Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa

Villingili is not just another island in the Maldives, but a whole destination waiting to be discovered. The hotel occupying this remote patch of Maldives is exciting and innovative, with villas literally integrated with the surrounding lush vegetation.

This is the first Maldivian resort of its type located south of the equator. Villingili island has more than six kilometers of picturesque beach, but it is one of the smaller islands in a large atoll.

Of the other islands, five are connected by seventeen kilometers of paved road. Exploration of the few settlements located on this trail, especially on a bike, is an unexpected attraction in the Maldives.

Forest and tree houses

Another unusual feature of the island it its lush, dense forest: the island is covered by twelve hectares of coconut and fig trees, as well as forty-five other plant species. And there is a natural freshwater lake on the island, too—not something you normally associate with Maldives.

Shangri-La made an effort to keep the vegetation and trees intact when building the resort: to avoid cutting threes down the villas were built around the trunks. Some are actually built as “tree houses”—another first in the Maldives.

Activities and dining

Maldives is often associated with romantic holiday and the islands are particularly popular with honeymooners—but the Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa is designed for families with children (we recommend the two-bedroom villa). But that’s not the only thing differentiating the Villingili property from other luxury Maldivian resorts.

The hotel has spa, two bars, three restaurants, and the Dine by Design: dinners served in unusual places (e.g. when crossing the equator, on a luxury yacht).

This would not be a Maldivian hotel without good water sports and great diving, with a dramatic 140-meter long wreck of the British ship, which lies just a few minutes by boat from the island (the British actress Gemma Arterton loved it).

in our opinion

What we love

• Innovative villas "in the trees" are the first of their kind in the Maldives;
• Unusual for a classic vision of the Maldives island with tropical jungle… and lake;
• Luxury yacht cruise with breakfast when crossing the equator;
• Opportunity to explore the atoll’s islands—whilst riding bikes;
• Shangri-La created a very high work culture: staff turnover is low and many employees have been working here since the launch of the hotel. This translates into a quality service and a very good level of training, professionalism and attention to detail.

What you should know

• Add another 70 minutes to the long journey to Maldives, as that’s the flight time from Male to the Addu Atoll airport. The final boat ride to the resort is short though;
• Snorkelling is not the best: the sea is shallow, and the marine life is not as plentiful as elsewhere in the Maldives (but diving is great);
• There is a lot of marine traffic around the atoll, and the airport is located on the neighboring island, although the planes rarely disturb the peace;
• The hotel is children friendly, so it can get a bit noisy in public areas.