Wander into a world of your own making at The Nautilus Maldives, an ultra-luxury private island hideaway. Located in the heart of the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that is home to the worldrenowned Hanifaru Bay, this natural island is enveloped by white sandy beaches fringed with palm trees, and encircled by a vibrant coral house reef. It is a paradise where time stands still and endless possibilities of free-spirited experiences await couples, families and friends.

Designed with an eco-conscious vision and an organic, bohemian flavour; and featuring just 26 beach or ocean houses and residences; The Nautilus is the only resort in the Maldives that offers a unique private island experience – without the need for an exclusive buyout. Staying at the ultra-luxury retreat means unrivalled space and utter privacy, and complete freedom from the restrictions of time, schedules or any other constraints. This intimate island sanctuary is one that offers the comforts of home and the personalised service of dedicated House Master (butler service), taking bespoke luxury to a new level. And of course, with such a limited number of island abodes, The Nautilus is also ideal for exclusive rentals of the entire island.

As one step onto the shores of The Nautilus, surrounded by crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean and awe-inspiring views of the Maldivian sunset, by the gentle brush of the sea salt breeze against the sun-warmed skin. Exquisite natural surroundings like these call for a continuous commitment to sustainability and responsible luxury tourism that leaves a minimal impact on this environment, a commitment The Nautilus Maldive carries out through mindful activities and conservation efforts that invite guests to participate and foster a deeper connection with the destination and the community from neighbouring local islands.

Centred on The Nautilus’s philosophy of providing a haven of freedom, the guest experience is one of liberation at every turn. The Nautilus Maldives goes above and beyond to offer a timeless concept where everything is possible at any time: There are no clocks, no schedules, no opening or closing times. At The Nautilus, every moment is fluid, allowing guests to fully escape from the stresses of daily life. Narratives unfold without itinerary, and without inhibition.

In each of The Nautilus’s three restaurants and two bars, the world-class chefs and mixologists relish the chance to explore culinary creativity to cater to the individual whims and wishes of each guest. They are not afraid to go completely off-script, toss menus aside and create totally bespoke dining experiences that favour personal interaction and offer delightful surprises. Restaurant menus are mere suggestions; guests can order any dish from any restaurant and enjoy it anywhere. This concept of unscripted dining allows guests freedom with their dining choices and an abundance of dishes to taste while on holiday.

The Nautilus Maldives’ private island’s overwater Solasta Spa provides bespoke wellness journeys, holistic spa treatments, yoga, meditation and fitness classes at your convenience. And at Young Wonderers, the island’s children’s club, The Nautilus Maldives creates tailor-made experiences that are holistic in nature yet rich in educational intention for families and young guests of all ages.

The Nautilus is a destination where catering is available anytime, anywhere. From highly personalised, heartfelt hospitality to customised free-spirited experiences,guests are invited to the ultimate ultra-luxury bohemian holiday, and write their own narrative in a space of their own, to embrace the freedom to create cherished moments and embark on a journey of discovery and wonder.

Conceptualised by a Maldivian hospitality icon and visionary entrepreneur who was instrumental in creating many award-winning resorts, The Nautilus is the result of his lifetime’s worth of expertise and represents what ultra-luxury should be – not just in the Maldives, but worldwide. The legacy of this visionary entrepreneurship is now carried forward by the next generation of the family. A celebration of the individual spirit, The Nautilus offers liberation and freedom unconditional. Space to share and meet, where guests are encouraged to be themselves and shape their own personal journeys. Above all, The Nautilus champions its guests to reflect and celebrate with the people they’re with, in any way they choose. Because in the end, it’s these simple, elemental pleasures – that ability to simply be – that form the greatest luxury of all.

Since its opening The Nautilus has gained phenomenal international recognition, most notably within Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2020 as the ‘Best Resort in the Indian Ocean’ and being recognised among the top 3 ‘Best Resorts in the World’. The Nautilus is also within Condé Nast Traveller’s highly prestigious ‘The Gold List’ 2021 as well as Tatler’s renowned Travel Awards 2021 as ‘Best Private Island Retreat’. The Nautilus has been recognised within Condé Nast Traveller Middle East’s ‘The Gold List 2021’, and Condé Nast Traveller’s 2022 Readers’ Choice Award among the top resorts in the Indian Ocean. Most recently, The Nautilus has been announced as one of the top 10% hotels worldwide, by TripAdvisor Readers’ Choice Awards 2023.

THE CONCEPT AND INSPIRATION

Inspired by the enduring form of the nautilus shell, The Nautilus’s philosophy reiterates the timelessness and longevity of this icon of the deep. The freedom to simply be… The most bespoke private island experience – without the commitment of a complete buyout. The Nautilus’s anytime, anywhere, as you please concept allows guests to experience complete freedom from the rules and restrictions of their daily lives. All the restrictions usually associated with a luxury resort in the Maldives, such as set times, rigid menus and services assigned to specific areas, are not applicable at The Nautilus.

