LUX* South Ari Atoll

Maldives, Indian Ocean

Virgin rating

The hotel

This stunning resort gives a true insight into island living. As well as being exceedingly laid back, there’s a spontaneous atmosphere with open air cinema on the beach, pop-up musical performances and much more. If you’re a water sport enthusiast you’re in for a treat, the diving here is spectacular, with plenty of underwater sites to explore for beginners to advanced divers. There’s also land sports aplenty, two pools (both fully serviced by poolside bars), two miles of sandy beach and the LUX* Me Spa, an oasis within an oasis. The kids, meanwhile, can engage in a variety of activities at PLAY, including decadent cake decorating and art classes. There are plenty of eateries to choose from: at the core of the island, MIXE offers everything from wood-fired pizzas to grills & stir fries, with a tempting island twist; for Italian cuisine, there is Allegria or head to East Market for Asian-inspired dishes.

Amenities

  • Bicycle Rental
  • Kayaking
  • Scuba Diving
  • Snorkelling
  • Tennis
  • Windsurfing
  • Babysitting service
  • Kids Club
  • Families
  • Bar
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Internet Access

Where is it

On the island of Dhidhoofinolhu in the South Ari Atoll. Transfer time from Malé International Airport: 25 minutes by seaplane (remember to pack light for the seaplane transfer as luggage allowance is 20kg plus 5kg hand luggage, per person).

Hotel information

Choice of thatched roof beach villas/pavilions and overwater villas, including 62 with a private pool. All with air-conditioning, private terrace or balcony, satellite TV, telephone, complimentary WiFi, mini-bar*, tea/coffee-making facilities, safe, hairdryer, iron and board (on request). Beach Pavilions are interconnecting pavilions on the beach with individual outdoor terrace, they have 1 king-size bed plus rollaway bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults and 1 infant (in baby cot) or 1 child or 1 teen.

Board basis options

Bed & Breakfast: includes breakfast in MIXE or East Market. Juices, coffee, and tea are included in the meal plan package during breakfast time.

Half Board option: includes breakfast in MIXE and East Market. Dinner in MIXE, East Market, Beach Rouge or Senses. A credit of USD 30 per person per meal on the food charges at Umami or Allegria.

Full Board option: includes breakfast in East Market or MIXE. Lunch in Lagoon Bar, Veli Bar, Beach Rouge and Senses. Dinner in MIXE, East Market, Beach Rouge and Senses. A credit of USD 30 per person per meal on the food charges at Umami or Allegria. Still water, sparkling water, soft drinks and Café LUX* coffee are included during your meal only.

All Inclusive option: includes buffet breakfast at MIXE and East Market. Lunch in Lagoon Bar, Veli Bar, Beach Rouge and Senses. Dinner in MIXE, East Market, Beach Rouge and Senses. Pastries at Café LUX* and ice cream at ICI parlour. A credit of USD 30 per person per meal on the food charges at Umami or Allegria. Wide selection of beverages - soft drinks, tea, coffee, beers, wines, sparkling wine, fresh and canned juices, water cocktails, liquors and selected champagne by glass. Access to Wine library featuring 90 premium bottles. Tea/coffee facilities in the villas and coffee at Café LUX*. Mini-bar: water, juice, soft drinks, wines, vodka, gin, beers, sweet and savoury bites are included and replenished daily).

Room upgrades

Beach Villas enjoiy magnificent sea views and direct access to the beach and lagoon, with 1 king-size bed, a sofa bed and single rollaway bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 2 adults and 1 infant or 2 children or 2 teens.

Beach Pool Villas are on the sunset side of the island, and have a private plunge pool, garden and a direct access to the beach, with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults and 1 teen or 1 child or 1 infant.

Family Lagoon Pavilions are a two-bedroom pavilion located on the beach with a common entrance and separate terrace, sleeping maximum 4 adults and 2 children/teens/infants or 2 adults and 4 teens/children/infants.

Two Bedroom Family Beach Pavilions are located on the beach with two entrances and separate terrace, sleeping maxium 4 adults and 2 infants or 2 children or 2 teens , or 2 adults + 2 infants or 4 children or 4 teens.

Water Villas are located directly over the lagoon on the far sunset side of the island and offer optimal privacy and seclusion, with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 teens.

