Nova Maldives

South Ari Atoll · Seaplane 25 mins · Good Soul Days

Your Soul Place in the Maldives

Where the ocean meets the soul — Nova Maldives, South Ari Atoll

Whale Shark Atoll

South Ari Atoll is one of the world's best spots for year-round whale shark encounters and manta ray sightings

25-Min Seaplane Arrival

Arrive in style — a scenic seaplane flight from Velana International Airport straight to the Nova lagoon

5 Soulful Dining Venues

Soul Kitchen, Mizu, Flames, Solis & Wink — every meal an experience, every sip a memory to savour

Eskape Spa & Wellness

Holistic treatments, sunrise yoga, couples rituals and rejuvenating therapies to restore body and soul

4.9

Based on 1,186 reviews

Travellers' Choice 2024
Excellent
92%
Very Good
6%
Average
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%

What Our Guests Say

Rated Travellers' Choice on TripAdvisor

An unforgettable experience

Excellent experience with comfortable rooms, astonishing views, delicious food and hospitable service. If you are not so good at swimming and never tried snorkelling before, try snorkelling near the shore before the manta or whale quest.

W
Wholock MGuangzhou, China

A soul place we keep returning to

5 stars are not enough for this soul place!!! Incredible service! The island has a fantastic flair and staff with warmth and kindness you rarely find anywhere. We have been to Nova for the second time and I am already trying to book for next year.

B
BernhardGabiVienna, Austria

Beautiful nature and a fantastic team

Amazing place with beautiful nature and a fantastic team! It gives you full relaxation. Nova Maldives is truly a place like no other.

I
Irina M

A wonderful resort for a quiet rest

A wonderful resort for a quiet rest. The staff is polite, working clearly and quickly on requests. The food is quality with a great choice of dishes. The Holhuashi event was really interesting and enjoyable. Thank you Gulnur for helping!

C
Companion26500215304
A villa bedroom at Nova Maldives, vaulted timber ceiling and sliding doors open to a deck and the sea.
A bedroom at Nova Maldives seen from the door, rattan armchair, fruit bowl and framed palm prints.
A villa bathroom at Nova Maldives, green patterned tiles, round backlit mirror and a walk-in shower.
A walled garden pool at Nova Maldives, turquoise water, timber deck and a thatched villa behind.
An open-air bathroom at Nova Maldives, a black jacuzzi tub set in planting beside a green tiled wall.
A garden jacuzzi at Nova Maldives under a thatched roof, with a washbasin and green tiles beyond.
A bedroom at Nova Maldives, white bed with turquoise cushions and a doorway to twin round mirrors.
A villa bathroom at Nova Maldives, blue mosaic shower behind glass and a freestanding tub by the window.
A water villa bedroom at Nova Maldives, sofa and low table, doors open to the deck and the lagoon.
The deck of a water villa at Nova Maldives, a black jacuzzi tub and a lounger above open water.
Thatched villas on stilts at Nova Maldives, seen from the lagoon with decks and jacuzzi tubs.
A guest lying in the deck jacuzzi of a water villa at Nova Maldives, turquoise water below.
Nova Maldives from above, water villas with plunge pools stepping out across the lagoon.
A row of water villas at Nova Maldives with dark reef patches showing through the shallow lagoon.
Looking down on a water villa plunge pool at Nova Maldives, a swimmer and two turquoise loungers.

Nova Maldives

Regular price₹ 393,800
/
Double occupancy (four in the three larger villas), 3 to 7 nights, full board plus, return seaplane transfers, all taxes included except TCS · valid until 25 Dec 2026

Nova Maldives has no check-out time. The villa is yours for 24 hours from the moment you arrive, which matters on an island where the seaplane schedule decides your day. It sits in South Ari Atoll, 25 minutes from Velana by seaplane, inside South Ari's whale shark area.

Three nights for two in a Beach Villa in October, with full board plus, the return seaplane and every tax, comes to ₹305,900. From 1 November the same stay is ₹367,600.

What you pay

Pick your dates and a villa and the price is the whole stay for two: the villa, full board plus, the return seaplane and every tax, green tax included. The three larger villas are priced for four. Nothing more is payable at the resort for those.

October is the gentler month. Prices rise by roughly a fifth from 1 November, and the overwater villas rise fastest.

In October, the water is the better buy. The Water Villa comes in under the Beach Pool Villa. From 1 November that flips and the Beach Pool Villa is the cheaper of the two, so choose by season as much as by taste.

The seaplane is the same on three nights as on ten, so a longer stay spreads it thinner. Four, five and seven nights are all priced above.

What's included, and what isn't

In the price: your villa, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner at Soul Kitchen with soft drinks, juice, water, tea and coffee at meals, the return seaplane, and every Maldivian tax including green tax.

Not in the price: your international flights, travel insurance, alcohol and drinks away from meals, spa and excursions, the compulsory Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve gala dinners, Indian TCS, and anything not named above.

Who this isn't for

Anyone on three nights who wants a drink with lunch. Premium All Inclusive covers alcohol, but it is US$120 per adult per night and needs four paid nights. Families of four in one villa, too: the single villas take three adults, or two adults and a child, so four means an inter-connected villa or the two-bedroom residence.

Nervous swimmers. The house reef is a good one, but the current runs and the reef edge is a long way out in places. Sheltered stretches exist. Ask us which.

Before you book

The seaplane flies in daylight only. Land after about 15:00 and you spend a night in Malé first, so send us your flights before you book them.

Payment is due in full 15 days before arrival. For October stays, half is charged inside 14 days and all of it inside seven. From November, half inside 30 days and all of it inside 14.

