Gaafu Dhaalu · on the Equator · seven villas
Nilaa Coral Island
Seven big beach villas on a private coral island almost on the Equator, each with its own pool, kitchen and butler. An Italian chef runs the kitchen, the house reef is full of turtles, and the resort flies you down in its own jet. Book a villa, or take the whole island for up to 40 guests.
Request custom quoteCompare with NaladhuBuild a package
01The island
Nilaa sits on Kodegalaa, a small island in Gaafu Dhaalu at almost zero degrees latitude. There are only seven villas, all on the beach, so the island feels more like a private estate than a resort. Each villa has its own pool, kitchen and butler, and the architecture is clean and full of light, with pitched roofs and glass walls facing the sea.
The deep south sees far fewer visitors than the atolls near Malé, which is exactly the point. Reefs are quiet, sandbanks are empty and nights are very dark and full of stars.
02Villas
| Villa | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Size | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Bedroom Villa | 2 | 3 | 360 sq m | Up to 4 |
| Three-Bedroom Villa | 3 | 5 | 550 sq m | Up to 6 |
| Five-Bedroom Villa | 5 | 9 | 1,150 sq m | Up to 10 |
Each villa type has its own listing below, plus the whole-island option.
03A day at Nilaa
Reef
Lagoon
Sunset
Mantas, whale sharks and turtles live on the outer reefs. More: diving in the Maldives.
04Food
The kitchen is led by an Italian chef who mixes Italian, Asian and Maldivian flavours. Eat in the all-day restaurant facing the ocean, book the Chef's Table for a tasting journey, or join a cooking class.
The best meals are often private: dinner on a sandbank, on board the boat or on your own terrace. For drinks there is a pool bar, a jetty bar for after a swim and the Sunset Terrace, a raised bar facing due west.
05Spa and families
06Whole island
Nilaa is built for private use. Book the whole island and your group has all seven villas, the restaurant, bars, spa and boat, with the chef and butlers working only for you. It suits weddings, family reunions, milestone birthdays and company retreats.
Because the resort runs its own jet, the whole group can travel down together from Malé in about an hour.
Compare other options: private island buyouts and private island resorts.
07Our honest view
08Getting there
09FAQs
On Kodegalaa in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, in the far south of the Maldives and almost on the Equator. It is a small private island with just seven villas.
The resort runs its own private jet from Malé to Maavarulu airport in about an hour, for up to eight guests, followed by a 15-minute speedboat across the lagoon. Scheduled domestic flights to Maavarulu are also available. The Nilaa team meets you on arrival in Malé.
Seven, all on the beach with a private pool, ocean views, a kitchen and a private butler: a mix of two-bedroom villas (360 sq m) and three-bedroom villas (550 sq m), plus one five-bedroom villa of 1,150 sq m.
Yes. Nilaa can be booked as a whole island for up to 40 guests, which makes it a strong choice for weddings, family reunions and private retreats.
Yes, in its own way. There is no kids club by choice: families share the island together, with babysitting, children's activities planned around their ages and a free baby cot in every villa. Spa treatments are for guests aged 14 and over.
The kitchen is led by an Italian chef cooking Italian, Asian and Maldivian dishes. There is an all-day restaurant, a Chef's Table tasting menu, cooking classes and private dinners on a sandbank, on the boat or in your villa, plus a pool bar, a jetty bar and the west-facing Sunset Terrace.
Snorkel the house reef with turtles, dive day or night with the island's instructors, picnic on a sandbank and take a sunset cruise. The outer reefs bring mantas and whale sharks, and there is a spa, gym, tennis court and open-air fitness.
The Five-Bedroom Villa is due to be ready from early December 2026, according to the resort. We confirm availability before you book.
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.
Request custom quoteCompare with NaladhuBuild a package
More guides: luxury Maldives holidays · compare luxury resorts · overwater villa cost · package builder
Written by Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives. Updated 28 October 2026. Villas, sizes, guests, transfers, dining, spa and family details from the Nilaa Coral Island presentation prepared for HolidayVibe (2026); island name and villa mix from the resort website. We confirm every villa, transfer and buyout at the time of booking.
| Check In | 2:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Check Out | 12:00 pm |
Member Since 2025
Leave a review