THE BRAND HALLMARKS

The Nautilus is guided by five hallmarks that make a stay here different from anywhere else. Find out what staying at The Nautilus means:

THE COMFORTS OF HOME

The Nautilus’s guests feel truly at home and at ease. This island hideaway is all about bespoke experiences and hyper-personalisation, where guests can truly express themselves. The 26 immensely private houses and residences stand for the utmost exclusivity and privacy and are fitted with features that feel far more at home than a hotel room. They are perfect for couples and families and as venues to host social get-togethers. At The Nautilus, the perfect scene for an island getaway is set, one that is tailored to guests’ exact preferences and unique style. A personal House Master (full butler service) contacts guests before their arrival to discover their exact preferences – the details that make people unique – so that we can create their wholly personalised home away from home.

TIME STANDS STILL

At The Nautilus, time ceases to exist. There are no clocks, watches are discouraged, and scheduling is kept deliberately loose throughout all aspects of your guest experience. There is perhaps no greater mark of liberation than breaking free from time itself. The Nautilus’s guests never have to check the time at any point throughout their stay. Guests eat when they are hungry or visit the spa when they feel like it – not when “it’s time”. Daily breakfast is an anywhere, anytime gastronomic experience to enjoy either at Thyme restaurant or in the comfort of their house – à la carte, whenever they like. What’s more, there are no opening or closing times for restaurants, the spa or excursions.

UNSCRIPTED DINING

Menus can be helpful for the indecisive, but The Nautilus recognises that they can also be prohibitive. They are rigid, unbending, and echo the directives of chefs rather than respond to the needs of the individual guest. The Nautilus relishes the chance to explore culinary creativity to meet the whims and wishes of the guests. Chefs are not afraid to go completely off-script, toss menus aside and create totally bespoke dining experiences that favour personal interaction and offer delightful surprises. Restaurant menus are mere suggestions. Guests can order any dish from any restaurant and enjoy it anywhere. (They can eat pizza or a club sandwich in our signature dining restaurant, Zeytoun, if they feel like it.) The Nautilus takes special care to record guest preferences, ensuring these are factored into everything guests consume.

THE ART OF BOHEMIA

With a passion for self-expression, a taste for elegance and a touch of trademark whimsy, The Nautilus shares a passion for art, literature and music, ensuring the guest experience is a rich celebration of all of life’s greatest gifts. It is a paradise compendium of rich architecture, design and consideration, with boho interiors and colour schemes featuring flamboyant tones and accents achieving harmony with their natural surroundings’ colour tones. The Nautilus has no rules or expectations on how to behave .Guests can come as they are, dressed in whatever makes them feel happiest and relaxed. Barefoot is perfect. All Nautilus guests can join every evening the sunset cocktails somewhere on the island. Whether poolside, on the beach or at a special secret location, the House Master will know where to escortt the guest.

FREE-SPIRITED EXPERIENCES
The Nautilus doesn’t impose; it doesn’t inhibit – it simply lets one be. With a spirit of adventure and total respect for the choices that make the guest who he is, The Nautilus tears down boundaries and breaks conventions to ensure the guest experience is one of total liberation at every turn.The Nautilus Maldives ventures into the unknown, creating incredible excursions and adventures that revel in the true spirit of uninhibited freedom. These liberating, once-in-a-lifetime experiences are shaped by guests’ schedule – to what suits them best. Imagine marvelling at – and joining – the manta rays in their timeless dance at the marine protected and world-renowned Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve just 15 minutes away via a comfortable yacht ride.

THE JOURNEY / LOCATION

Located at the renowned Baa Atoll in heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Nautilus encompasses 242 x 249 metres of natural beauty. With just a 30 minutes from Velana International Airport via The Nautilus’s private seaplane, shared seaplane, or via 20 minutes domestic flight from Male to Dharavandhoo domestic airport followed by a 20 minute yacht ride. Upon arrival at Velana International Airport, all guests are picked up directly from their aircraft and individually escorted to an exclusive lounge. No queuing is required and all matters regarding immigration, baggage and customs will be handled on their behalf. For guests arriving via private jets, landing services are available at local domestic airport, Mafaaru, followed by a direct 2.5 hour luxury yacht transfer.

ACCOMMODATION

At The Nautilus, only 26 beach and ocean houses and residences line our shores – each a personal sanctum with its own separate living room and private pool, infusing the comforts of home with a bohemian whimsy that invites you into the barefoot life. Open up your floor-to-ceiling doors and let the ocean breeze flow through your living room. Hand-picked materials and custom-designed furnishings ensure every abode is a work of art. The smooth surface of pale granite in the bathroom. Hand-knotted macramé chandeliers. A curved wall of windows that opens up to the sea, so that every morning begins with a view of the Baa Atoll.

