lagoon, home to sea turtles and baby reef sharks; the overwater villas have steps straight down into the water. Each island has a main pool for laps, water polo and volleyball, and most villas and pavilions have private pools of their own.
Rooms
The 134 villas and pavilions sit on the beaches of Play and Chill and over the lagoon, ranging from one-bedroom villas to three-bedroom pavilions and The Crescent, an overwater cluster for groups of up to 22.
Villas have ocean views, a private deck, a Nespresso machine, popcorn and ice cream on demand, an entertainment system, complimentary Wi-Fi and a bicycle at the door.
Beach Villa
Villa with direct beach access and ocean views, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, a deck and an open-air bathroom with tub and shower. King bed; up to three adults and one child.
Deluxe Beach Villa
Villa on the resort's choicest coves, with calm water and good snorkelling just offshore, a sundeck, an outdoor shower and Thakuru host service. King bed; up to three adults and one child.
Beach Pool Villa
Villa in a secluded cove framed by greenery, with a beachfront plunge pool, ocean views and an open-air bathroom. King bed; up to three adults and one child.
Deluxe Beach Pool Villa
Plunge-pool villa on a prime stretch of beach a short stroll from the island's restaurants and water-sports hub, with Thakuru host service. King bed; up to three adults and one child.
Over Water Pool Villa
Villa above the lagoon with a plunge pool at the edge of the deck, a freestanding tub with a view, a dining table, daybed and loungers, and steps down into the water. King bed; up to three adults and one child.
Deluxe Over Water Pool Villa
Villa further along the boardwalk for more privacy and open-ocean views, with a plunge pool and a Jacuzzi above the lagoon and a larger sundeck. King bed; up to three adults and one child.
Family Beach Pool Villa
Family villa on the beach with a large pool, a dhoni-shaped swing, toys and books; the living room with its sofa bed becomes the children's room at night, next to the main bedroom. King bed and sofa bed; up to four adults and one child.
Deluxe Family Beach Pool Villa
Family villa with a large pool on the best stretch of beach beside the Play island hub, and a living room that doubles as a cinema and children's bedroom. King bed and sofa bed; up to four adults and one child.
One Bedroom Ocean Pool Pavilion
Overwater pavilion on a private boardwalk with a full-size pool and Jacuzzi above the lagoon, separate living room, dining room and pantry, sunrise views and breakfast served in the pavilion. King bed and sofa bed; up to three adults and one child.
One Bedroom Beach Pool Pavilion
Pavilion in a secluded cove towards the end of the island, beside the resort's best snorkelling spot, with a full-size pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, a terrace with loungers, living and dining rooms and sunset views. King bed and sofa bed; up to three adults and one child.
Two Bedroom Ocean Pool Pavilion
Overwater pavilion with king and twin bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, a sunken living room, wet bar and pantry, and a pool with Jacuzzi running the length of the pavilion. Up to six adults and two children.
Two Bedroom Beach Pool Pavilion
Pavilion in a secluded cove near the island's tip with a full-size beachfront pool and Jacuzzi, separate living, dining, wet bar and pantry, two en-suite bedrooms and sunset views. Up to six adults and two children.
Three Bedroom Beach Pool Pavilion
The largest beach pavilion: three bedrooms (two kings and a twin), two bathrooms plus a guest WC, two pools, a Jacuzzi, a private spa treatment room, a surround-sound living room and a dhoni-shaped swing. Up to nine adults.
The Crescent
Overwater cluster on a private boardwalk: a central Two Bedroom Ocean Pool Pavilion flanked on each side by a Deluxe Over Water Pool Villa and a One Bedroom Ocean Pool Pavilion, with five pools with Jacuzzis, three living rooms and two dedicated Thakuru hosts. Up to 22 guests (14 adults and 8 children).
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.