Gaafu Alifu Atoll · 94 villas · Twin-island resort
The Residence Maldives at Falhumaafushi
A quiet, 94-villa island on the outer rim of Gaafu Alifu, one of the largest atolls on earth, a domestic flight and a short boat ride south of Malé. Most villas sit over the lagoon, the only Clarins spa in the Maldives is on stilts above the water, and a bridge takes you to the sister island of Dhigurah when you want more choice. Choose it for calm, reef and value in the far south; skip it if you want a seaplane landing at the door.
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01The island
Falhumaafushi is a slim strip of sand and palms running along the outer reef of Gaafu Alifu, in the deep south of the Maldives. It opened as the first Maldives resort from The Residence by Cenizaro, and it has kept a low-key, residential feel: white walls, dark timber, colonial touches and a lot of space between villas.
Being this far south changes the trip. There are few other resorts within sight, the reefs see fewer boats, and the transfer is a domestic flight and a short boat rather than a seaplane. In return you get a calm island, a long lagoon and, across the bridge, a second resort to explore. If you are weighing up the south, compare it with Park Hyatt Hadahaa in the same atoll and The Halcyon (formerly Raffles Meradhoo) in Gaafu Alifu's north.
02Villas
Of the 94 villas, 75 are over the water on two jetties and 19 sit on the beach. Pools are 6 m long in one-bedroom villas and 8.5 m in two-bedroom villas.
| Villa | Units | Size | Pool length | Sleeps | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Villa | 11 | 138 sq m | None | 2A+1C | Beach |
| Beach Pool Villa | 6 | 158 sq m | 6 m | 2A+1C | Beach |
| Two-Bedroom Beach Pool Villa | 2 | 273 sq m | 8.5 m | 4A+2C | Beach |
| Water Villa | 39 | 137 sq m | None | 3A or 2A+1C | Overwater |
| Water Pool Villa | 28 | 156 sq m | 6 m | 3A or 2A+1C | Overwater |
| Deluxe Water Pool Villa | 4 | 182 sq m | 6 m | 2A | Overwater |
| Two-Bedroom Water Pool Villa | 4 | 282 sq m | 8.5 m | 4A | Overwater |
Best for families
Best for couples
Friends and families
Every villa type is listed with photographs in the villa section below. Compare: overwater villas with a pool and Maldives beach villas.
03Two islands, one bridge
04Restaurants and bars
The main restaurant, with indoor and outdoor tables on the sand, breakfast through dinner and a children's menu.
At the end of a 230 m jetty over the lagoon: seafood and grills in the evening, with an aperitif bar before dinner.
Partly set into the main pool, with light meals by day and tapas and cocktails in the evening.
Dinners on the beach, on your villa deck or on a sandbank, plus 24-hour in-villa dining.
Across the bridge, Dhigurah adds more restaurants and bars, which makes half board and full board easier to enjoy on a longer stay. We can quote both meal plans side by side.
05The Spa by Clarins
Book a treatment for late afternoon: the pavilions face the lagoon as the light drops.
Abdulla Maseeh, HolidayVibe Maldives
06Reef and diving
07Families
Travelling with small children? Our family luxury resorts guide compares kids clubs across the country.
08Our honest view
09Getting there
10FAQs
Falhumaafushi is in Gaafu Alifu Atoll in the far south of the Maldives, around 400 km from Malé, on a long, narrow island on the outer rim of one of the largest atolls in the world. Its sister resort, The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah, is next door and linked by a bridge.
Fly from Velana International Airport to Kooddoo Airport in Gaafu Alifu, about 55 minutes, then take a short speedboat to the island, usually around 15 minutes. Domestic flights run through the day, but the last connection leaves Malé in the afternoon, so we match your international arrival to the flight schedule.
Yes. Families stay in the beach villas, including two two-bedroom Beach Pool Villas, and the resort lists a kids club for children aged 3 to 12. Children under 13 are not accepted in the Water Villas, so book a beach villa if you are travelling with younger children.
Falhumaafushi is the smaller, quieter island, with 94 villas and a calm, couples-friendly feel. Dhigurah is larger and more family-focused, with a longer beach and more facilities. Guests can cross the bridge to use the restaurants and bars on either island, so a stay at Falhumaafushi gives you the choice of both.
Yes. The Spa by Clarins sits in pavilions over the lagoon, with couples treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge and yoga. It is the only Clarins spa in the Maldives, and treatments use the brand's plant-based products.
Falhumaafushi sits on the edge of the atoll, and the water villas have steps straight down into the lagoon, with the reef within swimming distance. Turtles and reef sharks are often seen. The PADI dive centre runs courses up to Divemaster and boat trips to channel and reef sites in Gaafu Alifu.
For two, the Water Pool Villa gives you a private pool over the lagoon and steps into the sea. The four Deluxe Water Pool Villas are larger at 182 sq m and sleep two adults only, which makes them the quietest choice on the island.
The domestic flight and boat take most of a morning or afternoon each way, so we suggest at least five nights. Seven nights lets you use both islands, dive the southern channels and take a day off the island on a sandbank picnic or fishing trip.
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 sizes and numbers from resort villa data; we confirm every detail at the time of booking.
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