LUX* South Ari Atoll Hotel & Villas, Maldives

The accommodation at LUX* South Ari Atoll combines elegance with traditional Maldivian style. Whether you're on the beach or staying overwater, each villa and pavilion is beautifully beach chic, topped with a thatched roof and is angled towards sunrise or sunset so you can start or end your day right.

Inside, the whitewashed walls create a light, airy and relaxing atmosphere, while the turquoise and orange cushions and day beds on the outside terrace add bursts of bright colour. The beach pavilions and villas come with a terrace which looks onto the cashmere-soft beach and the surrounding foliage makes it feel like you have your own private strip of sand. The indoor-outdoor bathrooms all come with their own standalone tub and outdoor showers. Larger beach pavilions are perfect for families, with the Family Lagoon Pavilions sleeping up to six people.

When it comes to the overwater villas, all have standalone baths overlooking the glittering Indian Ocean and steps leading straight into the gin-clear lagoon below. Each have floating egg chairs and day beds for added relaxation and some have their own private pools.

You are really are spoilt for choice when it comes to cuisine at LUX* South Ari Atoll. With eight restaurants and five bars, it boasts one of the largest dining selections on one island in the Maldives. Senses Restaurant will make your mouth water with its oriental and Indian Ocean-inspired dishes (the tagines and tandoori prawns are to die for), especially when you're dining next to the infinity pool under a blanket of stars. Allegria is a tasty escape to the Mediterranean with Italian style cuisine, MIXE is superb barefoot beachside dining with live cooking stations from wood-fired pizza to sizzling stir-fries, Umami is all about modern Japanese cooking and East Market is a Southeast Asian spread of delicious choices.

More relaxed dining and drinks comes in the form of the beachfront Lagoon Bar and Beach Rouge, while Veli Bar is a seafood bistro by the pool. Coffee lovers can sip a range of blends at Café LUX*, while East Bar is a hip overwater hangout perfect for a sunset cocktail.

Children aged from 3-11 will love the magical adventure-land of PLAY, offering a wealth of activities ranging from treasure hunts and beach games to arts and crafts. Studio 17 is the cool hang-out for 12-17 year olds, where trained LUX* supervisors ensure that teens make the most out of their stay by engaging them in various activities, from language classes and cookery lessons to beach sports and island adventures.

Water babies will be spoilt for choice with the plethora of watersports available at LUX* South Ari Atoll. Dive into the hidden underwater world, or stay on the surface to experience everything from windsurfing to banana boat rides, water-skiing to jet-skiing – thrill-seekers will be in their element! If you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, explore the island by bike or enjoy a game of beach volleyball or tennis on one of the resort’s floodlit courts. And if the weather takes a turn for the worse, head to the indoor game centre for a table football challenge.

If you really want to relax while you're away, the LUX* Me spa has 15 spa villas including four water treatment villas, alongside plunge pools, a sauna and steam bath. A team of therapists draw on holistic and Balinese techniques to carry out an impressive range of facials, massages and other treatments, including some curated by renowned aromatherapist Shirley Page. If you want more of a personal touch, skilled therapists will assess your specific needs and treat your individual aches and pains with Chinese Zhengliao, a medicinal treatment exclusive to LUX*.

Are you planning your next family holiday in the Maldives? Here's why LUX* Ari Atoll could be your perfect resort. 

• LUX* Modern Kids' Club: LUX* have designed their Kids Club on five pillars (eat well, move, care, feel, and create) to be as mindful and modern as possible. At the club, children can enjoy fun and upbeat Zumba classes, relaxing yoga and a nourishing children's food menu. 
• LUX* Teen's Club: Teens won't be bored for even a second at LUX* Teen's Programme. Tennis, watersports, snorkelling and coral planting are just a few of the things they can enjoy. There's even a Wanderlust Library where teens can journal and an art studio.
• Irresistible Ice Cream: LUX* Ari Atoll even has their own brand of ice cream which kids will love and they can learn how to make it in a fun class from no other than the resort's own chef!
• LUX* Me Youth: LUX*'s spa also welcomes children, with a menu of relaxing treatments just for them so why not book a mother-daughter manicure or father-son spa day?
• Cinema Paradiso: Relax under the clear starry night sky and enjoy a family movie at the resort's Cinema Paradiso. The perfect way to wind down after a long day!

