Beach Pavilion
60 m²Sleeps 2 adults & 1 teenBeach view
A thatched-roof beach hut a few steps from the sand, with a furnished terrace and an indoor bathtub.
Net rates on request
BEACH & OVERWATER · FIVE STARS
LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas
A private island in South Ari Atoll, with 193 stilted and beachfront villas above the world's only year-round whale shark grounds.
A private island above whale shark waters
LUX* South Ari Atoll occupies its own island, Dhidhoofinolhu, on the edge of the South Ari Marine Protected Area. A seaplane from Malé takes around twenty-five minutes, landing guests on two miles of beach lined with 193 villas and pavilions across eleven categories, from simple thatched-roof huts to a 360m² presidential villa with its own pool.
The surrounding water is much of the draw: South Ari Atoll holds the world's only year-round whale shark aggregation, and the resort's own marine biologists run trips out to find them. Back on the island, eight restaurants and five bars, a Forbes-rated LUX* ME spa, and a five-star PADI dive centre fill out the rest of the stay.
LOCATIONDhidhoofinolhu, South Ari Atoll · 25-min seaplane from Malé
ROOMS193 villas & pavilions, 11 categories
BEACHTwo miles of white sand, private lagoon
STYLEThatched-roof, barefoot luxury
BEST FORWhale shark divers, families & couples
Villas & pavilions
Eleven categories run from beachfront pavilions to the 360m² LUX* Villa, each with direct access to sand or lagoon.
Beach Villa
95 m²Sleeps 3 adultsBeach view
A standalone villa on the beachfront, with a private terrace and a bathtub set half indoors, half out.
Net rates on request
Maldives Water Villa
98 m²Sleeps 3 adultsLagoon view, overwater
Perched on stilts above the lagoon, with a catamaran net over the water and a bathtub framed by the view.
Net rates on request
Overwater Infinity Pool Villa
110 m²Sleeps 2 adultsLagoon view, private pool
A stilted villa with its own infinity pool and a home theatre system, for evenings spent watching the water.
Net rates on request
Beach Pool Villa
116 m²Sleeps 2 adults & 1 teenBeach view, plunge pool
A beachfront bungalow with a furnished terrace and a private plunge pool set into the outdoor deck.
Net rates on request
Family Beach Pavilion
120 m²Sleeps 4 adults & 2 teensBeach view, two bedrooms
Two thatched-roof pavilions interconnected for families, each with its own entrance and an indoor bathtub.
Net rates on request
Family Lagoon Pavilion
130 m²Sleeps 4 adults & 2 teensBeach view, two bedrooms
Two interconnecting rooms close to the water, built for families who want space without splitting up.
Net rates on request
Beachfront Infinity Pool Villa
136 m²Sleeps 3 adultsBeach view, private pool
A beachfront villa with a private infinity pool and a standalone bathtub set both indoors and out.
Net rates on request
Temptation Beach Pool Villa
206 m²Sleeps 2 adults & 2 teensBeach view, plunge pool
A generous beachfront villa for couples or small families who want the pool and the shoreline both.
Net rates on request
Temptation Pool Water Villa
220 m²Sleeps 2 adultsLagoon view, private pool
An overwater villa with its own infinity pool and jacuzzi, a bird's-nest swing, and private sunbeds above the lagoon.
Net rates on request
LUX* Villa
360 m²Sleeps 2 adults & 1 teenLagoon view, private pool
The resort's largest villa, with a glass-floored living and dining room, a private infinity pool, and its own butler and buggy service.
Net rates on request
At the resort
A Forbes-rated spa, a five-star dive centre, and a stretch of reef holding the world's only year-round whale shark aggregation.
LUX* ME Spa
A Forbes Four-Star spa set among tropical gardens and the lagoon, with a signature coconut massage and treatments for younger guests too.
Dive Centre
A five-star PADI centre offering courses for every level, out onto more than fifty dive sites inside the South Ari Marine Protected Area.
Watersports Centre
Kite surfing, wakeboarding, jet skis and stand-up paddleboarding, plus snorkelling trips out to the reef and remote sandbanks.
PLAY Kids Club
A dedicated clubhouse for ages three to eleven, with games, crafts and coral planting, alongside a separate teens' programme.
Where to eat
Eight restaurants and five bars in total; seven kitchens with a name of their own.
JAPANESE · TEPPANYAKI & ROBATA
UMAMI
Sashimi, nigiri and maki cut at a cobalt-blue bar, with Kobe beef and Australian lamb off the robata grill and a serious sake list to match.
MEDITERRANEAN · BEACH CLUB
Beach Rouge
Wood-fired pizza and grilled seafood on the sand, with the ambience turned up and a Mediterranean lean to the menu.
INDIAN OCEAN · POOLSIDE
Senses
Fish straight from the sea, Moroccan-leaning tagines and Indian Ocean curries, served at the edge of an infinity pool over the water.
SOUTH-EAST ASIAN · OVERWATER
EAST Market
A market-style spread of South-East Asian dishes by day, with an overwater bar on stilts for cocktails after dark.
ITALIAN · BEACHFRONT
Allegria
Gnocchi, wood-fired pizza and fresh seafood from an open kitchen, served on a deck that runs down to the beach.
GLOBAL · BEACHFRONT
MIXE
The resort's all-day restaurant, set on real sand under thatched roofs, with a global menu that spans wood-fired pizza to stir-fries.
COFFEE · ALL-DAY
Café LUX*
House-roasted coffee from an on-site roastery, with pour-overs, cold press and nitro alongside the usual espresso.
HOTEL GALLERY
Inside LUX* South Ari Atoll
Bring a client to LUX* South Ari Atoll
Tell us the dates and the occasion. We will hold space at net rates and manage every detail once your clients land.