LUX* South Ari Atoll

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Maldives, Indian Ocean

5 stars

Available offers

Booking Bonus: Book by 15 Oct '26 to receive up to 50% off the accommodation cost between 01 Aug '26–31 Jan '28. Plus, receive a complimentary upgrade from Full Board to All Inclusive.Terms and conditions apply. Any applicable offers have been calculated into the prices shown. Offers may not be combinable. Upgraded meal plan must be selected at time of booking. Blackout dates apply.

This is island living at its most magical. At LUX* South Ari Atoll, every day brings a new surprise, from cinema screenings under the stars to pop-up music performances and handcrafted ice cream by the beach. The vibe is effortlessly relaxed, with just the right touch of playful luxury. Whether you're snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, diving with whale sharks, or simply soaking up the sun by one of the two pools with cocktail in hand, you'll feel completely at ease.

For wellness lovers, the Forbes-awarded LUX* Me Spa offers ocean-view yoga, overwater treatment villas and deeply restorative rituals.

Families are warmly welcomed too, with a creative kids’ club offering everything from cake decorating to gardening. And when it comes to dining, you’re spoilt for choice, with 8 restaurants and 5 bars serving everything from Asian street food and Italian classics to fresh, plant-based dishes with a tropical twist. Sustainability is woven into every detail, from solar energy to a plastic-free approach.

Amenities

Bicycle Rental
Kayaking
Scuba Diving
Snorkelling
Tennis
Windsurfing
Babysitting service
Kids Club
Families
Bar
Fitness Centre/Gym
Internet Access
Laundry Service
Restaurant
Room Service
Spa
Swimming Pool
Beachfront location

Explore the local area

On the island of Dhidhoofinolhu in the South Ari Atoll. Transfer time from Malé International Airport: 25 minutes by seaplane (remember to pack light for the seaplane transfer as luggage allowance is 20kg plus 5kg hand luggage, per person).

Hotel Information

Room Information
Room Upgrade Information

Choose between charming thatched-roof Beach Villas and Pavilions or elegant Overwater Villas, including 62 villas with a private pool. All accommodations are equipped with air-conditioning, a private terrace or balcony, satellite TV, telephone, complimentary WiFi, mini-bar*, tea/coffee-making facilities, safe, hairdryer, and iron and ironing board (on request).Beach Pavilions are interconnecting units located directly on the beach, each with a private outdoor terrace. Bedding configuration: 1 king-size bed plus rollaway bed, sleeping a maximum of 2 adults and 1 infant (in cot), 1 child, or 1 teen.Board Basis Options:

Bed & Breakfast: Includes buffet breakfast at MIXE and East Market restaurants.

Half Board (Dinner): Includes buffet breakfast at MIXE and East Market, plus dinner at MIXE and East Market (buffet), or Beach Rouge and Senses (à la carte). A dining credit per adult, per dinner (food only) is available for Umami and Allegria. In-villa dining is not included and reservations are required for dinner at all à la carte restaurants.

Full Board (Lunch & Dinner): Includes buffet breakfast at MIXE and East Market, lunch at Lagoon Bar, Veli Pool Bar, Beach Rouge and Senses (à la carte), and dinner at MIXE and East Market (buffet), or Beach Rouge and Senses (à la carte). A dining credit per adult, per dinner (food only) is available for Umami and Allegria. Beverages are not included. In-villa dining is not included and reservations are required for dinner at all à la carte restaurants.

All Inclusive (valid for stays until 31 January 2027): Includes breakfast at MIXE and East Market (buffet), lunch at Senses, Veli Pool Bar, Lagoon Bar and Beach Rouge (à la carte), and dinner at MIXE and East Market (buffet), or Beach Rouge and Senses (à la carte). Umami and Allegria are excluded from the package; a dining credit per adult, per dinner (food only) is available when dining at these restaurants. Includes a wide selection of beverages, including soft drinks, tea, coffee, beers, wines, sparkling wine, canned juices, water, cocktails and selected spirits during the scheduled opening hours of restaurants and bars. Also includes complimentary coffee and pastries at Café LUX*, ICI ice cream, daily replenished minibar, tea and coffee making facilities in the villa, a daily spa credit towards selected treatments, and complimentary use of snorkelling equipment, kayaks, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards and scheduled house reef snorkelling trips (weather permitting). In-villa dining is not included, reservations are required for dinner at all à la carte restaurants, and premium beverages and signature dishes are excluded.

