Spotlight on: The Nautilus Maldives
The Nautilus offers something increasingly rare in the Maldives: the opportunity to have an entire island to yourself. Set on a small island in Baa Atoll’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, its 26 houses and residences sit between the beach and the lagoon, with the sea close and the pace of each day yours to set. Take the island for your family or circle of friends, and the usual resort rhythms recede: there are no other guests, and no need to follow anyone else’s plans. Gather for a long lunch, head out across the atoll, or simply find a quiet corner of your own to relax and enjoy the serenity. This rare blend of seclusion and thoughtful experiences has earned The Nautilus Two MICHELIN Keys and a place on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List for 2026.
An island to yourselves
With a whole-island buyout, all 26 houses and residences are reserved for your group. The welcome begins in Malé, with a VIP airport greeting, limousine transfer to The Nautilus’ private lounge, and onward seaplane transfer. You can book a dedicated Nautilus seaplane for a more private journey (standard seaplanes may stop at other resorts). Once on the island, breakfast can be served wherever and whenever you choose. If you opt for a complete buyout, your stay also includes morning yoga, non-motorised water sports, and sunset cocktails with deli-style snacks. For a group with different ages and interests, it’s a thoughtful balance of shared time and room to do your own thing.
Choose a space that fits your group
With the island reserved for your group, everyone can choose a house suited to the way they like to spend time. The nine Beach Houses sit just steps from the sand, with gardens framing the sundeck and private pool; they make it easy to slip between a swim in the sea and a quiet hour back at home. For a family wanting more room together, the two-bedroom Nautilus Retreat stretches across 542 square metres above the lagoon. Its shared living and dining space opens onto the water, while two en-suite bedrooms give everyone a little privacy. Across the island, separate houses let the group come together by choice, then retreat on their own terms. If you don’t want the island to yourself, the resort’s incredible accommodation means you still get the feeling of seclusion, even if other guests are staying nearby.
Dining without a timetable
At The Nautilus, the question is less what’s on the menu than where you’d like to eat. Zeytoun serves European and Mediterranean cuisine; at Ocaso, Japanese, Mexican, and Peruvian flavours meet over the beachside grill, while Thyme serves throughout the day. Some of the most memorable tables, though, are beyond the restaurants. The team at the resort can create a private dinner on your sundeck, set a table on a secluded sandbank, or serve breakfast aboard a yacht as it cruises through Baa Atoll. You can even pause for a swim before heading back to shore. For a group, that freedom means a celebratory dinner, an easy lunch, or a slow start can each find its own setting.
Go beyond the beach
There’s more to the Nautilus than its stunning beaches and palm trees. A sandbank becomes an open-air cinema for the evening, with a film chosen for your group, dinner prepared to your taste, and the sea all around. By day, you might head to Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays gather from May to November to feed on the dense concentrations of plankton in the horseshoe-shaped bay. The Masters for Masters programme offers another way to connect with the island: recent residencies have included British painter Phoebe Dickinson’s open-studio and sunset painting sessions, Swiss state chef Gregor Zimmermann’s Easter dinners featuring Maldivian produce, and German padel player Denise Höfer’s on-court masterclasses.
Your handcrafted stay starts here
If The Nautilus feels like the right fit for your next Maldives escape, your Travel Counsellor can coordinate the journey around your group, from international flights and a VIP welcome in Malé to seaplane transfers to Baa Atoll. They can also help you explore the island buyout options and shape your stay around what matters to you, or they can find your perfect beach residence if a total buyout isn’t the kind of stay you are looking for.
Contact your Travel Counsellor today to get things started.