26 December to 10 January is not priced on this page. The minimum stay is seven nights, and gala dinners at US$285 per person on Christmas Eve and US$425 on New Year's Eve are compulsory. We can book it and show you the full figure first.

Send us your dates and who is travelling, and we will price two or three villas with everything inside the number, Premium All Inclusive alongside. Message our Maldives specialists on WhatsApp or send us an enquiry. We reply within 24 hours.

House reef 4/5 Strong

Worth choosing the resort for. One or two caveats on entry point or current.

A serious reef with a genuine catch. Fish density is excellent, with big sharks, rays and real variety, and coral regrowth is better than most of South Ari. Marked passages get you out to it. But it sits a long way out in places and the current runs, so swimming the whole island is for confident swimmers only. There are sheltered stretches if you would rather not. Watch for patches where soft sand turns to coral rubble, and for jellyfish in the wet season.

How we score house reefs, and every island ranked →

Getting there

Route Seaplane
Journey 25 min, airport to island
Last arrival that works 15:00

Land at Velana after 15:00 and the last transfer of the day will have gone, which means a night in Malé before you reach the island.

Shared seaplane, daylight only. Land at Velana in the evening and you spend a night in Malé first, so send us your flights and we will check the connection before you book.

Transfer details last checked September 2026. We re-check yours against your actual ticket before we quote. See what your flight can reach →

We were last here October 2022 Inspected in person · 3 yr ago

Nova Maldives has a really easy-going feel to it. We loved the combination of its clean, contemporary overwater villas and the more natural, thatched-roof spaces around the island. The lagoon is beautifully clear, and there’s...

Read the visit note →

Choose Your Villa

Find your soul place at Nova Maldives — beachfront and overwater villas surrounded by turquoise lagoons and vibrant coral reefs in South Ari Atoll

Beach Villa

A serene beachfront retreat with direct access to the ocean and a lush tropical garden. Wake up to the sound of waves and step straight onto the white sand beach.
  • Direct beach & ocean access
  • Private tropical garden terrace
  • Indoor & outdoor shower
  • Daily housekeeping & turndown service
Enquire Now

Sunset Beach Villa with Jacuzzi

A premium beachfront villa facing the spectacular Maldivian sunset, with a private jacuzzi on your terrace. Unwind in warm waters as the sky turns gold each evening.
  • Private jacuzzi on sunset-facing terrace
  • Direct beach access
  • Indoor & outdoor shower
  • Daily housekeeping & turndown service
Enquire Now

Water Villa with Jacuzzi

An elevated overwater retreat combining the magic of lagoon living with a private jacuzzi on your deck. Soak under the stars with nothing but the Indian Ocean stretching before you.
  • Private jacuzzi on overwater deck
  • Glass floor panel to view marine life
  • Indoor & outdoor shower
  • Daily housekeeping & turndown service
Enquire Now

Water Villa with Pool

The pinnacle of overwater luxury at Nova — a private infinity pool that appears to merge seamlessly with the Indian Ocean horizon. The ultimate soul-restoring escape.
  • Private infinity pool merging with the ocean
  • Overwater deck with lagoon steps
  • Glass floor panel to view marine life
  • Daily housekeeping & turndown service
Enquire Now

Where in the Maldives?

Frequently Asked Questions — Nova Maldives

Where is Nova Maldives located? +
Nova Maldives is located in the South Ari Atoll, one of the most biodiverse atolls in the Maldives, renowned for year-round whale shark sightings, manta rays, and vibrant coral reefs.
How do I get to Nova Maldives? +
Fly into Velana International Airport in Malé. Our team will meet you on arrival and escort you to your seaplane transfer. The scenic seaplane flight takes approximately 25 minutes. Seaplanes operate until 4:00 PM daily — please ensure your international flight arrives before this time.
Is Nova Maldives all-inclusive? +
Yes — Nova Maldives operates on a full board plus plan, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and selected beverages. Many activities and non-motorised water sports are also complimentary.
What villa categories are available at Nova Maldives? +
Nova offers Beach Villas, Sunset Beach Villas with Jacuzzi, Water Villas, Water Villas with Jacuzzi, and Water Villas with Private Pool — all with stunning Indian Ocean views.
Can I see whale sharks at Nova Maldives? +
Yes! South Ari Atoll is one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks. Nova's Aquaholics dive centre organises whale shark excursions throughout the year.
Is Nova Maldives suitable for families? +
Absolutely. Nova Maldives is a welcoming resort for families, with a range of activities, water sports, and a relaxed island atmosphere that guests of all ages enjoy.
Are drones allowed at Nova Maldives? +
No — Nova Maldives is a drone-free zone to protect the privacy and freedom of all guests. Please leave your drone at home.
What dining options are available? +
Nova has five dining venues: Soul Kitchen (main all-day restaurant), Mizu (overwater Japanese), Flames (beachside grill), Solis (pool bar & café) and Wink (sunset cocktail bar). The full board plan covers meals at Soul Kitchen.
Is alcohol available at Nova Maldives? +
Yes, alcoholic beverages are available at the resort's bars. However, you cannot bring alcohol into the Maldives — it is strictly prohibited by Maldivian law.
What is the cancellation policy? +
Cancellation policies vary by package and travel dates. Please contact our team at 360 Degree World for full details on your specific booking.

Curated by Maldives Specialists

Every resort we feature is personally vetted by our founders — so you book with confidence.

Pranjal

Pranjal

Founder & Maldives Specialist

Selling the Maldives since 2004. He will tell you when a well-known name is not what it used to be.

Amosha

Amosha

Co-Founder & Maldives Specialist

Meticulous attention to detail and deep resort relationships for seamless, personalised journeys.

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