Private Island Buyouts
Renting an entire Maldives island for one party is the rarest end of the destination — no other guests, your own team, and the run of the place. There are only a handful of genuine options. These are the three Fede books most, from a true single-unit island to private islands that sit inside a larger resort.
Full-island buyoutFour Seasons VoavahThe cleanest private-island product in the country. Five villas on one Baa Atoll island, sold as a single unit to one party at a time — a 7-bedroom beach house with three standalone Beach Villas and one Over-Water Villa wrapping around it. It comes with a dedicated 62-foot yacht and a Four Seasons-managed seaplane on demand, and a private kitchen team that cooks entirely bespoke (no fixed menus, no restaurant venues). Built for multi-generation family takeovers, milestone trips, and small corporate gatherings where privacy and full-island use matter more than restaurant variety.
Private-island optionCheval Blanc RandheliThe LVMH luxury template applied to the Maldives, and the most polished way to do it — 45 villas, service standards rarely matched in the country, and food at Le 1947 in a class of its own. Design is residential European rather than barefoot-Maldivian (marble, polished wood, designer furniture), which is the point. For a true private experience, the whole island can be taken on a buyout, or the 4-Bedroom Owner’s Villa anchors a large-group booking. Best for guests who are clear that “is this worth it” isn’t the question they want to ask.
Private island within the resortIthaafushi — The Private IslandPart of the three-island Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi setup, Ithaafushi The Private Island rents as a complete buy-out for one party — three bedrooms across its own villas, two pools, a spa, gym and bar, with a dedicated team. Because it sits alongside the main resort and the adults-only Privé island, groups can take the private island for a milestone stretch while still using the wider resort’s restaurants and facilities. The closest of the three to Malé, so it is also the easiest to reach.
What “private island” actually means
The phrase gets used loosely. A real buyout means the whole island is yours — villas, staff, kitchen, boats — with no other guests checked in. Four Seasons Voavah is the purest version: one island, five villas, sold as a single unit. Cheval Blanc Randheli can be taken as a full-island buyout for the ultimate exclusivity, or anchored around its Owner’s Villa. Ithaafushi The Private Island is a private island that operates alongside the main Waldorf Astoria resort, so you get seclusion plus the back-up of a full resort next door.
How to choose
Go with Voavah for a true one-party island with a yacht and seaplane on call and fully bespoke dining — best for multi-generation families and milestone trips. Choose Cheval Blanc Randheli if service polish and food are the priority and you want LVMH-level finish over barefoot Maldivian style. Pick Ithaafushi The Private Island if you want privacy for part of the trip but also the variety of a big resort’s restaurants and the easiest transfer from Malé.
Pricing & booking
Private-island rates are opaque, seasonal, and high — quoted per night for the whole island, usually with minimum-stay and minimum-occupancy terms. The fastest way to get a real number for your dates and group size is to ask Fede directly; he handles the negotiation, the transfers, and the on-island planning.
Which of these is a true whole-island buyout?
Four Seasons Voavah is sold only as a single-unit island for one party. Cheval Blanc Randheli can be booked as a full-island buyout as well. Ithaafushi The Private Island is a private island that sits within the wider Waldorf Astoria resort.
How many people do they sleep?
Voavah sleeps around 22 across its 7-bedroom beach house and surrounding villas. Ithaafushi The Private Island is a three-bedroom layout. Cheval Blanc varies with how many villas you take. Fede can match the right one to your group size.
What does it cost?
Rates are per night for the whole island and change with season and occupancy. They are high and quoted privately — message Fede with your dates and party size for an exact figure.
Are meals and transfers included?
It depends on the island and the package. Voavah includes a private kitchen team and a dedicated yacht plus seaplane on demand. The others bundle transfers and dining differently — Fede confirms exactly what’s included before you commit.