Name: Anantara Veli Maldives Resort
Address: The Maldives

Overwater villas

About Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

An adults-only island of over-water and beach villas, made for honeymoons. Daily yoga and meditation, couples' spa journeys, dinners under the stars, and the restaurants of sister resort Anantara Dhigu across the lagoon.

An adults-only island

Veli is ringed by a turquoise lagoon, and from an over-water villa you can watch baby pufferfish and reef sharks pass through the clear water below. It is one of the Maldives' finest five-star resorts, and it is designed for couples.

Children do not stay here, which is why so many honeymooners choose it. Expect secluded villas, dinners on the sand under the stars, sunset cruises and spa treatments taken side by side.

It is also one of the country's leading wellness resorts. There are villas set up for wellbeing, a private host for whatever you need, daily yoga and meditation, and a wholesome menu running through every restaurant.

At a glance

67 villas over the water, on the ocean and on the beach
30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport
Couples' spa journeys and dining designed around you
The restaurants, spa and leisure facilities of sister resort Anantara Dhigu, a short boat ride away
A Technogym gym

Choosing your villa

Over-water villas: the classic Maldivian stay, looking over a lagoon that begs to be explored. From the sun deck you may see manta rays and the slow passage of traditional dhoni boats. They measure 62 to 125 m² inside and out, sit over the lagoon or on a rocky outcrop, and some have a private pool and villa host.

Beach pool villas: Veli's most indulgent villas, and its most relaxed. Move between bedroom, sun deck and soft sand, and swim in your own pool or the lagoon a few steps away. 145 m² inside and out, with a private pool on the beach.

Accommodation

Rooms, suites and villas

3 Beach Pool Villa 145 m² 3 adults A spacious beach villa with its own pool. Wake to the sun rising over the ocean, slide open the glass doors and step out into a private garden that leads straight onto soft white sand. Details

2 Ocean Pool Villa 130 m² 2 adults Set on its own rocky ledge, completely private, with the open ocean in front and traditional dhoni boats drifting along the horizon. Your pool hangs above the breaking waves; there is a freestanding tub inside and a rain shower under the sky. Details

3 Over Water Villa 66 m² 3 adults The lagoon glitters just beyond the bed. A simple, romantic and thoroughly Maldivian place to stay. Details

3 Superior Over Water Villa 66 m² 3 adults On the outer edge of the lagoon, where the views open right up. Watch the sunrise from bed while the sea breeze comes in through the sliding glass doors. Details

2 Deluxe Over Water Villa 92 m² 3 adults More room and more privacy, with a multi-level sun deck stepping down towards the lagoon and a dressing area beside the bathroom. Details

4 Over Water Pool Villa 111 m² 3 adults Wide, open and full of light, with the lagoon horizon visible from the freestanding tub. Take your espresso on the sun deck, then move down a level to the daybeds, with soft music playing. Details

5 Deluxe Over Water Pool Villa 130 m² 3 adults A private infinity pool and a net hammock slung above the clear water: everything here is made for two. Details

Dining

At the table

Dining at Veli leans towards romance: Japanese and Thai cooking, refined Italian, seafood straight off the boat, and evenings on a private island, at a beach barbecue or under the stars. The list below includes the restaurants of Anantara Dhigu, across the lagoon, which are open to you.

OrigamiRefined Japanese over the water, with a teppanyaki counter. Sushi and sashimi from the day's catch, grilled Hokkaido scallops, sea bass carpaccio with truffle oil and salmon roe, then wagyu and Alaskan king crab cooked in front of you. CuminIndian, Maldivian and Sri Lankan cooking, from Maldivian tuna curry to dishes spiced with herbs from the chef's garden, in an elegant beachside room. Around The World Michelin Star Guest Chef SeriesMichelin-starred chefs visit to cook sustainably with Maldivian produce, through live demonstrations and carefully composed dinners. Baan HuraaA traditional wooden house over the lagoon, glowing at sunset, serving Thai dishes to share: fiery north-eastern salads, southern coconut curries and mango sticky rice to finish. Designer DiningA private dinner on the beach under the stars, in a traditional tent or on a deserted island, with dishes such as lobster grilled by the lagoon. In-Villa DiningThai, Japanese and Italian dishes and all-day snacks brought to your villa, with any dietary need taken care of. Spice SpoonsCooking classes that start in the herb garden, teach you Thai dishes or a menu of your own, and end with a tasting of what you have made. Fushi CaféBreakfast of tropical fruit, fresh pastries, European cheeses and eggs cooked to order; at dinner, live stations, seafood, grills and vegetarian dishes under the stars. Sea Fire SaltSea.Fire.SaltOver the lagoon, facing the Indian Ocean: fresh seafood and dry-aged meats served with a selection of sea salts. AquaPoolside all day: light, fresh plates at lunch, and pasta and pizza in the Italian manner at dinner. Gulhifushi Food TruckA food truck on the resort's private picnic island, for something good to eat between swims.

Wellness

Rest and renewal

Balance Wellness by Anantara uses old healing traditions to rest the body and mind. A typical day starts with a sun salutation, moves on to meditation facing the ocean and ends with an Ayurvedic treatment designed for you. There are four treatment rooms, one dedicated to Ayurveda, a traditional hammam, facials, a medical-aesthetics clinic, a beauty salon, a steam room and sauna, an outdoor shower and a relaxation garden with hot and cold plunge pools.