Sumptuous dinners on your own private sand bar, wedding or vow renewal ceremonies overseen by tropical sunsets, exotic underwater dining, and luxe overwater villas featuring star-topped plunge pools, the spectacular island nation of the Maldives is the ultimate in romantic escapism.
Whether you're jetting off for an amorous tryst, celebrating a honeymoon or a milestone anniversary, or simply getting away from it all as a couple, these Maldivian resorts provide the perfect backdrops for your love story to unfurl.
Coco Bodu Hithi Resort
Courtesy of Coco Bodu Hithi
ADDRESS
Coco Bodu Hithi Resort, North Male Atoll, Maldives
PHONE +960 664-1122
From the seclusion of your own private, sugary sandbank surrounded by gently lapping turquoise water, it’s hard to believe that Bodu Hithi Island in the North Malé Atoll is only 40 minutes away from the capital Malé and the country’s international airport. Coco Bodu Hithi Resort offers castaway-style escapes where couples can commandeer their own private islands—minus the lost at sea deprivation of course. A picnic breakfast or lunch can be arranged between dips in the cerulean water, as can a gourmet candle-lit dinner accompanied solely by the sound of the sea and the twinkling of stars.
Milaidhoo Island
Courtesy of Milaidhoo Island
ADDRESS
1 Milaidhoo Island Milaidhoo Island, 20002, Maldives
PHONE +960 660-7788
Milaidhoo Island is one of the nation’s smaller resorts, but the boutique property packs a big punch in the romance department. To start, the island’s minimum age limit is 9 years old, meaning there’s no chance a crying baby will interrupt your intimate couple bubble. But the romantic highlight of the island may just be the secluded treatment suites in the overwater spa. Side by side massage tables overlook the waters of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the nature theme continues in luxurious spa products incorporating local botanicals and natural ingredients.
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Anantara Kihavah
Courtesy of Anantara Kihavah
ADDRESS
Kihavah Huravalhi Island Baa Atoll, 20215, Maldives
PHONE +960 664-4111
While resort weddings aren’t legally binding in the Maldives, couples can still celebrate their commitment symbolically in true Maldivian fashion. Wedding and vow renewal ceremonies at Anantara Kihavah are as unique as each couple.
Beach services come complete with traditional drummers and a dreamy backdrop of powder-white sand and aquamarine water. Or tie the knot aboard a glamorous private yacht as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean. Nature enthusiasts may choose to celebrate their nuptials in the glass-walled underwater restaurant with the passing parrotfish and reef sharks as witnesses. For the truly adventurous, the resort offers a dive wedding package, where the bride and groom can say “I Do” while submerged in a tranquil lagoon.
All packages include bridal hair and makeup, a wedding photoshoot, and a newlywed champagne breakfast, while the yacht package also includes your wedding night spent aboard the gently rocking vessel.
You and Me by Cocoon
Courtesy of You & Me by Cocoon Maldives
ADDRESS
Uthurumaafaru, Ungoofaaru 05060, Maldives
PHONE +960 658-1000
While most resorts in the Maldives welcome children, You and Me by Cocoon is adults-only, making it one of the country’s most peaceful destinations for couples. This rustic-chic private island resort delivers romance in spades, with two-person bathtubs, couples photoshoots, a Veuve Cliquot champagne bar, and infinity pools perched on the decks of secluded overwater villas. But one of the most romantic features by far may be a proposal arranged at the underwater restaurant H20, complete with divers holding “Will You Marry Me?” signs behind the glass alongside your table.
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Hurawalhi Island Resort
Courtesy of Hurawalhi Island Resort
ADDRESS
Hurawalhi Island, Lhaviyani Atoll 20187, Maldives
PHONE +960 662-2000
Dining under the sea may just be the Maldives’ most unique romantic experience. Hurawalhi Island Resort is home to the exclusive 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, an all-glass structure that sits 5.8 meters (approximately 19 feet) under the surface, and is the world’s largest underwater restaurant. Modern cuisine such as truffle mushroom chicken risotto and seared wagyu tenderloin (plus an entirely separate vegan menu for lunch and dinner) are served with a side of spectacular scenery. Diners beware, you may find yourself vying for your partner’s attention with creatures including reef sharks, octopi, and moray eels.
Baros Maldives
Courtesy of Baros Maldives
ADDRESS
Baros, Maldives
PHONE +960 664-2672
Its proximity to the airport (25 minutes by speedboat), pristine surroundings, and quaint, intimate vibe have made Baros Maldives resort a favorite among couples since it opened back in 1973. Let the evening romance begin with a sunset cruise aboard Nooma, the resort’s 64-foot dhoni (a traditional Maldivian sailboat), as you sip champagne and watch for dolphins leaping above the deep blue waves. The dhoni is also available for private snorkeling excursions or intimate dinner cruises, accompanied by either a dive instructor or private butler.
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COMO Cocoa Island
Courtesy of COMO Cocoa Island
ADDRESS
Makunufushi South Malé Atoll, 20109, Maldives
PHONE +960 664-1818
You’re connected to your sweetheart through the mind and body, but what about soul? For couples seeking a deeper spiritual connection, a respite to COMO Cocoa Island may be the remedy. The resort’s famed COMO Shambhala wellness retreat offers including aromatherapy, Ayurveda, and a whole lineup of holistic treatments designed to induce mindfulness and quietude. A range of wellness practices geared toward couples includes massages, yoga, meditation, and pranayama breathing. After your spiritual workout, don’t forget to take a dip in the muscle-melting hydrotherapy pool, there are only a handful of these pools in the Maldives.