Vignette Collection's debut resort in the Maldives and the Indian Ocean, opened December 2024 by IHG Hotels & Resorts on Noonu Atoll's Kuda Funafaru Island, with fifty villas across just two settings, some of the largest footprints in the Maldives.
Seaplane · 45 min
50 villas
House reef
Reply within 24 hours
Maldives only for 8 years · 50+ resorts visited in person
Villas
Beach Villa
One of 20 beach villas set among the trees just off the sand, each with a generous sundeck and both indoor and outdoor bathrooms, and most with a private pool — some of the largest villa footprints in the Maldives, up to around 400 square metres.
Not stated by resort · Most have a private pool · Beach — 175–400 sqm (size range stated across both villa categories)
One of 30 overwater villas strung along Noku's jetties above the lagoon, most with a private plunge pool on the deck and views straight out over the reef.
Not stated by resort · Most have a private pool · Overwater — 175–400 sqm (size range stated across both villa categories)
Noku Maldives opened in December 2024 as Vignette Collection's debut resort in the Maldives — IHG Hotels & Resorts' first Indian Ocean property under the new brand, on Noonu Atoll's Kuda Funafaru Island. Fifty villas split between beach and overwater settings, some reaching close to 400 square metres, sit beside a house reef starting right off the beach, a dive centre reaching 34 sites, and The Maldivian House, a small exhibit of island life.
Recommended For
Couples and honeymooners
Most of Noku's fifty villas carry a private pool and a generous sundeck, the overwater row built for a couple's own rhythm of dawn coffee and evening swims.
Divers and snorkellers
A house reef that starts right off the beach and an on-site dive centre reaching 34 sites — some known for grey reef sharks and turtles — give the water-focused guest plenty to explore without leaving the island.
Families who want space, not structure
Large villas and a gentle house reef suit families well, but Noku doesn't run a dedicated kids' club or age-banded programme — better suited to families happy to explore together than to drop the kids at a clubhouse.
Wine & Dine
Palms Restaurant
Maldivian and international — grilled meats, seafood and buffet or à la carte dishes · Breakfast · lunch · dinner
The resort's all-day beachfront restaurant, its buffet and à la carte menu paired with a live band most evenings.
Thari Restaurant
Indian, Sri Lankan and Maldivian, with a regularly changing menu · Lunch · dinner
A poolside kitchen built around Indian, Sri Lankan and Maldivian flavours, the menu turning over regularly.
Palms Bar
Cocktails, wines, beers and soft drinks drawing on Eastern and Western traditions · All-day bar service
Beachfront cocktails under palm-thatched roofs, poured from morning through midnight.
Hands-on reef and marine conservation guests can join directly — adopting or planting coral frames, mangrove planting, and turtle-rescue visits with a hatchling release.
House-Reef & Guided Snorkel
A guided swim over the house reef, off the beach or a short boat ride out, with private, night and beginner variants at resorts that run their own dive centre.
Kayak, SUP & Sailing
Kayak, stand-up paddleboard, sailing dinghy, windsurfing and kitesurfing — the wind- and paddle-powered end of the watersports centre, bundled as one booking.
Local Island & Village Visit
A guided excursion to a nearby inhabited local island, or to Malé itself, to see everyday Maldivian village life, markets and mosques.
Jet ski, seabob, flyboard, parasail and wakeboard, rented or instructed through the resort's own watersports centre.
Learn to Dive (PADI/SSI Certification)
A PADI or SSI dive centre running everything from a first discover-scuba dive to full certification, with Nitrox, night diving and DPV add-ons at the larger operations.
Malé · seaplane, 45 minutes · Kuda Funafaru Island, Noonu Atoll
Nearest airport
Velana International Airport (MLE)
Seaplane
45 minutes from Velana International Airport
Alternative route
Domestic flight to Maafaru Domestic Airport (40 minutes), then a 15-minute speedboat
Location
Noonu Atoll, Kuda Funafaru Island
At a glance
Villas
50 villas · 30 overwater · 20 beach · Private pool in some villas · Largest 400 m²
Dining
2 restaurants · 2 bars
Diving & reef
Dive centre · Notable house reef
Spa
Funa Spa
Before you book
How do you get to Noku Maldives?
Noku sits on Kuda Funafaru Island in Noonu Atoll, reached either by a 45-minute seaplane from Velana International Airport or by a 40-minute domestic flight to Maafaru Domestic Airport followed by a 15-minute speedboat. IMJ confirms the exact routing and timing at booking.
What meal plans does Noku Maldives offer?
Noku's own site doesn't publish named meal-plan tiers. Palms Restaurant runs a mixed buffet and à la carte service for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Thari Restaurant covers lunch and dinner, and 24-hour in-villa dining rounds out the options. IMJ confirms exactly what's included in your rate before booking.
Is Noku Maldives good for families, and is there a kids' club?
Noku markets to both couples and families — its official photo gallery includes a 'Children's Recreation' category — but no dedicated kids' club, age range, babysitting service, or family villa type is stated on the resort's own site. IMJ confirms current family provisions directly with the resort before booking.
What's the house reef and diving like at Noku Maldives?
The house reef starts right off the beach and is, in the resort's own words, 'genuinely good' — shore snorkelling among clownfish, sea anemones and triggerfish. An on-site dive centre welcomes all levels, from first-timers to experienced divers, with 34 dive sites in reach, including spots known for grey reef sharks, rays, barracudas and turtles.
What's included in a stay at Noku Maldives?
Most of Noku's fifty villas carry a private pool, and every villa comes with 24-hour in-villa dining, a generous sundeck and both indoor and outdoor bathrooms. Complimentary happy hour and a range of drinks are included resort-wide; specific inclusions by rate aren't itemised on the official site, so IMJ confirms these before booking. Check-in is 14:00, check-out 12:00.
What is Vignette Collection, and is Noku Maldives new?
Noku reopened as Vignette Collection's debut Maldives property in December 2024, following a refurbishment under IHG Hotels & Resorts' new boutique brand — its first in the Indian Ocean. The resort's legacy nokuhotels.com domain now redirects to the IHG site, confirming the move from independent boutique brand to IHG-operated Vignette Collection property.
The factsheet
Every fact we hold on Noku Maldives (villas, dining, transfers) in one document.