Gaafu Alifu Atoll · Two private islands · Autograph Collection
The Halcyon
Two private islands in the far south, almost on the equator: a beach island and an overwater island with 38 pool villas from 220 sq m, two house reefs, a 40-metre pool at the Grand Estate and rare trips to swim with whale sharks. Formerly Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, it joined Marriott's Autograph Collection in November 2025. Choose it for space and remoteness; skip it if you want a short transfer.
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01A new name
If you are searching for Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, this is the same place. The resort left the Raffles brand on 31 October 2025 and reopened the next day as The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives, Autograph Collection, operated under a franchise with Marriott International. Nothing closed, and the islands, villas and team carried on as before.
What changed is the feel and the loyalty programme. The Halcyon leans into the golden era of travel, with the Bell Bar and high tea, and stays now earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points.
02Two islands
The beach island holds the arrival jetty, Bell Bar, Thari, The Firepit, the main pool, Halcyon Spa, Faru Kids Club, the dive and watersports centres, the padel court and the beach and family villas. A moment away by boat, the overwater island has the Overwater Pool Villas and Retreats, Yuzu and Yapa Bar.
Gaafu Alifu is the largest atoll in the world and one of the deepest, and down here the sea feels empty in the best way: no city skyline, little boat traffic and very few other resorts in sight.
03Villas
Every villa has a private pool, and even the smallest is 220 sq m.
| Villa | Units | Size | Bedrooms | Sleeps | Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Pool Villa | 5 | 220 sq m | 1 | 2A + 2C or 3A | Beach island |
| Oceanfront Beach Pool Villa | 5 | 220 sq m | 1 | 2A + 2C or 3A | Beach island |
| Sunset Beach Pool Villa | 3 | 220 sq m | 1 | 2A + 2C or 3A | Beach island |
| Family Beach Pool Villa | 4 | 260 sq m | 2 | 4A + 2C or 2A + 4C | Beach island |
| Family Oceanfront Beach Pool Villa | 4 | 260 sq m | 2 | 4A + 2C or 2A + 4C | Beach island |
| Overwater Pool Villa | 7 | 230 sq m | 1 | 2A + 2C or 3A | Overwater island |
| Sunset Overwater Pool Villa | 7 | 230 sq m | 1 | 2A + 2C or 3A | Overwater island |
| Horizon Overwater Retreat | 1 | 300 sq m | 2 | 4A + 2C or 2A + 4C | Overwater island |
| Sunset Overwater Retreat | 1 | 300 sq m | 2 | 4A + 2C or 2A + 4C | Overwater island |
| The Halcyon Grand Estate | 1 | 1,250 sq m | 3 | 6A + 2C or 4A + 4C | Beach island |
Standard
Our tips
Each villa type has its own listing with photos below. Compare overwater villas with a pool and private pool villas.
04The Halcyon Grand Estate
See multi-bedroom villas and island buyouts: The Halcyon also has a buyout brochure for exclusive use.
05Dining
Breakfast, lunch and dinner for 60, the island's all-day restaurant.
Breakfast and dinner for 40 on the overwater island.
Lunch and dinner on the sand for 50.
Drinks and bites from late morning, and high tea.
An intimate sunset bar for ten, from 5pm.
Private chef experiences, with menus set to your requests.
Meal plans run from bed and breakfast to premium all-inclusive, and all can be used at Thari, Yuzu and The Firepit.
06Reefs and trips
07Families
Compare luxury family resorts.
08Our honest view
09Getting there
10FAQs
Yes. The resort operated as Raffles Maldives Meradhoo until 31 October 2025 and became The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, on 1 November 2025. The islands, villas and restaurants are the same, and stays now earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points.
It is in Gaafu Alifu, also called Huvadhoo, the largest atoll in the world, in the far south of the Maldives close to the equator. The resort spans two private islands: a beach island and an overwater island joined by a short boat ride.
Either a seaplane of about 90 minutes from Velana International Airport, which the resort calls the most scenic seaplane journey in the Maldives, or a 55-minute domestic flight to Kaadedhdhoo (KDM) followed by a 15-minute boat ride. The domestic route is the one to use for later arrivals.
There are 38 private pool villas: 21 on the beach island and 16 over the water, plus The Halcyon Grand Estate. Villas start at 220 sq m, and the Grand Estate covers 1,250 sq m with a 40-metre pool.
Yes. Faru Kids Club is open daily from 9am to 6pm for children aged 4 to 12, with complimentary activities. Family Beach Pool Villas and the two Overwater Retreats sleep four adults and two children, or two adults and four children, and babysitting can be arranged.
Bed and breakfast, half board, full board, all-inclusive and premium all-inclusive. The all-inclusive plans add beverages, a floating breakfast and a beach dinner, and premium all-inclusive adds champagne breakfasts, daily high tea and a 90-minute spa treatment for two. We compare the plans for your stay when we quote.
Two house reefs, a dive centre and the Muraka marine biology hub with a resident marine biologist, plus rare excursions such as a whale shark encounter, a tiger shark dive, an equator crossing and a castaway day. On land there is a padel court, a 24-hour fitness studio and Halcyon Spa.
Couples usually love the Sunset Overwater Pool Villa, with a 6 m pool facing the evening sky. If you prefer the beach, an Oceanfront Beach Pool Villa puts the sea right in front of you. Families should look at the Family Oceanfront Beach Pool Villa or the Horizon Overwater Retreat.
HolidayVibe Maldives is a trusted brand in the Maldives travel industry, a Malé-based agency licensed by the Ministry of Tourism (MOT.O1.RS.TA.25.RD9933). You deal with one local team from the first message to your transfer home.
We are luxury travel experts in the Maldives who know these islands villa by villa. We put the villa, transfers, meal plan and current offers into one written quote, often better value than booking sites.
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Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives. Updated 27 October 2026. Villa counts, sizes, venues and transfers from The Halcyon Private Isles Maldives fact sheet 2026; rebrand details from the November 2025 announcement. We confirm every villa, meal plan and transfer at the time of booking.
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| Check Out | 12:00 pm |
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