The Nautilus Maldives

Total number of rooms: 26 | Prices start from US$

The villas, or “houses” as they call them at The Nautilus Maldives, are massive, boho-styled sanctuaries with private pools and direct access to either the beach or lagoon. Each one includes a dedicated butler, known as your “house master,” who will handle just about anything.

This place is located in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this private island retreat offers something that even many other five-star resorts don’t: total freedom. With only 26 exclusive houses and residences, every guest receives personal attention, complete privacy, and a flexible, guest-first approach that breaks all the typical resort rules.

At The Nautilus, there’s no schedule. You can dine whenever and wherever you want, skip menus entirely, and ask the chefs to whip up whatever you’re craving, even if it’s breakfast at midnight or dinner on the beach at sunrise. They call it “unscripted dining”.

Another major draw is the reef that completely surrounds the island. You can literally step into the water and snorkel with turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, moray eels, and vibrant schools of fish within minutes. No boat rides, and no crowds. During the right season, you can head to nearby Hanifaru Bay, one of the world’s best places to swim alongside manta rays and whale sharks.

If you’re into fitness or just want to stay active between spa treatments and snorkel dives, the gym, yoga pavilion, and water sports center are available whenever you feel like it.

Good to know: This is one of the few hotels in the Maldives where everything, from spa appointments to diving excursions, operates around your preferences, not a fixed timetable. They’ve built their entire service model around saying “yes” instead of “we’re fully booked.”

Amenities to expect at The Nautilus Maldives