Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, the first luxury resort in the Maldives located south of the equator, offers guests a stylish and luxurious experience in a spacious and boutique-style environment. The natural dense vegetation of the island sets it apart from many other Maldives resorts. The three-kilometre-long island features 12 hectares of lush vegetation, towering banyan trees, 17,000 coconut trees, 45 species of plants, three natural lagoons and nature trails for guest to explore.

From private ocean retreats to tropical tree houses with panoramic views, resort accommodation features seven distinct different styles of luxurious villas. The villas are a minimum of 133 square metres in size, while two presidential villas measure up to 957 square metres. ... [+] More

Each villa has a centralized air conditioning with thermostat control and has the following key features; an iPod docking station, a 40-inch television, a DVD player, IDD telephones with voice mail and wake-up call services, laundry services, well-stocked mini bar, espresso machine, personal safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers and a pillow menu.

The resort has a well-equipped gym and fitness centre, tennis courts, a water sports and dive center with decompression chamber.
Water activities available include wave-surfing, scuba-diving, kayaking, water-skiing, sailing, deep-sea fishing, or a sunset cruise on a luxury yacht. There is a house reef with colourful corals and exotic reef fish. For less experienced swimmers, there are "snorkel gardens" close to the shoreline.

For diving enthusiasts, there are more than 25 dive sites teeming with marine life. There is also the dramatic 140-metre ‘British Loyalty’ shipwreck with its hull resting at 33-metres, just a half-hour boat ride away from Villingili island.

Take the regular speed boat runs to Gan and explore by bicycle the five neighboring islands connected by a 17-kilometre road which is the longest in the Maldives. Set out with a picnic and discover the fascinating lifestyle and culture of untouched Maldivian villages or stop at a coffee shop to chat with the locals over a meal.

Book a luxury yacht to enjoy a different perspective of the stunning island views and have lunch on the equator, something very few can say they have done


Restaurants
Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa Maldives restaurants are well catered for eating and drinking pleasures. Dr. Ali’s leads the restaurant selection with three distinctive living rooms that focus on fine cuisine from the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea and the Arabian Gulf that offers a unique Maldives dining experience whereas Javvu offers quality café dining during the day and refined Western cuisine in the evening. Those seeking an experience with a difference can take a cruise on a luxury yacht for lunch on the equator.

Dine by Design
For those seeking an experience with a difference, the resort also offers dining experiences served in some of the resort’s most secret locations. Be it a torchlit dinner under the banyan trees of the resort’s jungle, a spa dinner in the privacy of a meditation pavilion overlooking the ocean, a romantic in-villa evening, or a dinner using local ingredients freshly prepared in the Chef’s Garden, the culinary team will endeavour to create memorable experiences.

Lounges & Bars
Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa has four exceptional bars and lounges, offering a variety of atmospheric milieux for chilling out or
energizing

Dr Ali
The exceptional Dr. Ali's has three distinctive, Eastern-style living rooms representing the different cultures and cuisines of the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea and the Arabian Gulf

Fashala
Located on the northern tip of the island, Fashala boasts spectacular views of the ocean. The restaurant's elegant, contemporary and stylish atmosphere sets the perfect mood for a romantic gourmet evening. Fashala serves fine dining cuisine featuring local produce from the surrounding waters and neighbouring farms.

Javvu
Javvu is the resort's all-day-dining restaurant, featuring quality cafe dining in the day and refined Western cuisine in the evening, including prime steaks and seafood, with a touch of the Mediterranean.

Endheri
Very much the heart of the resort, the Endheri Pool Bar is a stylish spot that offers guests a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Located right on the beach, Endheri is the perfect venue for a complete chill-out, and guests are never more than a few steps away from the ocean. This is the main entertainment area of the resort, with acoustic and semi-acoustic sets progressing to more upbeat electronic and DJ music later in the evening.

Manzaru
Manzaru Bar is the perfect spot to people-watch and relax to some chill-out music. Open, exposed rafters and a limestone carved feature wall with intricate motifs particular to the region give the venue a chic, contemporary feel. With swaying palm trees casting shadows on the stone-clad columns and the contemporary lounge furniture, this is the resort’s most lively bar.