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Written by Stephanie Mikkelsen
Lily Beach Resort & Spa in the Maldives sits on a private island in South Ari Atoll, 25 minutes by seaplane from Malé, and it plays the all-inclusive game at a level that’s genuinely difficult to match. Think 80 premium wines, curated excursions, a house reef directly off the shore and more. Guests return year after year.
Here’s why.
1. There’s an all-inclusive plan that’s hard to fault
From the moment you arrive at Malé’s Velana International Airport, the resort provides meet-and-greet VIP domestic flights and seamless seaplane transfers. Once on the island, the all-inclusive offering covers all meals, free-flow alcohol including Taittinger Champagne and a selection of 80 premium wines, excursions, non-motorised watersports, daily replenished mini bars and more. The tone is barefoot luxury rather than stiff formality – think sand floors in the main restaurant and beach bars with cooling boxes stocked on request.
2. You can snorkel a world-class house reef without leaving the island
Huvahendhoo is a private island in the South Ari Atoll, surrounded by a house reef accessible directly from the shore. The translucent lagoon is ideal for snorkelling, and the resort organises island-hopping excursions to explore the broader atoll. Included excursions in an all-inclusive package may cover a coral garden snorkel, a fishing trip, a sunset cruise, or a trip to a local inhabited island.
3. There are nine villa categories, including suites with a glass floor above the lagoon
Villa categories run from Beach Villas set among lush vegetation with direct beach access, to Lagoon Villas with private terraces opening onto the water, to the Beach Residence – a spacious option with its own private pool and separate living room. At the overwater end, the Deluxe Water Villas offer a private deck and jacuzzi plunge pool, while the Sunset Water Suites step up with a larger deck, larger pool and 24-hour personal butler service. The Sunset Water Suites also feature a glass floor panel so you can watch fish move beneath your feet from inside the villa.
4. You can dine across five venues, from sand-floor buffets to an overwater Asian kitchen
Lily Maa – meaning “flower” in Dhivehi – is the resort’s main all-inclusive restaurant, built on sand floors and centred around lavish buffet spreads and themed dinner nights. Tamarind is the overwater Asian fusion restaurant offering Thai and Indian dishes. Tip: book early, as it fills quickly. AQVA and Vibes handle a la carte lunches, while The Spirit Bar stays open until 1am for those who want to extend the evening.
5. You’ll never get bored
Watersports are a genuine strength – windsurfing, wakeboarding, canoeing, snorkelling and diving are all available, with the resort’s own dive centre operating guided trips around the atoll. On land, the sports complex includes tennis, beach volleyball, table tennis, billiards, a gym and a football pitch. Yoga sessions run six mornings a week, and the wider wellness programme extends to sound healing with crystal singing bowls and kombucha tastings.
6. A lagoon spa uses Ayurvedic treatments
The Tamara Spa is perched over the lagoon and offers massages, body treatments, facials and Ayurvedic therapies. It’s the kind of spa where a 90-minute treatment in open air above moving water shifts something.
7. There’s a kids’ club they’ll love
The Turtle Kids’ Club has a programme of activities from hermit crab races and crafts to watersports and treasure hunts. There’s also a professional photo studio on-island for honeymoon and anniversary guests who want portraits to match the setting.
