Fringing the northern reaches of the Maldives, Noonu (Southern Miladhunmadulu) strings powder islands around wide, turquoise lagoons and deep cobalt channels. It’s equal parts wild-blue and wow-factor luxury: Soneva Jani floats inside a 5.6-km private lagoon, Velaa Private Island hides a one-of-a-kind golf academy, and Cheval Blanc Randheli spreads across sculptural islets with a Guerlain spa on its own private island. Under the surface, classic northern-atoll dives like Orimas Thila (shark point) and Christmas Tree Rock (a pinnacle stacked like its namesake) keep the adrenaline humming.
Design-led, low-density luxury—headline resorts with serious privacy and sense of place.
Signature dives—grey-reef sharks on current at Orimas Thila, ledged soft-coral topography at Christmas Tree Rock.
Big, swimmable lagoons—perfect for families, SUP photos, and easy snorkels right from shore.
Fly to Velana International (MLE), then choose the smoothest hop based on landing time and island location:
Seaplane to your resort (scenic; typically ~30–45 min to Noonu). Seaplanes operate daylight-only with a 25 kg total allowance (20 kg checked + 5 kg hand); excess is usually ~US$5/kg. Great for daytime arrivals and postcard views over Noonu’s lagoons.
Domestic flight to Maafaru International (NMF) + short speedboat. Opened in 2019, NMF sits in Noonu and (after a 2024–2025 upgrade) now fields a ~2,850 m runway—a preferred gateway for late-night arrivals and private jets; many resorts are 10–30 minutes by boat from NMF.
How we route you: if you land after seaplane cut-off, we book NMF + speedboat so your first sunset happens on the beach—not in transit.
Noonu is year-round tropical—pick your month by mood:
Dec–Apr (NE monsoon): Calmer seas and clearer water for long lagoon days, easy snorkels, and photogenic dives—classic “dry-season” Maldives.
May–Nov (SW monsoon): Plankton-richer water on many days, livelier currents on the outer edges—great for sharky thilas like Orimas Thila when conditions line up. (Dive plans always flex to daily wind & tide.)
Dive Orimas Thila (shark point): classic Noonu site with grey-reef sharks on the corners when current runs; a northern-atolls highlight.
Pinnacle circuit—Christmas Tree Rock: layered ledges shaped like a tree; soft corals, resting whitetips, and macro nooks for photographers.
Stargaze & cinema nights: Soneva Jani’s overwater observatory and open-air Cinema Paradiso turn quiet evenings into signature memories.
Train in paradise: Velaa’s golf academy + serious tennis/padel for guests who like their lagoon with practice.
Sandbanks & glass-calm lagoons: SUP at sunrise, shallow-reef snorkels with the kids, and “sea-of-blue” photos in Noonu’s huge lagoons.
Arriving after seaplane hours? We route you via Maafaru (NMF) + boat for same-night check-in; the runway is now ~2.85 km, enabling wide-body ops and frequent jet traffic in peak season.
Bags & boards: Seaplane allowance is 20 kg checked + 5 kg hand; excess ~US$5/kg. Large items may travel separately; we plan around it.
Dive pacing: “Sharky” doesn’t mean scary—Orimas Thila and friends are pro-guided and current-dependent; we match sites to your certification and comfort.
Clear price math: Quotes show room + transfers + TGST + Green Tax—no surprises at checkout.
Tell us your dates, budget/night, and must-haves (observatory nights, sharky thilas, house-reef snorkeling, golf time). We’ll shortlist the right resorts/guesthouses/liveaboards, choose seaplane vs. NMF + speedboat, and build an ocean-first plan—so every day leans into the lagoon, not the logistics.
