The new ultra-exclusive private island resort, The Nautilus, is a highly personalized and immensely private bohemian hideaway located in the Maldives Baa Atoll.
In our busy, hectic world, who doesn’t yearn to escape from the pressures of life, of meeting expectations, of just not having enough time to do the things that really matter? Who doesn’t sometimes dream of escaping the stresses of the everyday world for a remote tropical island where it seems time finally stands still? The Nautilus, a privately-owned island in the Maldives, answers those questions.
Opened earlier this year in January, The Nautilus is a celebration of the individual spirit, a vision of a Maldivian entrepreneur it is inspired by the enduring form of the nautilus shell. Originally a deserted island – too small at 250m diameter for inhabitation – the tiny island is home to one of the world’s most luxurious resorts. Surrounded by serene and sparkling seas, this Maldivian luxury hotel is a natural haven of wellness, each of the 26 houses and residences are unique and sophisticated in design. Curved lines and spiralled elements echo throughout, while hand-picked decor creates a calm and laid-back atmosphere. Each residences also comes complete with its own private pool.
But how is this island different? In keeping with its new bohemian style, The Nautilus doesn’t judge, doesn’t impose and doesn’t inhibit its guests. Restaurants have a flexible approach to opening hours and food. Menus are considered only a starting point for discussions about what the guest would like to eat and the chef can cook favourite recipes or create specialities as desired. Guests can enjoy gourmet treats from the poolside deli all day long without charge, and each guest’s house is stocked with complimentary teas, coffee, water and a selection of soft drinks. Breakfast is whenever the guest feels like eating and doesn’t have to be in the restaurant. Blissful spa treatments can take place without appointment.
Pleasingly for a leading luxury resort, there are no dress codes and going barefoot is encouraged – even in the restaurants. Dine at the signature fine dining spot, Zaytoun, for Mediterranean and Arabic cuisine; try smoked specialties at globally inspired grill, Ocaso; tuck into casual gourmet bites at laid-back beach house, Thyme; and pair cocktails with tapas at the poolside bar, Naiboli. Breakfast can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere; canapes are served by the pool all day; and you can see the sun go down each day with a cocktail.
With its privileged position in the Unesco Biosphere Reserve, Baa Atoll, the island is a gateway to a kaleidoscope of marine life, too, with diving trips to mesmerizing coral reefs and cruises on the custom-built yacht where guests are taken to swim with manta rays at Hanifaru Bay and explore the atoll’s remote sandbanks, most of all, the island can conjure up tailored activities that are meaningful to each guest, leaving them feeling as though they’ve had more than just a beach holiday. The Nautilus will craft excursions and adventures, taking guests where they want to be when they want to be there, from midnight swims in glowing phosphorescent waters alongside a marine biologist, to exploring deserted islands on its custom-built yacht or floating in a ‘star filled’ pool under the milky way while the House Captain whisks up another perfect cocktail.
Back on the island, guests can unwind at the resort’s spa taking part in daily yoga, meditation and fitness classes. The Nautilus sets guests on their own path to wellness, drawing on ancient wisdoms and modern innovations for a transformative journey in its four treatment rooms in the heart of the island. The spa specialises in the bespoke, designing wellness programmes and daily rituals that refresh and relax, pamper and protect.
The Nautilus is a place where - on its island at least - time becomes an irrelevance.
To check availability or to make a reservation visit MILLIONAIRE ESCAPES