No. of Units Type of Accommodation Size 08 Ocean Houses with private pool 282 sqm 09 Beach Houses with private pool 309 sqm 02 Ocean Residence with private pool 453 sqm 03 Beach Residence with private pool 415 sqm 02 Two Bedroom Beach Residence with private pool 610 sqm 01 The Nautilus Retreat with private pool 542 sqm 01 The Nautilus Mansion with private pool 922 sqm

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

The Nautilus gives you the freedom the simply be. This resonates within the island’s physical architecture too. From its framed vistas to the colour schemes and perpetual cylindrical motif taken from the nautilus shell, The Nautilus is a paradise compendium of rich architecture, design and consideration.

DINING
Unscripted dining – anywhere, anytime. The Nautilus’s three restaurants and two bars revel in the
spontaneous, crafting bespoke culinary journeys tailored to each taste.

ZEYTOUN
Our signature dining restaurant showcases flavours of the wider Mediterranean – pure olive oils from
the Aegean, freshly baked crusty breads, aromatic teas. All exquisitely crafted and served in refined
comfort. The lounge on the upper deck is perfect for an intimate pre-dinner rendezvous.

OCASO
Smoke-laden flavours and infusions from distant shores – the grill embarks on a nightly journey from
Latin America to the reaches of North Asia, specialising in Japanese, Mexican and Peruvian.

THYME
This beachfront all-day dining venue wraps you in a welcoming beach-house ambience with a bounty
of gourmet flavours and global delicacies that bring happiness with every bite. At Thyme guests can
experience Ananda’s gourmet ayurveda cuisine via a specially curated menu that Ananda in the
Himalayas crafted exclusively for The Nautilus.

NAIBOLI
The ultimate poolside lounge: bask in the supreme comfort of loungers and cabanas – the ultimate
seaside retreat with the refined ambience of a living room. Complimentary gourmet canapés are
available throughout the day.

FREE-SPIRITED EXPERIENCES

Explore the Baa Atoll with all the time in the world – The Nautilus sets you free to enjoy free-spirited
experiences that can be tailored to your every whim. The onsite PADI AquaNautica dive centre offers
access to more than 30 world-class sites within close reach – the renowned Hanifaru Bay just a short
speedboat ride away where you can swim with Manta Rays. A house reef sits metres from the shore,
cruises on a luxury yacht, fishing expeditions, sunset sailing, complimentary non-motorised water
sports are perfect for free-spirited forays into the blue.

FAMILIES
The ultimate luxury private island resort experience for families, with a range of activities for children
of all ages, including young adults, encouraging them to explore the natural beauty of the private island.
From marine biology classes and underwater treasure hunts to Maldivian culture classes where children
can learn the Dhivehi language and Boduberu music lessons, The Nautilus delights in creating tailormade experiences that are holistic in nature yet educational. Located in the centre of the island, Young
Wonderers is a playful hub, which offers an educational programme for children up to 11 years old to
encourage them to grow in confidence and learn new skills. Each personal House Master can provide a
bespoke Young Wonderers schedule tailored to each family’s individual needs.

WELLNESS
The overwater Solasta Spa has three glass-floored private treatment pavilions where tailored wellness
journeys and daily rituals are supported by the natural and organic product lines of Maison Caulières
and Omorovicza. Solasta Spa offers the opportunity to practice yoga in any way guests please: flowing
Vinyasa, slow, extended holds for joint mobility strength of Yin, or Aerial yoga. Daily complimentary
yoga, meditation and fitness sessions are available. In collaboration with Ananda in the Himalayas, the
Moksha Nautilus Signature is specially designed for guests to experience a holistic therapy inspired by
the concept of Moksha – signifying a liberation of the senses, and a release of the free flow of energy.

SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is a key priority for The Nautilus, from empowering and supporting local talent to using
sustainable building materials resulting in handcrafted room furnishings. From ocean-approved
chemical free cleaning products to LED energy saving initiatives and replacing plastic with reclaimed
wood, The Nautilus operates on an environmentally smart basis. Located in the island’s lagoon, guests
have the opportunity to adopt a coral frame to preserve the beauty of the reef as well as encouraging
new growth for the future. It is regularly monitored by The Nautilus’ resident marine biologist. The
Nautilus integrates the Manta Trust’s ‘Swim with Mantas’ Code of Conduct into its operations and is
listed among Manta Trust’s selection of Responsible Manta excursion operators. The Nautilus is home
to the largest living wall in the Indian Ocean, with over 20,000 dhun’gethi bushes [Clerodendron inerme],
it provides shade, privacy, and a cooling green backdrop. At 330 metres long, it runs around the middle
of the island, separating guest areas from the team member village and varies from three to six metres
in height, covering a total area of 1,700m². The second phase of the wall includes planting herbs, salads,
and other edible plants on the reverse side of the wall, facing the staff.