With no less 26 atolls scattered across the Maldives, you may be wondering which ones would be the best location for your vacation villa. Every atoll in the Maldives appears to be a shimmering turquoise and emerald paradise, but it can be hard to recognize the nuances between them if you’re not familiar with the Maldives. Luckily, Atoll.Homes is on hand to guide you.
Every atoll of the Maldives has unique attractions and topography. Inside each atoll is a varying number of islands, each with different amenities, attractions and population densities. And some atolls are noted for special features such as being a whale shark hub, important ancient archeology or being particular suitability for yachts and cruising.
When Atoll.Homes’ team of experts curated our island catalog, we took into consideration a number of factors that international luxury villa investors are searching for. One of the major considerations we know you have is finding a spot that encapsulates the quintessential laid-back Indian Ocean island atmosphere.
We understand you want a peaceful refuge from your modern life, so we selected the most scenic and tranquil atolls. Atolls where you’re unlikely to be disturbed by interruptions from things such as low-flying aircraft, traffic and cargo ships. We also calculated which islands we could contribute the most amount of community/humanitarian assistance to with our social responsibility projects.
This article aims to give you a taste of just a few of the opportunities at your fingertips. Read on to discover some of the best atolls in the Maldives for a holiday villa.
Laamu Atoll stands out from other atolls for several reasons. Many of the islands in this atoll are quite large and there are plenty of sheltered channels for snorkeling, because the atoll is fringed by a barrier reef. In terms of aesthetics, huge areas of the waters in this atoll have a mesmerizing pale turquoise glow due to its shallowness. You might even recognize some of the scenery from ‘Planet Scarif’ in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
One of our islands, Mundhoo, features archaeological remains from the Maldives’ Buddhist past, as do several other islands in the atoll. Causeways link the islands of Gan, Maandhoo, Kadhdhoo and Fonadhoo (which is quite a rarity in the Maldives). At 11 miles long, it’s the longest stretch of dry land in the Maldives so if you’re into biking, this atoll is a fantastic option as there’s only one other place in the country (Addu City) where you can cycle such long stretches of road.
Baa Atoll is renowned as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and Marine Protected Area due to its incredible marine biodiversity. The jewel in its crown is Hanifaru Bay, a site of scientific (and touristic) interest due to the vast aggregations of manta rays and whale sharks that gather here during certain times of the year when the conditions are right. They’re attracted by zooplankton which become trapped in the bay. Due to high interest in this spectacle and in order to protect the wildlife, Hanifaru Bay is a ticketed natural site rather like a national park. Imagine having all of that in your backyard!
Another notable feature of Baa is it is famous for producing the finest lacquer-ware in the Maldives. Lacquer-ware is a traditional skill whereby items are made from coconut wood and decorated with glossy colorful layers and polished with dry coconut leaves before designs are etched into them. So you can pick up all kinds of handmade vases, boxes and other decorative items for your vacation villa from a local craftsman.
This is the northern half of one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world. Something about the scenery and clear deep water here gives you an unparalleled sense of getting away from it all.
One of our islands, Kondey, is known for its small scale agriculture but also for four ‘hawittas’ (Buddhist prayer mounds) and the ruins of ancient Buddhist settlements. There are also historic mosques dating from the 16th and 17th centuries on a neighboring island, where you can also watch traditional local textile and coir (coconut fibre) rope-making artisans at work. These highlights might appeal to anyone with an interest in history or archeology as well as the local culture.
As we touched on in our post on the kinds of people who will love living in the Maldives, Haa Alifu is particularly appealing for sailors, especially if you enjoy cruising internationally because there’s an excellent harbor and immigration services at Uligamu. It’s a prime spot in the far north Maldives between Sri Lanka/Thailand and the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden. It’s also perfect if you like to keep your own boat nearby for excursions. But even if you’re not into the high life on the high seas, you’ll find plenty that appeals.
Utheemu is a fascinating Haa Alifu island which was the birthplace of a former sultan who overthrew Portugues colonialists in 1573. You can visit his wooden former palace, relax on the fabulous beach or wander amongst the ruins of Buddhist stupas on neighboring islands such as Devvadu.
Laamu Atoll stands out from other atolls for several reasons. Many of the islands in this atoll are quite large and there are plenty of sheltered channels for snorkeling, because the atoll is fringed by a barrier reef. In terms of aesthetics, huge areas of the waters in this atoll have a mesmerizing pale turquoise glow due to its shallowness. You might even recognize some of the scenery from ‘Planet Scarif’ in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
One of our islands, Mundhoo, features archaeological remains from the Maldives’ Buddhist past, as do several other islands in the atoll. Causeways link the islands of Gan, Maandhoo, Kadhdhoo and Fonadhoo (which is quite a rarity in the Maldives). At 11 miles long, it’s the longest stretch of dry land in the Maldives so if you’re into biking, this atoll is a fantastic option as there’s only one other place in the country (Addu City) where you can cycle such long stretches of road.
Baa Atoll is renowned as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and Marine Protected Area due to its incredible marine biodiversity. The jewel in its crown is Hanifaru Bay, a site of scientific (and touristic) interest due to the vast aggregations of manta rays and whale sharks that gather here during certain times of the year when the conditions are right. They’re attracted by zooplankton which become trapped in the bay. Due to high interest in this spectacle and in order to protect the wildlife, Hanifaru Bay is a ticketed natural site rather like a national park. Imagine having all of that in your backyard!
Another notable feature of Baa is it is famous for producing the finest lacquer-ware in the Maldives. Lacquer-ware is a traditional skill whereby items are made from coconut wood and decorated with glossy colorful layers and polished with dry coconut leaves before designs are etched into them. So you can pick up all kinds of handmade vases, boxes and other decorative items for your vacation villa from a local craftsman.
This is the northern half of one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world. Something about the scenery and clear deep water here gives you an unparalleled sense of getting away from it all.
One of our islands, Kondey, is known for its small scale agriculture but also for four ‘hawittas’ (Buddhist prayer mounds) and the ruins of ancient Buddhist settlements. There are also historic mosques dating from the 16th and 17th centuries on a neighboring island, where you can also watch traditional local textile and coir (coconut fibre) rope-making artisans at work. These highlights might appeal to anyone with an interest in history or archeology as well as the local culture.
As we touched on in our post on the kinds of people who will love living in the Maldives, Haa Alifu is particularly appealing for sailors, especially if you enjoy cruising internationally because there’s an excellent harbor and immigration services at Uligamu. It’s a prime spot in the far north Maldives between Sri Lanka/Thailand and the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden. It’s also perfect if you like to keep your own boat nearby for excursions. But even if you’re not into the high life on the high seas, you’ll find plenty that appeals.
Utheemu is a fascinating Haa Alifu island which was the birthplace of a former sultan who overthrew Portugues colonialists in 1573. You can visit his wooden former palace, relax on the fabulous beach or wander amongst the ruins of Buddhist stupas on neighboring islands such as Devvadu.
As you can see, there is a lot of diversity between these glittering atolls. Why not check out our catalog for a more detailed guide to the atolls and islands you could be calling ‘home’.
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