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The luxury resort of Anantara Kihavah Maldives has just unveiled the largest overwater two-bedroom residences in the world after a major renovation.
Perched on the pristine turquoise waters of the magnificent Baa Atoll archipelago within a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, the 1,500-sq-ft overwater villas have been reimagined to provide every luxury guests could ever wish for including a gym, a couples’ spa treatment room, a fully equipped professional kitchen and expanded outdoor deck complete with a large private swimming pool.
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Combining naturally inspired design with luxury living, the seven light and airy residences stay true to the heritage of the Maldives with traditional kajan thatched palm roofs made from coconut kajan harvested by local people from local islands, while floor-to-ceiling windows allow for endless ocean vistas.
The gym and the spa treatment rooms within each residence are fitted with retractable blinds, allowing for natural sunlight by day and uninterrupted stargazing at night. A sky view, however, may be outshone by the marine life that can be savored while enjoying a relaxing signature Anantara Spa massage thanks to the strategic placement of glass panels underneath the spa treatment beds. This theme is carried through with glass-bottomed whirlpool bathtubs fitted in each bathroom.
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The outside space is equally as impressive; both en-suite bedrooms feature individual outdoor living areas, the extended infinity pool is tiled in natural Sukabumhi stone and the shaded outdoor dining sala is perfect for downtime after an afternoon of snorkeling. From the redesigned outdoor deck, guests will find their own set of steps leading to the sparkling ocean below as well as an overwater hammock – the ideal spot to take in the endless Maldivian sunsets.
This most recent renovation follows a multi-million-dollar redesign of the private island resort’s two, three and four-bedroom beachside pool residences in 2020, just before lockdown. Each retreat offers a private sanctuary nestled within the flora of the island’s verdant landscape which is peppered with coconut trees and bright bougainvillea.
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Conscious of its privileged position within a protected conservation area, the Anantara Kihavah Maldives resort has a number of practices and policies in place to ensure it has the lightest possible impact on the island’s wildlife-rich surroundings. This includes a water treatment facility to recycle wastewater and an innovative food waste initiative that sees leftovers turned into biofuel.
The pause in tourism over the past year has also given the resort the chance to implement a number of new revitalization programs across the island, such as tree planting, which has seen 60 new coconut palm saplings planted to date as well as increasing activity on their existing reef protection program. The Coral Conservation Program is overseen by the charity Coral Reef CPR and aims to tackle coral bleaching and restore life back into the reefs through coral planting. The resort now has three coral nurseries and is growing more baby branching corals on ropes, which will be transplanted back on the reef after 18-months.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas’ Two Bed Overwater Pool Residences from $9,000 per night, anantara.com
