Beach Pool Villa
On the beach · 90 m² · Private pool · Sleeps two adults and two children, or three adults and a child
Minor Hotels · South Ari Atoll
NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort
- 25 min by seaplane
- Land by 15:30
- 4.8 on TripAdvisor · 1,423 reviews
- All taxes in the price
The villas
On the beach
Beach Pool Pavillion Suite
On the beach · 231 m² over two levels · Private pool and a sofa bed · Sleeps two adults and two children, or three adults and a child
Over the water
Overwater Pool Villa
Over the water · 118 m² · Private pool and a sofa bed · Sleeps two adults and a child, or three adults
Overwater Royal Residence with Private Pool
Over the water · 201 m² · Private pool and a sofa bed · Sleeps two adults and two children, or three adults and a child
Split stay · two villas
Split stays start in whichever villa the resort allocates.
2 nights Beach Pool Villa + 1 night Overwater Pool Villa
1 night Beach Pool Villa + 2 nights Overwater Pool Villa
2 nights Beach Pool Villa + 2 nights Overwater Pool Villa
2 nights Beach Pool Pavillion Suite + 2 nights Overwater Pool Villa
The Two Bedroom Beach Pool Pavillion Villa is priced on request.
House reef
Our rating
3/5
Fine
Guests disagree about this one and the disagreement is the honest answer. It is a small island with a small lagoon and patches of reef rather than a continuous one, and the best marine life sits beyond a protective barrier that guests describe as a swim for confident swimmers only. Within that you get blacktip reef sharks, green turtles, a resident guitar shark and plenty of fish, and coral breakage is visible in a lot of places. What this corner of South Ari does give you is the excursions: the local thila dive is exceptional, and whale sharks and mantas are in reach seasonally.
How we score house reefs, and every island ranked →Getting there
Route
Seaplane
- Journey
- 25 min, airport to island
- Last arrival that works
- 15:30
Land at Velana after 15:30 and the last seaplane of the day will have gone, which means a night in Malé before you reach the island.
Seaplanes fly in daylight only and may stop at other islands on the way. Book a flight home that leaves Malé at 09:00 or later. Checked luggage is 20 kg each, with 5 kg in the cabin.
We re-check yours against your actual ticket before we quote. See what your flight can reach →
What guests say
4.8out of 5 on TripAdvisor · 1,423 reviews
Exceptional
From beginning to the end an exceptional stay. Located half an hour airplane transfer from velana airport. It is a small paradise in the Indian Ocean. Five Star quality overall. Friendliness of...
Relaxation
We booked this holiday to relax and we did just that. The staff and service is excellent as are the food options. Personal service is 100% Our beach Villa was perfect and...
I stayed at the water villa and it was great
Serene place most comfortable rooms with amazing view and amazingg hospitality will visit again.
Rating checked 26 October 2026. Read all the reviews on TripAdvisor →
About the resort
NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort is a 25-minute seaplane flight from Malé in South Ari Atoll, the corner of the Maldives best known for whale sharks and mantas. Every villa has its own pool, on the beach or over the lagoon.
It is a small island, sold here on half board, full board or all inclusive, and you can split a stay between a beach villa and an overwater villa.
What you pay
Every price on this page is for two adults sharing, for three or four nights, with your meal plan, the return seaplane and every Maldivian tax, green tax included. Three nights is the shortest stay.
All inclusive comes to a little under a third more than half board. Moving one night of a beach stay over the water adds only a little, so the split stay is the cheapest way to try an overwater villa. The dry season comes to about a fifth more than the green months for the same villa.
What's included, and what isn't
In the price: your villa and meal plan, the return seaplane, bicycles, the kids' club, the gym, Wi-Fi and all Maldivian taxes. Half board is breakfast and a themed buffet dinner, with a fifth off the menu at Ocean. All inclusive adds lunch, dinner at Sea Spray, Ocean or Glow Bar, cocktails and wines by the glass, afternoon tea and a daily minibar.
Not in the price: drinks on half and full board; champagne, brandy and in-villa dining even on all inclusive; diving, excursions and the spa; the Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners; your international flights; travel insurance; Indian TCS; and anything not named above.
Who this isn't for
Strong snorkellers come for the excursions rather than the house reef. The reef here is patchy, and the best of it lies beyond a barrier that is a swim for confident swimmers only. Whale sharks, mantas and a fine local dive site are a boat ride away.
The resort does not recommend overwater villas for children under twelve, and parents who choose one sign a waiver on arrival.
Before you book
The seaplane flies in daylight only. Land in Malé by 15:30 to reach the island the same day, and book a flight home that leaves at 09:00 or later. Checked luggage is 20 kg each, with 5 kg in the cabin.
On a split stay the resort decides whether you start on the beach or over the water. Couples on honeymoon or celebrating an anniversary get extra touches with proof of the date, so tell us when you book. The festive weeks are priced on request.
For current rates, villa availability and transfers, message our Maldives specialists on WhatsApp or send us an enquiry. We reply within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort?
By seaplane from Velana International Airport, about 25 minutes, and the return flight is in every price on this page. Seaplanes fly in daylight only and may stop on the way. Land in Malé by 15:30 to reach the island the same day, and book a flight home that leaves at 09:00 or later.
Which meal plan should I choose at NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort?
All three are priced on this page. Half board is breakfast and a themed buffet dinner, with a fifth off the menu at Ocean and drinks paid for. Full board adds a buffet lunch. All inclusive lets you eat at Sea Spray, Ocean or Glow Bar and adds cocktails and wines by the glass, afternoon tea and a daily minibar. Champagne, brandy and in-villa dining are charged on every plan.
Can I split my stay between a beach villa and an overwater villa at NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort?
Yes. Three-night and four-night split stays are priced on this page, and they are the cheapest way to sleep over the water here. The resort decides whether you start on the beach or over the water.
Is NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort good for families?
The beach villas suit families well, there is a kids' club, and children under two stay free. The resort does not recommend overwater villas for children under twelve, and parents who choose one sign a waiver on arrival. Tell us the ages of everyone travelling and we will price the whole family.
What is the snorkelling like at NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort?
The house reef is patchy, and the best of it sits beyond a barrier that only confident swimmers should cross. Blacktip reef sharks and green turtles are regulars. The real draw is South Ari by boat: whale sharks, mantas and an excellent local dive site.
Are taxes and the seaplane included at NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort?
Yes. Every price on this page includes the villa, your meal plan, the return seaplane for two, the green tax and every other Maldivian tax. Indian TCS is extra. Your international flights and travel insurance are not included.
The resort
Tap any photo to see it full size.
More photos on Instagram: @nhmaldiveskudarah (opens in a new tab)
Tell us your dates and who is travelling
We will price two or three villas with the seaplane and every tax included, and we can quote any dates outside the ones above. We reply within 24 hours.