Four Seasons Voavah

a wonderfully exclusive private island

Four Seasons Voavah is a very high quality private island lodge in the Maldives.

The island is pleasantly far from the main airport, however there is some habitation in the immediate area, in the form of the inhabited island of Kudarikilu less than 2km to the south and several other resorts within a 10km radius (the closest of which is the related Four Seasons Landaa Giravaru, with which it shares some facilities).

The lodge is centred around the tiny sandy Voavah Island, which is only around 300 metres in length.

It is only available for exclusive use bookings, for private groups of up to 14 adults and 8 children.

Although the association with such a large travel brand may make you think otherwise, this is a genuinely world class beach retreat.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Four Seasons Voavah is in just 4 units …

Three Bedroom Beach Villa : x1

This villa can house up to 6 adults and 2 children, with three king-sized beds, a pull-out sofa-bed for children, three rollaway beds and three cribs. The villa also includes a luxurious sunbathing pool, al-fresco living room and a spot on the beach.

Two Bedroom Water Villa : x1

The unique features of this villa are the central living and dining area with pantry and guest bathroom. It sits on stilts above the fish-filled lagoon and includes a master bedroom with an attached study or children’s room, as well as a separate, king-size bedroom pavilion.

Mezzanine Suites : x2

Located at either end of the upper floor of the main building, these two suites include outdoor and outdoor showers and balconies with ocean views. Each can accommodate two adults and their is a shared bunkroom for up to four children.

Voavah Summer : x2

Remarkably, guests on the island are also provided with a large 19 metre (62′) sailing luxury yacht, which has two large cabins for two adults, which can be used if you run out of space on the island, or if you fancy spending multiple days exploring the islands.

Staff rooms : x2

There are two modest rooms for your private staff located on the island.

Activities

Four Seasons Voavah offers a wide range of activities, not all of which are included in the room rate …

• Marine safari
• Private boat charter
• Submarine
• Island picnics
• Diving
• Snorkelling
• Kayaking
• Paddle-boarding
• Windsurfing
• Village visits

Tuition is available for all watersports.

The Maldives are most commonly visited as a stand-alone destination.

The main airport on Malé is widely connected to locations including India, Sri Lanka, Doha, Dubai, Singapore, Istanbul and major airports in Southeast Asia, as well as direct charter flights from Europe.

When combined in trips with other countries, the most popular options are India and Sri Lanka. Countries in Africa are rarely combined because there are so many great beaches over that way and the flight connections via Dubai are rather arduous and inconvenient.

Seasonality

The best time to visit the Maldives is generally considered to be during the Nov-Apr dry season, although conditions are relatively constant and it really is feasible to travel at any time of year.

This coastline is classified as having a tropical monsoon climate, with two clearly defined seasons …

During the Nov-Apr dry season (northeastern monsoon) the daytime temperatures are marginally higher at around 31C/88F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures are around 26C/79F. Rainfall is highly variable and relatively unpredictable, with Jan-Mar potentially dropping to around 75mm (3”) per month and the shoulder season months of Nov-Dec and Apr potentially rising as high as 200mm (8”) per month. Sunshine is typically up around 8 hours per day (around 70% of daylight hours). This period is high season in the Maldives, so you need to book early to get accommodation in the best resorts and the prices are at their highest.

During the May-Oct wet season (southwest monsoon) the daytime temperatures are marginally lower at around 30C/86F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures are around 25C/77F. Rainfall is typically quite high, at around 200mm (8”) per month, with more pronounced and frequent storms. The amount of precipitation varies considerably across the island group, with more southerly atolls typically receiving up to twice as much rainfall as the north. Sunshine typically drops to around 6.5 hours per day (around 55%% of daylight hours). The main downside during this period is the chance of high winds, blowing in from the southwest, especially centred on May, when the monsoon winds change direction. Of course this does also make it the best time for surfing and advanced wind-surfing. This period is low season in the Maldives, so booking early should be less important and there should be some good value to be found at most resorts.

Getting there

The vast majority of visitors arrive into the Maldives through Velana International Airport, on the island of Hulhulé, which is adjacent to the capital Malé.

Kudadoo is located in the west of the Lhaviyani (Fadiffalu) Atoll, 150 km north of the main airport in the Maldives.

It is reached by means of a 30 minute sea-plane flight from Malé, with flights usually connecting promptly with international arrivals. The plane lands in the lagoon close to the island and taxis right up to the jetty.

most visitors combine lodges on at least two different islands