Amilla Maldives

Amilla Maldives sits on a private island in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 10 minutes by boat from Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays gather to feed each year during the south-west monsoon. Much of the island's natural vegetation has been left standing, including 2,500 coconut trees and banyans that predate the resort by a century. All 67 villas and residences have their own private pool, spread across beach, treetop and overwater categories, plus three larger multi-bedroom residences for bigger groups. Two villas have been redesigned specifically for wheelchair users.

In a country that imports over 90 per cent of its food, Amilla grows much of its own: vegetables from a hydroponic garden, mushrooms from an on-site hut, along with house-made jam, kombucha and yoghurt. Drinking water comes from the island's own desalination system, bottled in glass rather than plastic. Guests can dive the house reef, join the resort's marine biologist monitoring turtle nests, or take a boat out to Hanifaru Bay itself.