Vilamendhoo island - South Ari atol - Maldives
The Maldives (officially the Republic of Maldives) is a South Asian island country, located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Arabian Sea. It lies about 700 kilometres south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kilometres south-west of India.
This chain of twenty-six atolls (giant ringlike coral formations) and holds 1190 (coral) Islands, on which only 200 Islands are inhabited.
The Islands itself comprising a territory spanning roughly 300 square kilometres, however the total spanning is around 90.000 square kilometres!
The Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries, as well as the smallest Asian country by both land area and population, with around 430.000 inhabitants.
The capital of the Maldives is Malé
This is the most populous city in the Republic of Maldives.
With a population of around 135.000 and an area of 5.8 square kilometres, it is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world!
Click above to view a introduction video of Vilamendhoo spa & resort (Note: Commercial video of resort)
Vilamendhoo Island Resort and Spa
The Maldives welcomes you to a tropical paradise of palm trees, white sandy beaches, sparkling clear, warm water in turquoise lagoons and colorful coral reefs.
Vilamendhoo Island Resort is surrounded by a beautiful lagoon and a long white sandy beach is a true piece of paradise in the Indian Ocean.
This small Island is 900 meters long by 250 meters wide, about 55 acres. It’s only a 25 minutes flight by seaplane from Velana International Airport on Male.
A private escape set in the South Ari Atoll of the gorgeous Maldives, the Vilamendhoo Island Resort and Spa is definitely something special.
Firstly, it features one of the region’s best house reefs, which makes for some of the most spectacular diving and snorkelling experience, right off the beach.
And there’s also the added benefit of exclusive villas on the water and the beach.
Besides snorkeling and diving several other activities are offered: volleyball, tennis, badminton, table tennis, table football, other water sports (e.g. kayaking and windsurfing).
There is an air conditioned fitness centre on the resort.
If you just want to relax pay a visit to the over the water “Duniye Spa”, or one of the 7 bars and restaurants on the Island.
On this paradise island there is really something for everyone.
Vilamendhoo Island Resort and Spa was completely rebuilt in summer 2010 and adapted to the needs of guests and offers now 184 single or double bungalows with perfect comfort and integration in the natural ambiance of the island.
The transfer
There are a couple of ways to get from Male airport to Vilamendhoo Island
You can transfer via a local ferry, this is the cheapest, just a couple of dollars, but will take about 4 hours.
You can also go by speedboat (about $100,-) and arrive in 90 minutes.
Or take the (preferred) transfer, by Seaplane, however this option is more expensive (Around $300,- for a return trip) but you’ll be drinking your complementary drink within 30 minutes!
We choose the Seaplane Transfer, flying over the various Atols is already an attraction!
Trans Maldivian Airways “TMA” provides seaplane transfers to/from the TMA Terminal at the Velana International Airport “VIA” to coincide with the arrival/departure of international flights. As mentioned, the time from the TMA Terminal to Vilamendhoo is about 25 minutes.
Note that Seaplanes fly during daylight hours only
Accommodation
The resort has 184 Rooms include 30 Jacuzzi Water Villas, 30 Jacuzzi Beach Villas, 111 Beach Villas and 13 Garden Rooms.
We resided in a beach villa with the following features:
All feature tropical décor, a king size or twin beds, wood or tile floors, private porch with furniture, air-conditioning,overhead ceiling fan, sitting area, stocked Mini Bar with refrigerator, complimentary tea/coffee, IDD telephone, 32 inch flat screen cable TV, DVD/CD player, high speed broadband Internet connection, personal safe, partially open-air bathroom with double sinks, a rain shower, bath accessories, hair dryer, nightly turndown service, bathrobe, complimentary use of chaise lounges at the pool and beach and beach towels.
Electricity is 220VAC, 50HZ
Restaurants
Two main “sister” restaurants featuring the same “all you can eat” buffet style meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner,
served in traditional open-air, sand floor, thatch roof dining room with a separate table for each guest room.
The Funama Restaurant is for guests in the Garden Rooms and Beach Villas and the Ahima Restaurant
is for adults only, for guests in the Jacuzzi Beach Villas and Jacuzzi Water Villas
Also, “optional” à la carte restaurants including the over-the-water Asian Wok Restaurant, specializing in Asian cuisine and Teppanyaki; the Hot Rock Restaurant on the Sunset Bar beach, featuring seafood, steak or chicken cooked at your table on “hot rocks”, for adults only; and 3 other “optional” á la carte choices; a Snack Menu at the Bars and Pools; Room Service and a selection of special Dinners served on the Beach!
Bars
The Island contains 4 bars:
- The Bonthi Bar, on the beach beside the Funama Restaurant, with satellite TV coverage of international sporting events and a Disco.
- The Boashi Bar beside the Boashi Bar Pool, at the Eastern end of the Island.
- The Sunset Bar beside the Ahima Restaurant for adults only
- The over-the-water Asian Wok Bar at the Eastern end of the island
Sports and Recreation
1.5 km of Beautiful White Sand Beach, a Magnificent Lagoon and Excellent Snorkeling on the House Reef just off the beach; 2 Sparkling Clear Fresh Water Swimming Pools – the Boashi Bar Pool with a Children’s Wading Pool in the center of the Resort and the Sunset Bar Pool for adults only overlooking the Beach.
- A Lighted Tennis Court
- Putting Green
- Volleyball
- Badminton
- Petanque and Football Grounds
- Fishing Excursions including Morning, Afternoon and Deep Sea trips
- Fitness Center
- A Children’s Playground by the Boashi Bar Pool and a Children’s Games Room next to the Jewelry Shop.
- Duniye Spa
Medical Clinic… A Doctor is resident at Vilamendhoo to attend to your health care needs
Euro-Divers Vilamendhoo
Euro-Divers Vilamendhoo is centrally located on a private jetty, a few meters away from the reef. Vilamendhoo is located directly between two channels, making the spectacular house reef very versatile and therefore ranks among the best in the Maldives for scuba diving and snorkeling.
The location on the eastern reef of South Ari Atoll guarantees a good supply of fresh water for an excellent coral growth and plenty of fish.
With over 50 dive sites and a fantastic house reef with 10 entry points, Vilamendhoo is the perfect diver’s paradise for beginners and experienced divers.
South of the island you find a protected Marine Area, Khudarah Thila, an exceptional place for divers and of course the national park at the outside reef.
The dive sites are between 10 minutes and 1 hour away from the island.
These dive sites are reached by comfortable dive boats (dhonis).
The Manta Trust Marine Biology Center
The Maldives has the world’s largest known population of reef manta rays
The Manta Trust is a well-known, UK based, independent non-profit organization, whose mission is to advance conservation of manta rays and their habitat through science, research, raising awareness, and creating influence by providing education.
Guests can take part in workshops and trips run by Vilamendhoo’s resident Marine Biologist
Our Team is here to share our passion for and knowledge of the marine environment with you and hope that your understanding will help conserve the natural beauty of the coral reefs