All Inclusive (valid for stays from 1 February 2027): Includes the same dining concept and beverage selection as above. Also includes complimentary coffee and pastries at Café LUX*, ICI ice cream, daily replenished minibar, tea and coffee making facilities in the villa, a daily spa credit towards selected treatments, and complimentary use of snorkelling equipment, kayaks, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards and scheduled house reef snorkelling trips (weather permitting). In-villa dining is not included, reservations are required for dinner at all à la carte restaurants, and premium beverages and signature dishes are excluded.

Premium All Inclusive: Includes all the benefits of the All Inclusive package, plus one complimentary dinner at both Allegria and Umami during the stay. Additional dinners at these restaurants receive a dining credit per adult deducted from the bill.

Premium All Inclusive: also includes an enhanced beverage selection featuring selected champagne by the glass, alongside the existing drinks package. In-villa dining is not included, reservations are required for dinner at all à la carte restaurants, and premium beverage menus and signature dishes remain excluded.

Please note: Meal plan inclusions are defined by the hotel and are subject to change at any time without notice.

Hotel details

Dining

8 restaurants; MIXE (feet-in-the-sand international buffet, open for breakfast and dinner), Allegria Restaurant (Mediterranean cuisine, open for dinner), Senses Restaurant (Middle Eastern and Indian ocean cuisine, open for lunch and dinner), East Market (over-the-water Asian market-inspired restaurant, open for European breakfasts and authentic Asian dinners), Umami (Japanese fusion, open for dinner), Beach Rouge (beach club and restaurant, open for all day dining), Cafe LUX* (freshly ground coffee served all day), Veli Pool Bar (all-day poolside drinks, open for lunch), Lagoon Bar (sociable beach bar, open for lunch), Senses Bar and Lounge (cocktails, drinks, teas, light lunches and evening snacks), East Bar (hip over-the-water hangout, open in the evenings). Ice cream once a day from the ICI tricycle.

Fun and Games

2 swimming pools. Spa*. Fitness centre. Complimentary snorkelling equipment, canoe, pedal boats, kayaks, snorkelling trips to the house reef. Water sports* including diving, tube rides, waterskiing, kite surfing, fishing, flyboarding and windsurfing. Whale shark safaris*. Access to volleyball court and tennis courts with complimentary rackets and balls (upon availability). Bicycles*. Beach yoga. PLAY kids club (3–11 years), Teens programme. Weekly activities cater to different age groups and include fun themes like gardening, cooking, swimming, yoga, storytelling, and more.

Young Guests' Paradise programme entitles children to a T-shirt, cap, and bag at the kids’ club, PLAY.A welcome ice cream will be served upon arrival.Complimentary baby amenities in the villa include a nappy bin, baby shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and moisturiser. You'll also find a child-sized bathrobe, slippers, a baby bathtub, a bottle warmer, a steriliser, a hooded towel, and a kid's laundry bag. Cinema Paradiso for kids on the beach, held twice a week.

Entertainment

Daily programme for adults and children including performances by local artists and themed evenings. Cinema Paradiso - open air movies on the beach.

Handy Stuff

Babysitting* (on request). Laundry service*. 24-hour room service*. Complimentary WiFi in public areas.

Minimum Stay

4 nights from the 31st December.

Additional Information

* Denotes local charge.

Please note: to ensure our customer's safety, we are unable to offer over water accommodation to children under the age of 12.

Trip advisor rating

4.9/5

7,842 reviews

Location
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93%

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“Lux = Luxury”

Aug 11, 2026CraigQ16

exceptional stay in over the water villa. Staff were the most friendly & efficient I have encountered worldwide.

“LUX* South Ari Atoll — Honest Review”

