Overwater Villas

Maldives overwater villas — the original floating bedroom on stilts above a turquoise lagoon — are the icon that defines the destination. The Maldives pioneered the category at Kurumba in the 1970s, and today around 130 of the country's 170+ resort islands feature them, from entry-level options near USD $650/night to ultra-private suites well above $15,000 a night. This collection gathers the resorts we rate highest for the overwater experience specifically — not just the islands that have them, but the ones that do them best: private pools, glass-floor panels, direct lagoon-access stairs, genuine sunrise or sunset alignment, and house reefs you can actually snorkel straight from the deck. Standouts include Soneva Jani's retractable-roof Water Reserves in Noonu, Conrad Rangali's overwater suites flanking the world-first undersea restaurant Ithaa, Cheval Blanc Randheli's ultra-private one-bedroom water villas, and Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi's flagship Stella Maris Residence. Baa, Noonu, Raa, and South Ari atolls concentrate the best of the category — deep clear lagoons, minimal boat traffic, and pristine reefs. The dry northeast monsoon (November-April) brings calmer water and the clearest snorkelling from the deck; the southwest monsoon (May-October) brings lower rates and, on the eastern side of most atolls, the best manta and whale-shark conditions. Talk to a Resortlife specialist for honest guidance on which overwater villa actually fits your trip — private pool vs. no pool, sunrise vs. sunset, family-friendly two-bedroom vs. honeymoon one-bedroom, and which resort's house reef justifies its premium.