Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection

This boutique resort opened as Noku Maldives in 2018, following the rebranding and refurbishment of the former Zithali Kudafunafaru, and joined IHG’s Vignette Collection at the end of 2024.


Located in Noonu Atoll and reached by a 45-minute seaplane flight from Malé, Noku feels a world away from the busier, more crowded atolls closer to the capital. Although a few local islands are visible in the distance, the overall atmosphere is calm and quiet, with a genuine sense of remoteness. The wide beach on the north-east (arrival) side of the island is particularly impressive and among the best we have seen.

There are just 50 villas in total — 20 beach villas and 30 overwater — some with private pools, and all supported by a shared villa host. Even the lead-in villa category is a generous 175 square metres, increasing to 220 square metres for the largest one-bedroom villas, offering plenty of living space throughout. Bedrooms and bathrooms are similarly sized, with high vaulted ceilings, and organic bathroom amenities by KLUR. An enhanced minibar, replenished once daily, includes selected soft drinks, house-made iced teas, tea, coffee and sweet treats, all complimentary on every meal plan.

The main restaurant, Palms, and Palm Bar are located on the main beach side of the island, while Thari Bar and restaurant sit on the southern side, flanking the infinity pool where sun loungers are set out for guests. This area is well positioned and offers plenty of space, with scope for further development, which we hope to see in the coming months. The executive chef is an award-winning Malaysian with over 30 years of international experience.

Noku Spa is land-based, with a yoga pavilion overlooking the beach on the western side of the island. It is a tranquil and attractive space, surrounded by lush planting and with a serenity of its own. The gym is small but well equipped and more centrally located.

As a relatively small island, facilities are intentionally limited, reinforcing Noku’s quiet, boutique feel. That said, there are plans for a hydroponic garden, and a padel court is also under discussion.

The resort has its own house reef, though the main drop-off lies beyond the overwater villas on the western side, where currents can be strong. The dive centre, ably led by Naveen, instead recommends snorkelling the extensive coral gardens easily accessed from the beach on that side, close to the overwater villas, as well as the area beyond the southern tip of the island. A large snorkelling map clearly highlights the best areas, and the team are happy to offer advice. We recommend a guided snorkel to begin with. During our visits we saw a whip-tailed stingray, blacktip reef shark, impressive emperor angelfish and a good variety of other marine life.

Another particularly interesting feature is that Noku is one of only a handful of resorts in the Maldives known to be a nesting site for the endangered white-tailed tropic bird, alongside Amilla and Six Senses Laamu. It is something the resort is rightly proud of, and we have encouraged them to share more information with guests about this beautiful bird, which spends most of its life on the wing.

As part of the Vignette Collection, Noku embraces an ethos centred on sharing local culture and history, fostering environmental and community responsibility, and offering authentic experiences. One such experience is Island Echoes — an atmospheric storytelling evening with lanterns, a bonfire and bodu beru drums, held around a purpose-built, full-size traditional Maldivian house and kitchen. Guests can learn first-hand how Maldivian people once lived. Another popular weekly event sees local fishermen arrive with their catch, talking about their livelihood and selling fish that is then prepared by the resort’s kitchen.

For travellers seeking a small, peaceful island with generously sized villas, a stunning main beach and a strong sense of Maldivian tradition, Noku Maldives is a compelling boutique option.