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6 Resorts in Maldives Wins Forbes Travel Guide 5-Star Award

6 resorts in the Maldives has won the coveted Forbes Travel Guide 5-star Award 2021 while 6 more resorts won the 4-star award.

6 resorts in the Maldives has won the coveted Forbes Travel Guide 5-star Award 2021. Several resorts in the Maldives also won the 4-star award.

Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas. The star rating system’s anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on up to 900 objective standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help travellers select the world’s best luxury experiences. The only way to get a five-star from Forbes Travel Guide is by earning it through their independent inspection process.

Resorts in Maldives that won the Forbes Travel Guide 5-Star Award

Cheval Blanc Randheli

Maldives Forbes Travel Guide
Image: Cheval Blanc

The ultra-luxe Maison offers a range of experiences to fit every mood and desire of travellers. Cheval Blanc Randheli hosts various water activities ranging from water skiing or windsurfing to Seabob, jet ski, or stand-up paddling. A team of Alchemists at the luxury resort will design tailor-made activities and memorable experiences for guests.

For a gastronomic journey and every craving, guests can pamper their taste buds in 5 restaurants and 4 bars at Randheli. Meanwhile, The suites at Cheval Blanc Randheli features a subtle blending of Maldivian influences and modern sensibility.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

Maldives Forbes Travel Guide
Image: Four Seasons Maldives Resort at Kuda Huraa

Four Seasons Maldives Resort at Kuda Huraa is a ‘garden-style resort arranged as a traditional Maldivian village’. The luxury retreat won the ‘World’s Leading Water Villa Resort 2020’ at the World Travel Awards last year as well.

Kanuhura Maldives

Image: Kanuhura Maldives

Kanuhura Maldives is a luxe lifestyle resort located in Lhaviyani Atoll and boasts 80 villas. Entirely renovated and redesigned in 2016, Kanuhura is a timeless castaway chic experience for travellers seeking ‘laid-back island living’.

The luxury escape is a part of the Mauritius-based hotel and leisure group Sun Resorts. Likewise, Kanuhura Maldives is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. In 2020, the resort was recognized among the ‘Top 15 Luxury Island Resorts in the Maldives’. And also among ‘Top 10 Luxury Dining Experience in the Maldives’ by Luxury Lifestyle Awards’.

One&Only Reethi Rah

Image: One&Only Reethi Rah

One&Only Reethi Rah offers an abundance of space and privacy. Surrounded by the wonders of the Indian Ocean, the luxury high-end resort makes its home on one of the largest islands in North Malé Atoll.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

Vommuli resort's overwater villas surrounded by beautiful lagoon
Image: The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

This Marriott International’s property in the Maldives boasts features 44 overwater villas and 33 villas located on the beach. In 2020, for the fourth constructive year, St. Regis Maldives Vommuli resort claimed the title of World’s Leading Luxury Island Resort as well. Moreover, this is the second constructive year the resort is winning the Forbes Travel Guide 5-star Award.

The luxury high-end island retreat features one of the largest overwater villas in the world, the John Jacob Astor Estate. Located in the stunning Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives. St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is only reachable by seaplane. But, you can charter the resort’s Azimut FlyBridge 66 luxury yacht, Norma, for an exclusive transfer experience.

Velaa Private Island

Maldives Forbes Travel Guide
Image: Velaa Private Island

Nestled 200 Kilometres north of the Velana International Airport, the ultra-luxury Velaa Private Island boasts 48 villas, of which 18 are built overwater. Guests can find a myriad of dining options and activities at the resort. Furthermore, dining at Aragu in Velaa Private Island is a not-to-miss experience.

This year, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi also won Forbes Travel Guide’s 2021 Hotel Instagram of the Year.

Feature image by Velaa Private Island

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Latest

Kuda Villingili Resort Welcomes India’s Aqua Fitness Expert Rajni Maker for Global Wellness Day 2025

Aqua Fitness Expert

From June 14 to 18, 2025, the luxury resort in the Maldives, Kuda Villingili will host an exclusive wellness program celebrating Global Wellness Day, inviting guests to reconnect with themselves, nature, and community through the transformative power of water. Rajni Maker, a trailblazer in India’s aqua fitness scene known for her innovative and inclusive water-based workouts, will lead the five-day event.

Aqua fitness expert Rajni Maker brings over 16 years of experience in Pilates, mindful movement, and water-based training to the Maldives, where she will lead guests through a fun and energizing mix of low-impact exercises suited for all fitness levels. Her signature programs, including Aqua Tabata, Kickboxing, Circuits, Pilates, Aerobics, and Zumba, blend science with flow to deliver joyful, joint-friendly workouts that boost overall vitality. Recognized by NATCOM and ATNI for her contributions to the field, Rajni also holds an Aqua Specialisation from the Federation of International Sports Aerobics and Fitness in Singapore.

She shared her excitement about the upcoming program

“I am thrilled to bring my expertise to Kuda Villingili. The resort’s serene setting and expansive aquatic spaces offer the ideal canvas for meaningful, water-based wellness experiences. My goal is to help every participant reconnect with their body and mind, while also leaving them with simple, sustainable practices they can continue at home—whether they are just beginning their wellness journey or are seasoned fitness enthusiasts.”

Wellness Experiences Set in Paradise

Kuda Villingili Resort already welcomes wellness lovers with a variety of experiences that promote balance, vitality, and inner peace. Its private island spa features eight treatment villas specializing in holistic therapies with organic, island-inspired ingredients. On top of that, guests who prefer active pursuits will find the Maldives’ largest pool, a cutting-edge gym overlooking the ocean, and a jungle yoga pavilion perfectly positioned for sunrise and sunset practice.

Now, with Global Wellness Day approaching, the resort has pulled together an experience that goes beyond the usual. Throughout the five days, guests can enjoy a thoughtfully curated lineup of activities designed to nourish both body and soul:

  • Start with a guided nature walk through the island’s lush landscape, ending with a mindful beachside body scrub using traditional Maldivian ingredients.
  • Then, wake up your core with sunrise Pilates sessions using the Magic Circle, focusing on strength and flexibility.
  • After that, join Rajni for high-intensity aqua kickboxing classes—a joint-friendly but seriously energizing cardio workout.
  • Families can also get moving together during fun and active beach HIIT sessions.
  • For something playful, join a friendly padel tennis match and compete for wellness-themed prizes.
  • Later, tap into your creative side with a nature-inspired painting session.
  • And finally, take time for yourself with a one-on-one wellness consultation with one of the resort’s expert practitioners.

As the schedule flows from movement to mindfulness, the entire program ties beautifully into this year’s Global Wellness Day theme, #ReconnectMagenta. It’s all about slowing down, recharging, and reconnecting, whether that means bonding with loved ones, finding inner calm, or just being present in nature.

About Rajni Maker and Flow & Fit

Rajni Maker is more than just an aqua fitness expert, she’s reshaped the way people in India experience movement in water. Her Flow & Fit program brings her vision of fitness to life: fluid, empowering, and deeply restorative. Not to mention, she blends elements of yoga, functional training, and rehab into every session, creating something that feels both powerful and healing.

With certifications from respected institutions like ACSM, the Pilates Institute of America, and the Evidence-Based Fitness Academy, Rajni backs her passion with real knowledge. What makes her stand out, though, is how she turns fitness into something fun, approachable, and doable—whether you’re brand new or a long-time wellness enthusiast.

You can check out the brochure here

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