Aug 10, 2026AkankshaMaker

I recently stayed at LUX South Ari Atoll* and wanted to share an honest review, particularly for anyone considering the resort for its diving, whale-shark experiences, F&B and overall island experience. The good The island itself is a huge plus. It’s a large resort, which means there’s a surprising amount of variety when it comes to restaurants, bars and things to do. More importantly, the property is very well spaced out. Even though there are quite a few guests on the island, you rarely feel like you’re surrounded by people or staying at a crowded resort. It has a lovely sense of space and privacy. The majority of the staff were warm, friendly and helpful. A special mention to Meera, who was our concierge and was wonderful throughout our stay, as well as Arif, Alauddin and Ravi, who really stood out for their warmth and service. There were a few interactions with other members of staff that felt slightly odd or inconsistent, but overall, most of the team was lovely. 🐋 The whale-shark experience If whale sharks are one of the reasons you’re considering LUX* South Ari, I would absolutely recommend doing this. My biggest piece of advice: speak directly to Ismail at the Water Sports Centre about the whale-shark experience. The resort is in one of the best-known whale-shark areas of the Maldives, and encounters here are possible year-round. Importantly, don’t assume that diving is the best way to see them. We tried diving with Euro Divers and, while the dive operation was professional and perfectly competent, the diving itself was just okay compared with some of the other places I’ve dived in the Maldives. Conditions obviously play a role, but if your primary objective is to see whale sharks, I would prioritise the dedicated whale-shark experience rather than relying on a dive encounter. For me, this was one of the absolute highlights of the stay. 🤿 Diving & marine life There is a dive school, Water Sports Centre and marine biology centre on the island, which makes LUX* a good choice if you’re interested in marine experiences. The dive school was professional, but personally, I wouldn’t choose LUX* South Ari specifically for the diving. I’ve experienced better diving elsewhere in the Maldives. Another thing to know is that the house reef isn’t directly accessible from the resort’s beach. You need to take a boat out to it, so if you’re looking for a resort where you can simply walk off the beach and snorkel a spectacular house reef whenever you want, this probably isn’t the right property. There is also essentially no meaningful snorkelling experience immediately around the resort itself—you need to go out to the reef. 🍽️ F&B The sheer variety of F&B is one of the resort’s strengths because of the size of the island. Senses was one of my favourites. It’s a beautiful spot for sunset, and I really enjoyed the food there as well. Umami was decent and offered a nice change of cuisine. East Market, however, was disappointing for me. It positions itself around Asian cuisine, but I found the food lacking in flavour and overall not particularly memorable. My biggest disappointment was Allegria. I was particularly excited about having my birthday dinner there, but unfortunately, the food was genuinely poor. Given the expectations and positioning of the restaurant, this was a significant let-down. 💰 The “all-inclusive” issue This is probably my biggest criticism of the overall resort experience. The resort is marketed as all-inclusive, but there are quite a few additional charges and exclusions, and I found the structure somewhat frustrating. There seemed to be an additional cost attached to a number of things that I would normally expect to be covered under an all-inclusive package. It started to feel less like a genuinely all-inclusive experience and more like there were opportunities to upsell throughout the stay. I would strongly recommend reading exactly what your particular all-inclusive package covers before booking, because the headline “all-inclusive” doesn’t necessarily mean everything is included. 💆‍♀️ Spa The spa was a definite highlight. I had a really good experience and would highly recommend the spa treatments if you’re staying here. Service & attention to detail Overall service was good, but there were a few small things that took away from the experience. For example, it was my birthday, and at one point the resort had communicated/written “Happy Honeymoon” instead. It’s a small thing, but when you’re paying for a luxury resort and have specifically communicated that you’re there for a birthday, these details matter. There were also a couple of interactions with staff that left me feeling uncomfortable. I don’t want to make a sweeping statement about the entire team because most of our interactions were genuinely lovely, but I did feel that there were moments where the level of warmth and attention seemed noticeably different depending on the guest. In particular, there were instances where I felt that white/western guests were receiving a different level of attention or preferential treatment. I can’t know the intention behind those interactions, so I wouldn’t label it definitively as racism, but as a paying guest, it was something I noticed and found uncomfortable. When everyone is paying comparable luxury-resort rates, you expect the same level of courtesy and service regardless of where you’re from. Overall Would I recommend LUX South Ari? Yes — but for specific reasons. If you’re looking for a large, beautiful island with lots of F&B variety, plenty of space, a good selection of activities and, most importantly, access to the South Ari Atoll whale-shark experience, it’s a very good option. If you’re choosing a resort primarily for exceptional house-reef snorkelling or world-class diving directly from the property, I would look elsewhere. For me, the whale-shark experience was the standout and genuinely worth the trip. The spa was excellent, Senses was a highlight, and the island itself is beautifully designed and spacious. The areas that need improvement are the consistency of service, the F&B quality at some outlets, the somewhat confusing “all-inclusive” structure and the lack of a readily accessible house reef. My biggest tip: if whale sharks are your priority, don’t just rely on the dive centre. Go directly to Ismail at the Water Sports Centre and ask about the whale-shark experience. That’s what I would do again in a heartbeat.

“Exceptional vacation spot”

Aug 10, 2026M8194GCjoyl

Great honeymoon experience! LUX* offers amazing views, excursions and acvities, and good food, Our butler, Rachel, was kind and professional. We enjoyed our stay and would love to come back again sometime.

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This product offers you combinations of a hotel and flights at an inclusive price. This product enjoys the protection of the Package Travel, Package Travel and Linked Arrangements Regulations 2018.

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