Romantic Pool Water Villas are luxurious over-water villas with a private pool offering sunrise views and a direct lagoon access, with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Temptation Pool Water Villas are ideal for couples, with a dedicated living space, spacious wooden deck with dining area and cabana, a 14-metre infinity pool, a glass Jacuzzi room and a circular king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults and 1 teen.

LUX* Villas feature panoramic sunset views at the jetty's end. Glass floored living and dining room, extensive outdoor terrace and lounge area with infinity pool, sleeping maximum 2 adults and 1 teen.

  • Booking Bonus: Book by 15 Oct '24 to receive up to 35% off the accommodation cost between 16 Aug '24–31 Jan '26.  

    Terms and conditions apply. Any applicable offers have been calculated into the prices shown. Offers may not be combinable. Blackout dates apply. 

9 restaurants; MIXE (feet-in-the-sand international buffet, open for breakfast and dinner), Allegria Restaurant (Mediterranean cuisine, open for dinner), Senses Restaurant (Middle Eastern and Indian ocean cuisine, open for lunch and dinner), East Market (over-the-water Asian market-inspired restaurant, open for European breakfasts and authentic Asian dinners), Umami (Japanese fusion, open for dinner), Beach Rouge (beach club and restaurant, open for all day dining), Cafe LUX* (freshly ground coffee served all day), Veli Pool Bar (all-day poolside drinks, open for lunch), Lagoon Bar (sociable beach bar, open for lunch), Senses Bar and Lounge (cocktails, drinks, teas, light lunches and evening snacks), East Bar (hip over-the-water hangout, open in the evenings). Ice cream once a day from the ICI tricycle.

Daily programme for adults and children including performances by local artists and themed evenings. Cinema Paradiso - open air movies on the beach.

2 swimming pools. Spa*. Fitness centre. Complimentary snorkelling equipment, canoe, pedal boats, kayaks, snorkelling trips to the house reef. Water sports* including diving, tube rides, waterskiing, kite surfing, fishing, flyboarding and windsurfing. Whale shark safaris*. Access to volleyball court and tennis courts with complimentary rackets and balls (upon availability). Bicycles*. Beach yoga. PLAY kids club (3–11 years), Teens programme. Weekly activities cater to different age groups and include fun themes like gardening, cooking, swimming, yoga, storytelling, and more.

 Babysitting* (on request). Laundry service*. 24-hour room service*. Complimentary WiFi in public areas.

4 nights from the 31st December.

* Denotes local charge.

Please note: to ensure our customer's safety, we are unable to offer over water accommodation to children under the age of 12.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
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Traveller rating

  • Excellent (6381)
  • Very good (386)
  • Average (88)
  • Poor (30)
  • Terrible (17)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Best honeymoon ever!!!

Sep 13, 2024 Makenna P

My husband and I chose LUX for our honeymoon after carefully comparing several resorts, and it quickly stood out as the top-rated option. Working in the hotel industry, I know what to look for when reading reviews, and LUX exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away, particularly by the food. Everything was… Read more
My husband and I chose LUX for our honeymoon after carefully comparing several resorts, and it quickly stood out as the top-rated option. Working in the hotel industry, I know what to look for when reading reviews, and LUX exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away, particularly by the food. Everything was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and prepared from scratch. Visiting the gardens where the ingredients are sourced made our dining experience even more special. Without a doubt, it was the best food we’ve ever had. Beyond the exceptional cuisine, there was always something fun and engaging to do, so boredom was never a concern—even during our 10-day stay. At first, we worried that we might run out of activities, but there was more than enough to keep us entertained. The warmth and hospitality of the LUX staff made our stay truly memorable. Certain people really stood out: Thu, Jojo, and Evi from the spa were not only kind but also incredibly knowledgeable, making our time there so relaxing. It was the best spa experience we’ve ever had. We loved the complimentary juice, tea, and snacks, and of course all the scents. Shakawt, one of the drivers, kept us laughing and entertained throughout our trips. He has such a fun personality and a passion for hospitality, and his rapport with the locals and guests alike was impressive. He was amazing with kids, and we loved getting to know him. We even would just drive laps around with him so we could chat with him. His ability to speak multiple languages and make each guest feel “first class,” was remarkable. We also had the pleasure of meeting Mojibur, one of the gardeners, whose friendly demeanor added a personal touch to our experience. I was pleasantly surprised by how even the gardening staff went out of their way to check in on us. Vida was another highlight—her bright and bubbly personality lit up every event, and we loved the game nights she hosted. However, the person who made our stay truly exceptional was Anfal, our housekeeper, along with his partner Ameen. Anfal went above and beyond in every way, paying close attention to the smallest details. From replenishing our water supply to folding our clothes neatly and arranging our toiletries, his service was impeccable. The room was always spotless—so clean that it felt like home, something I rarely experience in hotels. His towel art, especially the cat and dog he created after we mentioned our pets, was a delightful surprise. One evening, we returned to find a luxurious bubble bath with a floral arrangement that took our breath away. As our stay progressed, we got to know Anfal on a more personal level. He consistently asked how he could enhance our experience and even took time one evening to show us the fish in the nearby waters. His dedication, warmth, and thoughtful gestures made us feel truly cared for. While we’ll certainly miss the beauty of LUX and its pristine beaches, what we’ll miss most and the reason we will come back is the bright smiles and genuine kindness of the staff. We can’t wait to return! P.S. I truly wish I could mention everyone by name—every staff member was amazing. One small recommendation: Hand sanitizer stations before meals would be great! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating 30th Wedding Anniversary