There are plenty of reasons why LUX* South Ari Atoll could be the perfect retreat for your next luxury family holiday. Get in touch today to learn more!

Impromptu, surprising and pop-up are what LUX* like to be! An ice cream cart here and an unexpected prize in a bottle there is the norm at LUX* so keep a look out. Prepare to be surprised with their Reasons to go to LUX* Resorts & Hotels.

Ici

You can’t go on holiday without Ice Cream! Ici is their very own ice cream brand and is a fat free treat without the guilty feeling. Choose from flavours like bubblegum, crema with crunchy hazelnut and Sicilian Pistachio. All served from a retro styled mobile carts.

LUX* Me

An integrated philosophy of well-being. Hosting outdoor classes, yoga, pilates, meditation classes and nutrition advice all tailored to your goals to make you feel fitter than ever.

Message in a bottle

Keeping things fun and spontaneous, LUX* have hidden bottles in the beach or secret gardens for you to find. Discover the bottle and find out what unexpected treat you have won. It would be a candle-lit dinner at the water’s edge, a spa treatment or a diving lesson!

Tree of Wishes

Every LUX* Resort & Hotel has a tree of wishes. Tie your personalised unique ribbon around one of the enchanting branches and make a wish. Whilst they cant guarantee your wish will come true, they can promise that once a year one tag will be selected and the lucky person will win a free LUX* holiday.

Café LUX*

Believing great coffee is a must and not a luxury, LUX* has created Café LUX* located at the heart of all hotels. Enjoy organically blended coffee, roasted on-site in a unique setting.

Phone Home

You will find a vintage red telephone box where you can make as many international calls as you like free of charge. The only condition – Please do not call the office!

Cinema Paradiso

Beanbags? Check. Fresh popcorn? You bet. Ice cream? Naturally. Our al fresco cinemas show blockbusters, family classics and much more - all under the stars, and completely on the house.

Aperitivo

A wandering bar – You have to hunt it down! An ideal spot for socialising and packed full of tasty tapas style snacks and changing cocktails by the expert mixologist. You wont find it in the same bar twice!

Honeymooners can enjoy a range of luxuries and romantic experiences at LUX* South Ari Atoll Hotel & Villas.

LUX*'s overwater villas provide elegant views of the nearby sandy bays and azure waters, plus your very own private pool - perfect for admiring sunsets. 

Couples can also indulge in unique private dining experiences, such as a candlelit dinner on the beach or aboard a private catamaran. 

Want to capture these once-in-a-lifetime memories forever? LUX* have thought of that too, with packages that include your very own photographer! 

There are plenty more dreamy activities to enjoy, from spas to special gifts. Get in touch to learn more!

Yes. However, if you'd rather stay on an alternative board basis, such as bed and breakfast or half board, then LUX* South Ari Atoll has those options, too.

LUX* South Ari Atoll is found on Dhidhoofinolhu, one of the largest resort islands in the Maldives. As its name suggests, the resort is in the South Ari Atoll, a diving hotspot.

The quickest, most spectacular and most convenient way to get to LUX* South Ari Atoll is a 25-minute seaplane from Malé, the capital of the Maldives. You can also get a 20-minute flight, followed by a 10-minute speedboat.

Yes. Go snorkelling in the sheltered lagoon which rings the island and you'll come nose-to-fin with stingrays, crayon-coloured fish, black-tipped reef sharks and more. However, LUX* South Ari Atoll's excellent location means that there are also 50 dive sites within an hour's boat ride away.

At 200m wide and 2km long, LUX* South Ari Atoll is situated on one of the largest resort islands in the Maldives. The resort itself has 193 rooms, with accommodation found both on the beach and overwater, and an impressive dining offering of eight restaurants and five bars.