The Nautilus

Why book?

For laidback, barefoot luxury where there are no rigid opening hours or dress codes, just a plethora of choices, ultra-relaxation and diving among whale sharks and manta rays.

Set the scene

30 minutes after the seaplane leaves Malé, it delivers you to this compact, white-sand island of Thiladhoo. It’s tiny – you can walk around in just seven minutes – yet it manages to feel uncrowded. Clocks are conspicuously absent, as are opening and closing times, as well as dress codes. “Time Stands Still” is the motto here, which means mealtimes are whenever.

As the sun sets, the fruit bats swoop among the trees as couples and young families lounge on large poolside cabanas, downing languid cocktails and listening to live guitar strums before heading for a casual dinner. A few days of manta ray snorkelling, impromptu midnight gym sessions, Padel tennis court rallies and warm poultice massages feel more like two blissful weeks.

The backstory

Nautilus’s late founder, Dr Ibrahim Umar Maniku, never felt like he was truly on holiday in places where he had to obey opening hours and dress codes. The Maldivian medical doctor and entrepreneur, who founded resorts like Palm Tree Resort (which later became Naladhu and Anantara), launched The Nautilus in 2019 on this private island in the Baa Atoll. This was his final project, its unfettered ethos embodying his approach to vacation time.

The rooms

The 26 kajan thatched-roofed private villas include over-water houses, beachside houses, some two-storey residences and The Mansion, which contains a kitchen and a separate entrance for the housemaster. Interiors are a melange of gold, blue and ivory, oranges and coral accents that echo the colours of the sun, sea and sand. The most arresting feature in the over-water villas are the circles of glass in the parquet flooring, where you can watch needlefish and baby reef sharks swim past in the lagoon below. Occupying the length of each property are floor-to-ceiling windows facing out onto a wooden deck and infinity pool (you can select the temperature of the water). The bathrooms, huge and equipped with Penhaligon toiletries, contain freestanding bathtubs and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the deck and ocean. Each villa is assigned a private butler who can fulfil any requests, such as a floating breakfast in the swimming pool. On the decking, snorkelling equipment is provided near the steps leading down to the lagoon.

Food and drink

On my first jetlagged morning at Nautilus, I hotfooted it to breakfast at 11.30am, worried I’d missed out on an egg hopper and turmeric smoothie. “No rush,” a staffer smiled before handing over the menu. This absence of mealtime schedules is part of the resort’s “unscripted dining” ethos. It means you can request anything on or off the international menu, be it the signature miso cod at Japanese-Latin American restaurant Ocaso, or an on-demand apple crumble at Zeitoun restaurant, whose most popular table is perched in isolation on an elevated, eagle-nest platform overlooking the ocean. Chefs will go to great lengths to accommodate requests – even down to the precise amount of oil used in certain dishes.

Thyme, the all-day restaurant, does great smoothies and international breakfasts, ranging from Maldivian cuisine to Sri Lankan hoppers, Middle Eastern shakshuka, Malaysian nasi lemak, and Syrniki cheesecakes for Ukrainian and Russian guests.

At the poolside restaurant, Naiboli, guests can graze on nachos, tapas, gourmet bespoke canapés and inventive cocktails. Off-menu requests are accommodated as much as possible, meaning I could order my beloved Pisco sour. With a casual dress code in all restaurants, it’s only the crabs that need to be well-dressed.

The area

This is a snorkeller’s paradise. The resort lies within the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, and near Hanifaru Bay, which offers some of the best snorkelling. Expect to see surgeonfish, blue tang, moorish idols, plus whale shark and manta rays in the May-September rainy season. As you swim among the mantas, the boat crew operate drones and will send you the footage afterwards. In the house reef, there’s snorkelling and paddleboarding; guests preferring deep-sea action can request private yacht excursions or big-game fishing sessions.

Kids

It’s a very family-friendly resort. The Young Wonderers kids' club offers books and games for children aged 3 to 12. Staff are on hand 24 hours a day to supervise crafts and games, water sports, reef fishing, cookery classes, crab hunts and marine biologist excursions. Babysitting for smaller children is available at an extra cost. For older children and teens, there are also mocktail classes, watersports and a games room to play table tennis and pool.

The service

Staff are relaxed, friendly and highly amenable – no request is too outlandish. They’re particularly good at remembering your individual meal and wine preferences.

Eco effort

There is no single-use plastic, and reclaimed wood is used instead of plastic. Some furnishings are handcrafted using sustainable materials, and energy-saving LED lights are used throughout.

Accessibility

There are few steps anywhere, except for the two-storey residences. Buggies are available to transport guests to any part of the island.