Noonu Atoll

Velaa Private Island

Rialto is a Virtuoso agency and can provide VIP access and offers.

Privileged guests can relax in luxury at Velaa Spa, hone their short game at the Velaa Golf Academy by Ryder Cup captain José María Olazábal, or explore the undersea world with a Seabob or a James Bond-style semi-submarine. Polite luxury is the motto here, where all 47 private villas – 18 suspended over water – feature private pools and butler service.

Fushivelavaru Island., Noonu Atoll, Maldives

About Velaa Private Island

Insider tip

Velaa Spa – built over the water – also offers a cloud-shaped treatment pod that rocks you into the utmost blissful relaxation.

In the hotel’s own words

Velaa Private Island is the realization of a dream to create a ‘beyond luxury’ exclusive boutique hideaway. This unique destination was developed to embody the very best of this unique archipelago, bathed by azure skies in the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean.

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Located in the gorgeous Noonu Atoll, 187 kilometres north of Male, Velaa Private Island is an exceptional luxury retreat where our guests are treated like royalty.

Velaa Private Island has been designed and curated with privacy and comfort as the guiding principles while allowing the Indian Ocean to take centre stage. Tucked away within the collection of islands that form the Noonu Atoll, Velaa Private Island is elegantly positioned to overlook enchanting vistas of a cerulean ocean. Its name derived from the generations of sea turtles that flock there to nest and hatch; it is comprised of 45 private villas, houses and exclusive residences, sleeping from 1-10 guests. The resort also includes a Romantic Pool Residence which can only be reached by boat, allowing even more exclusivity. Here all details have been considered: each villa comes with a personal butler, all services offered can be tailored to personal specifications, and attention to detail everywhere is impeccable: stone pavements from the desert in Jordan, Indonesian flowerpots, luxury wood panelling from Borneo, and glimmering Italian marble.

Owner's Story

There are many private islands in Maldives, but only very few of them are truly private, owned by one person. Velaa Private Island is such a case. The owner, Jiri Smejc, has spent countless weeks in Maldives both on holidays and while taking his business trips from Europe to Asia. The islands became his true passion: many of them being beautiful, but each of them coming short on some part of the visitor experience he valued. That's why he decided to build the Velaa Private Island. An island meeting his ideas what a luxurious private resort should be. An island keeping a real privacy for its guests but at the same time versatile enough to provide number of first-class enjoyment opportunities. After all, the owner is the one who will spend most time on the island and wants to enjoy it for years, not only for a week or two...

Architecture and Design

Velaa shares its name and its home with the generations of sea turtles that have inhabited the island for countless years. The colours and patterns of a turtle shell make up subtle nuances in the design, while from a broader aerial view, Velaa’s exclusive over-water villas resemble the head of a turtle with the island forming the body. Designed by Czech architect Petr Kolar, the overall design concept is contemporary, yet intimate, with Maldivian nuances.

VIP Hotel Program · Invitation-only

Virtuoso benefits, included

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Virtuoso is an invitation-only network of luxury travel agencies. VIP rates generally meet or beat the hotel's website rates and include this hotel's own Virtuoso amenities below.

  • Room upgrade on arrival, based on availability
  • Daily breakfast for two per bedroom
  • $150 hotel credit per stay
  • Early check-in and late check-out, based on availability

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Rooms and suites

8 room types, as described by the hotel.
Rooms
Size
1Beach Pool House
In lush foliage flanked by gently swaying palms, the two-bedroom beachfront houses are ideal for families. The large living area works as a retreat in the day and a social hub in the evening.
2Ocean Pool House
Prestigiously located on the tip of the island, in an exclusive private domain, this two-bedroom overwater residence fringed with traditional thatch offers an elegant living space with carefully curated elements.
Villas
Size
3Beach Pool Villa
These detached one-bedroom beach front villas are sumptuously furnished. Mahogany louvered panels and intricate lofty ceilings impart a colonial feel, while teak furniture and suspended bamboo lights bring nature indoors. Wall to wall glass doors frame the terrace and private pool.
4Deluxe Beach Pool Villa
Natural materials and colours bring the outside in, while a suspended chair adds an element of playful refinement. These private one-bedroom beachfront pool villas feature a large separate living room, outdoor terrace and private pool and indoor bathroom.
5Sunrise Water Pool Villa
Along an extended jetty, the villas on this crescent have uninterrupted views of the ocean and private pools. Overhanging thatch offers shade over the dining area, while the bedroom and bathroom open onto the terrace, pool and sun deck, with steps leading alluringly into the ocean.
6Sunset Deluxe Water Pool Villa
With uninterrupted ocean views and private pools facing the sunset, these villas are dreamlike in design. Separated by canvas sails, they ensure the utmost privacy. Thatched roofing shades the outdoor dining area, while the bedroom and bathroom open onto the terrace.
Residences
Size
7Velaa Private Residence
Imagine the definitive ultimate beach residence. With four bedrooms accommodating up to 10 guests, a rarity in the Maldives, the Velaa Private Residences offer elegant contemporary design and private interior and exterior space, inclusive of two terraces, a pool and a courtyard.
Members only
8Romantic Pool Residence
Accessible only by boat, this ultra-private one-bedroom villa suspended above the lagoon with uninterrupted views of the ocean offers the utmost privacy and romance, making it perfect for honeymooners or those who are looking for ultra-luxury, including a private chef and butler.

Room type data is subject to change and accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does booking through Rialto cost more than booking with the hotel?

No - VIP rates under Virtuoso always meet or beat hotel's public, flexible rate, and provide valuable amenities and possible upgrades. Rialto also provides the hotel's non-VIP and corporate rates, so you can compare with full transparency.

What is the value of the VIP benefits?

Daily breakfast for two plus the $150 hotel credit come with every stay at this hotel - adding $100-200/day in value. A room upgrade could also be worth a substantial amount, in addition to early check-in / late check-out benefits when available.

How does this compare to other programs, like through AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts, or Chase Edit?

Using a hotel's own VIP program may provide higher upgrade priority, additional VIP benefits and promotional rate offers, and a direct relationship with the hotel for special requests. Rialto offers more VIP hotels than any credit card program. In addition, Chase Edit rates can be substantially more expensive as they rarely run promotions whereas AMEX rates are often comparable but do not offer programs such as Upgrade at Booking.

Can my AI assistant book this hotel?

Yes. Connect Rialto to Claude or ChatGPT and ask for rates. You finish the booking on a secure Rialto page. Card details are not sent through the AI chat, so either you would approve the final checkout step and reconfirm all the information, or if you authorize your agent with Computer-Use permissions, it can fill out the checkout form as well.

Rates are shown to members

Rialto is invitation-only. Apply for access and hear back within 24 hours.