Beach Villa
The entry beachfront category — a private sun deck and an oversized day bed a few steps from the sand, with butler service from arrival across 92 square metres.
Max 3 guests · No private pool · Beachfront
All resorts, Raa Atoll
Heritance Aarah
An all-villa, LEED Gold-certified resort in Raa Atoll, built around seven villa categories, seven restaurants split across the main island and an Ocean Wing, and an extensive watersports and excursions programme.
- Getting there
- Seaplane, 40 minutes
- Atoll
- Raa Atoll
- Island
- Aarah
- Villas
- 7 categories
Heritance Aarah is a 150-villa resort on Raa Atoll, reached by a 40-minute seaplane transfer from Malé. Seven villa categories run from beachfront rooms to Ocean Wing suites with private infinity pools, backed by seven restaurants, five bars, and the over-lagoon IASO Medi Spa. It is the first LEED Gold-certified resort in the Maldives, with a recreated Maldivian Village and a full watersports and excursions programme.
The villas
Pool Beach Villa
The same beachfront layout as the Beach Villa, extended to 110 square metres and given its own private plunge pool.
Max 3 guests · Private plunge pool · Beachfront
Family Beach Villa
The resort's larger beachfront category, built for six across 194 square metres without leaving the beachfront line.
Max 6 guests · No private pool · Beachfront
Family Pool Beach Villa
The top beachfront family category — 207 square metres, room for six, and a private plunge pool of its own.
Max 6 guests · Private plunge pool · Beachfront
Ocean Villa
The entry overwater category, 91 square metres set directly over the lagoon with the same king bed, day bed and Marshall speaker as the beachfront rooms.
Max 3 guests · No private pool · Overwater
Ocean Suite with Infinity Pool
180 square metres over the lagoon with a private infinity pool, a swing on the sundeck, a wine cabinet and in-villa dining on request — the Ocean Wing's standard suite.
Max 2 guests · Private infinity pool · Overwater, Ocean Wing
Ocean Residence with Infinity Lap Pool
The resort's single top villa — 298 square metres over the water, an infinity lap pool, a jacuzzi, and the only Ocean Wing category built for five.
Max 5 guests · Private infinity lap pool · Overwater, Ocean Wing
Wine & Dine
Ranba
- Cuisine
- International and Asian
- Setting
- Main restaurant, all-day dining
- Hours
- Breakfast 07:00-10:00 · Lunch 12:30-14:30 · Dinner 19:30-22:00
- Reserve
- At the resort, or via IMJ
The main all-day restaurant, running breakfast through dinner with an international and Asian menu open to every guest.
Ralu
- Cuisine
- Mediterranean and French, à la carte
- Setting
- Overwater, all-day dining
- Hours
- Breakfast 10:00-11:30 · Lunch 12:00-15:00 · Snack 15:00-18:00 · Dinner 19:00-22:00
- Reserve
- At the resort, or via IMJ
An overwater, à la carte Mediterranean and French menu running from a late breakfast through a proper dinner service — reservations recommended.
Experiences & activities
Big-Game Fishing
Afternoon · for two, all ages
Offshore trolling, jigging and popping for marlin, tuna, sailfish and dorado — a different boat and crew from the sunset hand-reel trip.
Cinema Under the Stars
Evening · for two, all ages
An open-air cinema screening, whether at a fixed venue, a jungle clearing, a sandbank or a private beach setup.
Group Fitness, Gym & Training Classes
Morning · restorative
Structured group fitness beyond a yoga mat — HIIT, TRX, Pilates, boxing and circuit training, run out of the resort's own gym or fitness pavilion.
Cooking Class & Culinary Workshop
Afternoon · for two, all ages
A hands-on cooking class or mixology session led by one of the resort's own chefs.
Recommended For
Families
Koka kids club, baby chairs and cots as standard, and two family villa categories sleeping up to six — Heritance Aarah is built to take a family in one villa rather than splitting them across two.
Active couples
Diving, windsurfing, kite surfing, parasailing, jet skiing and big-game fishing all run from the island — guests who want a full activity list alongside the villa are well served here.
Romance-focused couples
The Ocean Wing's infinity pools and private-swing sundecks, plus signature excursions like the lovers' dhoni ride and "stranded with a loved one," give couples a clear upgrade path within the same resort.
Malé · seaplane, 40 minutes · Aarah, Raa Atoll
- Nearest airport
- Velana International Airport (MLE), 154km from the resort
- Transfer
- 40-minute seaplane; the factsheet also lists domestic flights as an alternative routing, though the connecting leg isn't detailed.
Heritance Aarah · Raa Atoll · 11 photographs
Before you book
How long is the transfer to Heritance Aarah, and how does it work?
It's a 40-minute seaplane transfer from Velana International Airport, 154km away. The factsheet also notes the resort is accessible via domestic flights, though it doesn't detail that connecting route — IMJ confirms the current routing and flight schedule before booking.
Is a meal plan included, or is dining charged separately?
The factsheet doesn't publish specific meal-plan names, so IMJ confirms current board terms directly with the resort at booking. Seven restaurants and five bars operate across the main island and the Ocean Wing; Ambula and Hathaa require compulsory reservations, and Hathaa carries a supplement.
Is Heritance Aarah suited to families, or is it adults-oriented?
Families are well provided for — Koka kids club, baby chairs and baby cots are standard guest services, and two villa categories (Family Beach Villa and Family Pool Beach Villa, sleeping up to six) are built specifically for larger groups. Ages and hours for Koka aren't published in the factsheet; IMJ checks current details before travel.
What's the house reef and snorkelling like?
The factsheet doesn't describe the house reef directly, but a snorkelling excursion is listed among the resort's water sports, and Raa Atoll is described as holding some of the Maldives' more untouched waters, close to thilas with diverse marine life. IMJ can arrange a guided excursion for the first morning.
Which villa categories come with a private pool?
Four of the seven categories carry a private pool: Pool Beach Villa, Family Pool Beach Villa, and the two Ocean Wing categories — Ocean Suite with Infinity Pool and Ocean Residence with Infinity Lap Pool. The plain Beach Villa, Family Beach Villa and Ocean Villa categories do not.
Is Heritance Aarah an all-inclusive resort?
It's marketed as "a redefined all-inclusive journey" across an all-villa, 150-key island, though the factsheet doesn't publish a specific inclusions list. IMJ confirms the exact board type and inclusions with the resort before booking.
Talk to a specialist about this resort.
Thirty minutes on dates, occasion and which island actually suits you. No obligation, no scripted pitch.