This post may contain affiliate links. This just means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you for helping them promote their product or service. I don’t endorse any services I don’t personally use or recommend.
The Maldives offers underwater dining, above-water bungalows, pristine beaches, exceptional house reefs, and epic excursions depending on the resort of your choosing. Lux*’s little special something is intimate encounters with the ocean’s most elusive mammal. The Maldivian Whale Sharks are best seen from this lovely little resort on the South Ari Atoll.
We stayed 5-nights on Lux* South Ari Atoll but obviously, the longer you can afford to stay the better. If you’re on a budget consider pairing a stay here with some island-hopping across the lesser-visited inhabited islands of the Maldives.
Why Visit Lux* Resort?
Among the abundance of luxury resorts and hotels to choose from in the Maldives Lux* stands out due to its close proximity to the most protected marine mammal in the Maldives. Whale Sharks. Just a 20-minute boat ride from the private island you’ll enter the protected marine park the sharks call home year round. In fact, it’s the only water in the world that whale sharks can be found in year-round ethically.
Lux* has an on-site marine biologist who monitors the whale shark populations and runs snorkeling tours 3 times per week to the marine park.
Due to the resort’s convenient location, you’ll get easier day trips at a cheaper price to see the whale sharks. You’ll also have the added benefit of a marine biologist to help you track the location of the sharks and hopefully have them all to yourself. Many of the other tours rely on radios and shared information to spot the sharks and therefore you’re crammed in the water with hundreds of other people like our first visit to see the whale sharks in the Maldives.
Attractions Unique to Lux* Resort
Every resort in the Maldives offers exceptional hospitality, fine dining, comfortable accommodations close to or on top of the sea, and underwater experiences. But these 5 attractions are what make *Lux South Ari Atoll Resort stand out.
1. Easy Access to Whale Sharks
I mentioned this already above but whale sharks are the number one draw to Lux* South Ari Atoll. The tours leave 3 times per week, cost $ per person, and take about 3-4 hours. This gives you plenty of time to search for the whale sharks in the nearby waters because although sightings are reported about 7/10 times— they are wild animals and can’t be guaranteed.
Snorkel gear and water are included in the tour.
This is one of our favorite experiences in the Maldives. We’ve swam with with whale sharks twice now and the interaction with Lux* was 1000 times better than the tour we took from the local island of Omadhoo.
2. Amaa’s Kitchen
An intimate dinner of Maldivian cuisine cooked by a local server beneath a Banyan tree.
While the resort has numerous fine-dining options ranging from Italian to Japanese for dinner and over-water Asian street market-influenced breakfast buffets the best eating experience is Amaas Kitchen.
This is a weekly (Fridays) exclusive dinner for a maximum of 8-10 guests. A local woman from the nearby island cooks a traditional Maldivian meal and joins you for cocktails beneath a massive banyan tree (She doesn’t drink but you can). You can watch her prepare the meal in a traditional kitchen, pick herbs from the nearby garden, and ask your host endless questions about the Maldivian culture.
We really enjoyed this experience not only because of the setting and the delicious food but also because it was a way to interact with a local and experience a little Maldivian culture. This kind of experience is rare in resorts in the Maldives which usually choose more “luxury” style attractions. This also involves the nearby island community and provides some income to local women who otherwise wouldn’t be able to partake in the tourism industry.
Note: Much of the Maldivian diet is tuna. If you require a vegetarian or vegan meal it might be best to stick to the resort restaurants.
3. An acclaimed spa with numerous luxury services.
The wellness spa at Lux* South Ari Atoll has won the best resort spa in the Maldives on numerous occasions. They offer aromatherapy massages and more in a tranquil setting.
4. Top-notch dive center & free daily snorkel trips to the house reef.
Divers or soon-to-be divers will love the knowledgeable staff and great prices of the dive center. This would be a great place to get PADI certified if you’re interested. Snorkelers can take advantage of the twice-daily trips to the house reef. Here you’ll spot turtles and lots of tropical fish just a short ride from shore.
Avid snorkelers should note that the waters surrounding Lux* are not as filled with sharks and fish as the water on Kuramathi house reef.
5. Unique weekly events like Message in a Bottle, Wishing Tree, and Beach Cinema.
I love the way *Lux involves the guests in fun activities that force people to explore more of the private island. Specifically, the message in a bottle hunt that happens quietly every morning at 6 AM. Twenty or so bottles with various prizes like a free pizza or massage are scattered along the main path and neatly raked beaches to be found by you. There’s also a weekly beachfront cinema (one movie for kids followed by one for adults), and a massive wishing tree where you can place your wish (for a donation) to be hopefully chosen for a free stay at the end of the calendar year.
Giving Back: All the proceeds of the wishing tree go to local Maldivian schools on the surrounding islands.
6. Fresh Roasted Coffee by Lux*
Lux* is blessed with its own high-end coffee shop and freshly mixed, roasted, and ground beans from Ethiopia.
How to Reach Lux* Resort
This is one of the most important things to consider when you are choosing a resort in the Maldives. This is because many private resorts require a seaplane transfer which is an additional fee. Usually around $500-$600 per person.
For Lux* South Ari you have two options.
The seaplane takes about 45 minutes and is an absolutely stunning ride as you look down on the bright blue water surrounding clusters of atolls.
Or the speedboat transfer. This is a much cheaper option and takes around 2.5 hours on the open ocean. Not great for travelers who suffer from seasickness but a good option for keeping your budget low.
Recommended Accommodation Options
This is probably down to your budget as the price of each lodging varies quite a lot BUT I loved the over-water villas.
They have beachfront cottages for cheaper and “romantic” over-water villas that have their own pool for those with a large budget. Personally, we found the classic water villas to be the best bang for your buck because they were in an excellent location near the prettiest beaches and quieter part of the island and had a really great outdoor deck with easy ocean access. They also offered the best sunset views on the island.
All-Inclusive or Bed & Breakfast?
You’ll notice when booking your stay at Lux* that you can choose between Bed & Breakfast, Full-Board, and All-Inclusive.
Bed & Breakfast is just that. You’ll have to pay for lunch, dinner, and any drinks you want on the island. Keep in mind you cannot bring alcohol into the Maldives.
Full-Board covers all your meals but excludes alcohol.
All-inclusive is just what it says. Beer, wine, signature cocktails, coffee, and all your meals.
We found food to be very high in price for what you get but obviously, this is to be expected on a remote private island that wants you to opt for the all-inclusive. Each dish was about $25 USD at every restaurant. Cocktails were about $16 each.
Do with that information what you will.
Stay With *Lux South Ari Atoll!
The Maldives have so many exceptional resorts it can be hard to land on a favorite. Lux* certainly met the high standards of service and gave us an incredible once-in-a-lifetime whale shark experience that we will remember forever. Be sure to check out all my Maldives guides to plan your next island vacation!
Save This Post For Later!
No Comments