Highlights of the Month: Vakkaru Maldives, The Nautilus & SO/ Maldives

By Marilyne Morin, Founder of IMPACT M, Marketing & PR Consultancy.

About the author: Marilyne is a purpose-driven business leader with more than 15 years’ experience in Marketing, Public Relations, Branding, Digital and Corporate Communications. Having worked for a wide range of businesses in the fields of hospitality and tourism, arts and culture, events, entertainment, beauty and healthcare, she has a vast expertise and is driven by connecting emotionally brand personalities with their audiences. Her creativity, passion, and the unique stories she can unfold have allowed her to conduct successful communication campaigns worldwide.

Exclusive Maldivian retreats

For the ultimate Maldivian getaway, we’ve selected some of the best resorts in this Indian Ocean archipelago and their top luxury offerings for discerning travellers.

Vakkaru Maldives

A timeless nature sanctuary

Lying in the heart of Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Vakkaru Maldives is a secluded reef island blessed with stunning ocean views, powder-soft white sands, and a house reef with unique marine biodiversity.

Vakkaru Maldives offers an extensive choice of accommodations for couples and families.

Dotted across the expansive white sandy beach or set on stilts above the turquoise waters, all 113 villas and residences are designed with a contemporary interior blending natural elements inspired by the Maldivian culture.

Enhanced with a separate indoor living room, lavish outdoor area and private pool, the 15 beach and Over Water Residences, as well as a Four Bedroom Over Water Pool Residence, offer a truly luxurious escape and intelligent guest room connectivity for guests wanting more space and exclusivity.

Vakkaru offers a collection of delectable dishes from Europe to Asia, served in six restaurants and two bars, and features a wine cellar as well as private destination dining around the island.

Guests can embark on an extraordinary marine discovery journey around the atoll, famous for its marine megafauna – whale sharks, dolphins, and the world’s largest aggregation of manta rays.

Wellness seekers should not miss the Merana Wellness Center, an exclusive sanctuary with a tranquil environment designed for body and mind rejuvenation with indulging massages and body treatments, Ayurveda rituals, sound healing therapies, personalised yoga sessions and luxurious beauty treatments.

The Nautilus

A highly personalised retreat

Immersed in the raw beauty of Baa Atoll, in the middle of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, The Nautilus encompasses 242 x 249 metres of natural beauty.

The private ultra-luxury island resort has just 26 beach and ocean houses and residences, where every experience is tailored to guests, and where nothing is fixed and anything is possible.

All accommodations offer spacious bedrooms, a separate living room, a wide sundeck and a private temperature controlled infinity pool.

Steps from azure seas, these bohemian, suite-style sanctuaries come with private butler service. The 922 sqm Nautilus Mansion was designed by the owner as his ultimate beach home.

Available for once-in-a-lifetime stays, the three bedroom castle-on-the-sand occupies a spectacular spot on the beach, with custom furnishings created from hand-selected materials, unique objets d’art and a décor embodying the island’s pure bohemian spirit.

The Nautilus’ three restaurants and two bars offer spontaneous, bespoke culinary journeys tailored to each taste.

Guests can explore Mediterranean and Arabic cuisine at Zeytoun, Latin-American and Japanese delights at Ocaso, international choices at Thyme, and a free-flow of gourmet canapés from Naiboli poolside bar.

The resort also offers private in-residence or around-the-island dining, with no opening hours, no constraints. The overwater Solasta Spa has three glass-floored private treatment pavilions where tailored wellness programmes and daily rituals are crafted with natural and organic products.

SO/ Maldives

A fashionable island getaway

SO/ Maldives is set on a pristine private island surrounded by the Emboodhoo Lagoon, teeming with exotic sea life, perfect for diving and snorkelling.

The resort is part of CROSSROADS Maldives, the first integrated lifestyle and leisure destination in the Maldives – blending a stylish Riviera chic into idyllic tropical paradise, from dining to leisure, fashion and entertainment.

SO/ Maldives offers a luxury island getaway experience with bespoke all-villa accommodation and sensorial experiences rooted in fashion and art.

Each of its 80 villas was created in collaboration with leading artists and fashion designers, and is nestled on its own slice of white-sand beach or on stilts above the lagoon.

The villas are designed for open plan living with stunning ocean views and come with a private pool and expansive outdoor deck.

The Three-Bedroom Ocean Water Pool Atelier is a two-storey ocean escape designed for maximum luxury and privacy with a spacious living and dining area and wraparound deck on both floors to enjoy panoramic views.

The hotel features distinct dining experiences, each with a unique innovative concept.

The Citronelle Club offers casual all-day dining inspired by the flavours of Asia, while the menu at Hadaba features the finest Levantine cuisine.

For laid-back vibes, guests can head to Lazuli, a beach bar and lounge oozing Cote D’Azur charm and elegance, which offers a Mediterranean menu and healthy options and plays host to DJs and live music programming. Surrounded by lush greenery, the spa features specialist treatment rooms alongside hammam, steam rooms and a full-fitted gym, perfect to relax and unwind.