© Nova MaldivesNova Maldives
Ari AtollMid-rangeSeaplane 30′
Snorkelling is among the best of its kind; Quiet & private is the weak spot to accept.
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Experience scores
Who it suits — and who it doesn’t
- + Couple
- + With friends
Guest reputation
Tripadvisor ranking: 1 of 1 on Vakarufalhi; sub-scores Rooms / Service / Cleanliness / Location / Sleep 4.9, Value 4.7
Common praise
- Cleanliness plus modern, spacious villas plus the house reef at your doorstep is the most frequent praise
- Warm, personalised service, Value rated 'excellent'
- A serene, relaxing atmosphere, live music
- 'An underrated snorkelling gem' and 'top-tier house-reef pedigree' - the house reef is the main tag
- 'An old island renovated' and 'the balanced island Nova, an old snorkelling name with fresh, small rooms'
Common complaints
- Some guests find the extras pricey
- The live music is occasionally a bit loud
- The house reef is good, but serious diving still means a boat
- There are also some 'pros and cons / avoid' posts about Nova
- No large kids' club and the atmosphere leans couples
Tripadvisor 4.9/5 (1,217 reviews, Value rated 'excellent') and Google 4.8/5 (366); on Xiaohongshu it is 'an underrated snorkelling gem', with mid-range volume. The consistent draws: a strong house reef (turtles / eagle rays / reef sharks, straight off the island), fresh, spacious rooms from the 2021 renovation, all-inclusive value, and year-round whale-shark chances in South Ari. The consistent weaknesses: no large kids' club (it leans couples), occasionally loud live music, and whale-shark and other excursions charged extra.
Island & location
- Opened
- 2021 (renovated 2021)
- Island
- Vakarufalhi island in South Ari (Ari Atoll); a renovation of the old Vakarufalhi Island Resort, reopened as Nova Maldives in 2021, known for its house reef.
- Area
- approx. 5 ha
- Land per villa
- approx. 658 m² · more is less crowded
- Vegetation
- Lush
- House reef
- Excellent · The house reef around the island is rich - turtles, eagle rays, reef sharks, fish shoals; South Ari has year-round whale-shark chances.
- Official site
- Open →
What Ari Atoll is like →Seaplane vs speedboat →Low vs high season →
Data
Basics
- Atoll
- Ari Atoll
- Tier
- Mid-range
- Low-season price
- $625–$1,389 / night
- High-season price
- $903–$2,083 / night
- How you arrive
- SeaplaneDomestic flight + transfer
- Time from Malé
- approx. 30 min
- Minimum child age
- No limit
Villas
- Villas
- 76 villas
- Villa size
- 80–320 m²
- Villa types
- OverwaterBeach
- Water-villa pool
- Some with a pool
- Beach-villa pool
- Some with a pool
- Standalone beach villas
- Some semi-detached / duplex
- Standard villa sleeps
- 4 guests
- Villa highlights
- An 'underrated' strong house reef (turtles / eagle rays / reef sharks)A 2021 renovation of the old Vakarufalhi Island ResortAn all-inclusive plus year-round whale-shark chances in South Ari
Facilities
- Dining
- 3 restaurants · 2 bars
- Cuisines
- International buffetAsianSeafood grill
- Amenities
- Dive centreSpaGym
Cost
- Board included
- All-inclusive
- All-inclusive scope
- An all-inclusive with free-flowing dining; whale-shark / manta and other excursions and premium activities cost extra.
- Taxes & fees
- +10% service charge, 17% GST, US$12 per person per night green tax; the seaplane costs extra.
Good for
- Good for
- HoneymoonAnniversaryFamily celebration
Sources
- Villas: resort website · novamaldives.com · resortlife.travel · luxatolls.com · 2026-10-13
- Facilities: resort website · 2026-09-10
- Cost: resort website · 2026-09-10
- Good for: resort website · novamaldives.com · 2026-09-10
- Price / scores: editorial estimate (unverified)
Quick answers
- How do you get to Nova Maldives?
- Seaplane / Domestic flight + transfer, about 30 minutes. About a 30-minute seaplane; or a ~25-minute domestic flight from Malé to Maamigili airport, then a 15-20 minute speedboat.
- Does Nova Maldives have a house reef? How is the snorkelling?
- House-reef snorkelling: Excellent. The house reef around the island is rich - turtles, eagle rays, reef sharks, fish shoals; South Ari has year-round whale-shark chances.
- Is Nova Maldives good for kids?
- Children are welcome, but there is no kids club. There is no large kids' club and the atmosphere leans couples; the live music is occasionally a bit loud; whale-shark and other excursions cost extra.
- How much does Nova Maldives cost per night?
- About $625–$1,389 a night in low season and $903–$2,083 in high season (a guide — check the resort’s site).
- What meals are included at Nova Maldives? Is it all-inclusive?
- Standard rate: All-inclusive. An all-inclusive with free-flowing dining; whale-shark / manta and other excursions and premium activities cost extra.
- What is charged on top of the room rate at Nova Maldives?
- +10% service charge, 17% GST, US$12 per person per night green tax; the seaplane costs extra.
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Data is still being compiled; scores and descriptions are under continuous review. Last updated: 2026-09-10