Amilla Maldives
A full island, a house reef, and seven places to eat — all yours.
An island resort on Finolhas
Amilla Maldives sits on its own island in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, roughly 125 km from Velana International Airport and about 35 minutes by seaplane. Every one of the 59 villas has a private pool, and the smallest starts at 220 m². The resort runs seven restaurants and three bars, a spa — Javvu Spa, cited among top spas in Asia — and a house reef that Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia ranked in the Maldives' top ten. Most of the island remains jungle, which keeps the built footprint deliberately contained.
Who this stay suits
A large-format, all-private-pool resort with serious dining depth, a highly regarded house reef, and direct access to Hanifaru Bay manta ray excursions.
Best for
- Couples wanting overwater or beach seclusion with a private pool
- Families needing two-bedroom villas or larger residences
- Divers and snorkellers targeting the Baa Atoll reef system
- Food-focused travellers who want variety across seven venues
Less suited to
- Budget-conscious travellers — entry rate is above $1,000/night
- Those who prefer a short boat or land transfer over a seaplane
- Travellers wanting a compact, intimate property
Villas: scale and privacy
All 59 villas have a private pool. Overwater options number 44; ten are on the beach. The smallest category measures 220 m². Two-bedroom configurations sleep four, and the Apartment sleeps six with a private kitchen.
The house reef
The reef sits directly off the island and was ranked among the Maldives' top ten by Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia. Dive Butler International, a 5-star scuba partner, operates on-site for structured dives alongside independent snorkelling access.
Seven restaurants, three bars
Feeling Koi is an overwater Japanese deck. Barolo does homemade Italian pasta. East covers Indian, Chinese, and Thai. The Emperor Beach Club takes a traditional Maldivian angle. Fresh handles breakfast and wellness menus, while Mystique Garden uses produce from the resort's organic garden.
Javvu Spa
Javvu Spa runs massage, Ayurvedic treatments, and reflexology. The property claims a top-10 Asia ranking for the spa. Wellness masterclasses are included under certain board plans.
Baa Atoll location
The island falls inside the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Hanifaru Bay — one of the best-known manta ray aggregation sites in the Indian Ocean — is reachable by excursion from the resort.
The island itself
Much of the island is untouched jungle rather than groomed resort grounds. There is a private beach area, sun terraces, a picnic area, and BBQ facilities alongside the beachfront setting.
Rooms & suites
Water Pool Villa
220 m²
- Private pool
- Balcony
- Sea view
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
Sunset Water Pool Villa
220 m² · sleeps 2 · 1 king bed
- Private suite
- Private pool
- Bath
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
Lagoon Water pool Villa
220 m² · sleeps 2 · Bedroom 1: 1 king bed Living room: 1 sofa bed
- Private pool
- Bath
- Air conditioning
- Desk
- Seating area
Two bedroom treetop pool villa
250 m² · sleeps 2 · Bedroom 1: 1 queen bed Bedroom 2: 2 twin beds
- Private suite
- Private pool
- Balcony
- Bath
- Air conditioning
Two Bedroom Lagoon Water Pool Villa
350 m² · sleeps 2 · Bedroom 1: 1 queen bed Bedroom 2: 2 twin beds
- Private suite
- Private pool
- Bath
- Air conditioning
- Desk
Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villa
sleeps 2 · Bedroom 1: 1 king bed Bedroom 2: 2 twin beds
- Private suite
- Private pool
- Bath
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
Suite
sleeps 2 · Bedroom 1: 1 king bed Bedroom 2: 1 king bed Bedroom 3: 1 king bed Bedroom 4: 1 king bed Bedroom 5: 1 twin bed Bedroom 6: 1 twin bed Bedroom 7: 1 twin bed Bedroom 8: 1 twin bed Living room: 1 sofa bed
- Private suite
- Private kitchen
- Private bathroom
- Private pool
- Bath
Inside Amilla Maldives
Amenities at Amilla Maldives
Most popular facilities
- 2 swimming pools
- Free Wifi
- Beachfront
- Family rooms
- Room service
- 7 restaurants
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Bar
Great for your stay
- 7 restaurants
- Air conditioning
- Spa and wellness center
- Bath
- Free Wifi
- BBQ facilities
- Fitness center
- Family rooms
Bathroom
- Bath
Outdoors
- Picnic area
- Outdoor furniture
- Beachfront
- Sun deck
- Private beach area
- Private pool
- BBQ facilities Additional charge
- Terrace
Activities
- Bicycle rental
- Aerobics Additional charge
- Live sports events (broadcast)
- Live music/Performance
- Cooking class Additional charge
- Tour or class about local culture
- Happy hour Additional charge
- Themed dinners Additional charge
Living Area
- Seating area
- Desk
Getting there
Amilla Maldives is 125 km from Velana International Airport. The main transfer is a seaplane, taking around 35 minutes. An alternative is a 20-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo followed by a 10-minute speedboat to the island. Seaplane schedules are typically daylight-only, so late-arriving flights may require an airport overnight.