Sep 13, 2024 ElaineAndrews1 Farnham, United Kingdom

This place is paradise on earth. My husband and I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary in a Romantic Beach Villa, it was so perfect. To the villa itself, the island, bars and restaurants. Our favourite was East Market, whiles Senses was really good as well. We did the teppanyaki at the Japanese restaurant which is well worth doing and… Read more
This place is paradise on earth. My husband and I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary in a Romantic Beach Villa, it was so perfect. To the villa itself, the island, bars and restaurants. Our favourite was East Market, whiles Senses was really good as well. We did the teppanyaki at the Japanese restaurant which is well worth doing and entertaining. Our villa was kept so clean and lovely by Mode our house keeper. He is such a lovely man who went above and beyond. We love Lux resorts as the staff are so friendly, attention is clearly paid to detail yet the resort is classically unpretentious and laid back. Well done. Hopefully we will be back. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating AA wonderful trip

Sep 11, 2024 Liu L

We chose south lux for our honeymoon trip. The rooms were very clean, there were many restaurants, and the food was delicious. There were many activities on the island.We enjoyed snorkeling, swimming and spa every day. We hope to come back to Maldives next year
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Loved the stay

Sep 11, 2024 hasarad2018

Beautiful island! I took my best friend to Lux and we had a blast! We took the seaplane and while we wait for our flight we stayed at the Lux lounge for about an hour where we had access to plenty of snacks and coffee. Lux was the 2nd stop from our seaplane ride and the weather was amazing and beautiful views from above. We are both foodies… Read more
Beautiful island! I took my best friend to Lux and we had a blast! We took the seaplane and while we wait for our flight we stayed at the Lux lounge for about an hour where we had access to plenty of snacks and coffee. Lux was the 2nd stop from our seaplane ride and the weather was amazing and beautiful views from above. We are both foodies and fell in love with everything we tried in the restaurants! In the mornings we took our coffee out of our beach villa sitting by the beach. It’s just so relaxing and refreshing. The staff if very friendly, welcoming and helpful. The spa with access to the sauna and steam room was great! So relaxing.. Our host Kayla is so sweet! She made our itinerary for the day reserve us spots for Restaurants, Snorkeling and spa treatments. She made our stay seamless and easy. Would come back again for sure! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Family break

Sep 10, 2024 心 舒

We brought our baby with us and thought will be difficult to take care with the seaplane but was lucky to get the direct flight only 25 minutes journey. We enjoy so much with the food and the kids club team was amazing especially to sham and she knew a lot of kids stuff. Receptionist was friendly and rachael, jovi and ria always make sure we… Read more
We brought our baby with us and thought will be difficult to take care with the seaplane but was lucky to get the direct flight only 25 minutes journey. We enjoy so much with the food and the kids club team was amazing especially to sham and she knew a lot of kids stuff. Receptionist was friendly and rachael, jovi and ria always make sure we are in good hand Read less