Seaplane transfers typically run $250–600 per person round trip, booked through the property. A few islands in this band are also served by a domestic flight to a nearby regional airport plus a short boat — ask the property which routing is faster for your dates.
Amilla Maldives holds a 4.7/5 Google rating across 434 reviews. Guests single out the location and the quality of the reef. The bed comfort is a recurring positive — the property is specifically flagged for this among recent stays. Dietary flexibility across all seven restaurants at no extra charge also draws consistent mention.
- High cost of seaplane transfer (cited at ~$800 per person)
- F&B experience described as subpar/3-star quality by one guest
- Restaurant prices considered expensive; limited restaurant facilities noted
- No beautiful beach in some villa locations; reef unremarkable for some guests
- Minor value-for-money concerns (expensive coffee, inconsistent complimentary inclusions, price-to-quality ratio)
“From the very first moment they welcome you on the airport to the moment you leave this paradise on the earth, everything was just p-e-r-f-e-c-t!”
“The culinary experience was outstanding. A special mention goes to the Japanese restaurant Feeling Koi, where every dinner was a delight — beautifully crafted dishes in a stunning setting by the sea.”
“Expensive with a superb view, but think twice if you're expecting a luxurious gateway. F&B felt like a 3 star hotel experience and design. Very subpar and basic.”
“Our butler Gondo was in touch 24*7 via WhatsApp and all our requests were met immediately. Very good!”
“Kein schöner Strand, Riff ist nichts besonderes. Es war ok aber nichts besonderes für den Preis.”
Guest reviews summarised from Booking.com.
Good to know
Frequently asked
How do I get to Amilla Maldives from the airport?
The standard transfer is a seaplane from Velana International Airport, taking approximately 35 minutes. The resort is about 125 km from the airport. An alternative route runs via a 20-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo followed by a 10-minute speedboat.
What is the entry-level room rate?
The Sunset Water Pool Villa starts from around $1,081 per night. Prices rise to over $5,700 per night for the Apartment, which sleeps six.
How many villas are there, and do they all have private pools?
There are 59 villas in total, and every one has a private pool. Forty-four are overwater; ten are on the beach. The smallest category is 220 m².
What dining options are available?
Seven restaurants cover Japanese (Feeling Koi), Italian (Barolo and Joe's Pizza), Asian (East), traditional Maldivian (The Emperor Beach Club), breakfast and wellness (Fresh), and farm-to-table (Mystique Garden). Three bars include a wine bar, a champagne-and-gin bar, and a cocktail bar.
Are dietary requirements catered for?
Vegan, gluten-free, keto, and paleo menus are available across all seven restaurants at no extra charge. Halal, vegetarian, and Asian breakfast options are also listed.
Is there a house reef for snorkelling and diving?
Yes. The house reef is rated among the Maldives' top ten by Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia. Dive Butler International, a 5-star scuba operator, works on-site. Snorkelling safaris and blue-hole trips are arranged as excursions.
Can I see manta rays near the resort?
The resort is in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Hanifaru Bay manta ray excursions are available — this is one of the Indian Ocean's best-known manta aggregation sites.
Is Amilla Maldives suitable for families with children?
Family rooms and two-bedroom villas are available. A Kids Club runs nature-focused enrichment programmes on-site. The Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villa and the Apartment both sleep four to six guests.
What spa treatments are on offer?
Javvu Spa runs massage, Ayurvedic treatments, and reflexology. The property is part of the Small Luxury Hotels Considerate Collection, which has a sustainability and wellness focus. Wellness masterclasses are included in certain board plans.
What meal plan options are available?
The resort offers half-board and full-board plans. A Dine Around All-Inclusive plan covers multiple venues and includes an in-villa bar. Certain plans also include complimentary excursions and wellness masterclasses.
What other activities are available beyond diving?
Motorized and non-motorized watersports, fishing excursions, dolphin cruises, bicycle rental, cooking classes, cultural tours, tennis, aerobics, and live music or performance events are all available at the resort.
Does Amilla Maldives have sustainability credentials?
The resort holds EarthCheck Gold certification and is part of the Small Luxury Hotels Considerate Collection, which focuses on sustainability and wellness practices.