The Nautilus Maldives

Resort hotel

The Nautilus Maldives

Resort hotel

Thiladhoo, Baa atoll 20066, Maldives

Highlights

Luxury villas with private pools, butler service, and dining

Thiladhoo, Baa atoll 20066, Maldives Get directions

thenautilusmaldives.com

@thenautilusisland

@cntraveler

The Best Time to Visit the Maldives

"A high-end resort in the Maldives offering unique holiday experiences such as Santa hat-making classes for kids and festive celebrations."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/when-is-the-best-time-to-go-to-the-maldives

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@cntraveler

The Nautilus Maldives

"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe? Typically, the Maldives vacation experience doesn’t start until you get to your resort, as the arrival and transfer process at the international airport in Male can be a bit hectic. When you’re booked at The Nautilus, though, you’re met on the tarmac in Male and whisked to a VIP lounge to go through customs and immigration in private—allowing you to relax a bit earlier than expected. You’ll then board a seaplane directly from the lounge for the 30-minute flight to the resort, which is located in the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve Baa Atoll. (You can also book a private seaplane, or take a 20-minute flight to a domestic airport, followed by a 20-minute speedboat ride.) Like all Maldivian resorts, The Nautilus sits on its own island, so there’s that instant castaway feel when you arrive—but with only 26 accommodations here, this place feels particularly private. What's the backstory? Opened in 2019 and owned by a Maldivian entrepreneur, the independent resort was created to offer a true home-away-from-home experience—so there’s nothing cookie cutter about it. The design here is definitely upscale and the touches luxurious, but there’s a personality and bohemian feel to it, as well, thanks to vibrant accent colors, eclectic decorative items, and the use of curved lines. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book? The 26 hideaways are either on the beach or over the water, and come in House or Residence options; the Houses have separate sleeping and living areas while the Residences are larger and have extras like dining rooms, additional bedrooms, or upper floors. (There is one Mansion with three bedrooms.) All have spacious decks, private pools and—in the overwater spots—glass floor panels looking down at the underwater world. Adding to the homey feel is that fact that everything from the mini-bar and book and movie library to the temperature of the pool is personalized to your tastes, based on a pre-arrival conversation with your butler. You can even choose between Hermes, Penhaligon’s, or an organic line for your bath products. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi is complimentary and works throughout the island. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? There are four dining choices here, including a fine dining Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant; an outdoor grill highlighting Japanese, Peruvian, and Mexican fare; a poolside bar; and an all-day dining spot with a beach-hut vibe. But it doesn’t really matter what the options are, as the resort prides itself on its “unscripted” set-up—which allows guests to order whatever they want, when they want, and served where they want. So if you’re craving a particular French cheese in the middle of the night, would like a romantic dinner set up on the beach, or want the chef to create a surprise meal, your butler will make it happen. The restaurants also don’t have set opening or closing times, dress codes or menu restrictions—so go ahead and order pancakes for dinner, in your pajamas. And the service? With personalized service the bedrock of the resort, each staffer here is notable for the way in which they handle every request and detail. Also helping to make things seamless is the fact that so many perks are included with the rates, including daily breakfast (again, served at any time and any place), sunset cocktails, unlimited tapas-style bites all day long, select drinks, packing and unpacking services, and four pieces of laundry per day, per villa. And while pretty much anything a guest asks for can be arranged, some standout signature experiences include a boat trip out to Hanifaru Bay to join the resort’s biology team for a snorkel with manta rays, and an al fresco movie night on a private sandbank, complete with snacks. The resort also owns its own 15-seat seaplane, so guests can book that for day trips to remote islands or stellar snorkeling spots. Like the dining program, there are few restrictions on when you can do most activities—so bring on the midnight snorkeling around the house reef. What type of travelers will you find here? There are other guests here? Given the wide berth each villa enjoys, the fact that each villa has its own pool and dining areas, and the flexible dining set-up (with no set restaurant times), it’s rare to come across other travelers. When you do—maybe over drinks at the bar or in a fitness class—chances are they are ultra-high-net-worth, privacy-seeking types who are here to relax and re-connect with friends and family, but who are still Type A enough to want every detail expertly looked after. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene? The Nautilus is located in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve known for its rich marine life (including manta rays and whale sharks) and excellent diving spots. About three dozen notable snorkeling and diving areas, including Hanifaru Bay, are easily accessible via the resort’s speedboat or seaplane. Any other hotel features worth noting? Head to the on-site AquaNautica PADI dive center to connect with the house marine team and book trips out to one of the 30 nearby snorkeling and diving sites. There’s also a house coral reef to explore and complimentary non-motorized water sports to enjoy, and fishing trips and day cruises can also be planned. At the spa, treatments using natural products are performed in three overwater treatment villas—each with glass-paneled floors to showcase the water—and unlimited yoga, fitness, and meditation classes are included with the rates. Bottom line: Worth it? Why? If you’re looking to drop some cash in the Maldives, drop anchor here. The resort’s independent spirit and true come-as-you-are feel—and when-you-want-it policy—set it apart from the international luxury brand outposts." - Sandra Ramani

https://www.cntraveler.com/hotels/baa-atoll/the-nautilus

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@tatler

"No people: tick. Cashmere-soft sand: tick. Crystalline water: tick. Clairvoyant service: tick. All luxury resorts promise a personalised experience, but the Nautilus takes this a step further. From chefs preparing off-menu dishes at a moment’s notice (ask for the lobster curry) to reflexology at midnight, the mantra here is: anything, anytime, anywhere."

So long, red list: The destinations we are most excited to travel to now

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@myboutiquehotel

The Nautilus Maldives, a Design Boutique Hotel Baa Atoll, Maldives

"Nestled in the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Baa Atoll, The Nautilus Maldives offers an ultra-luxury private island experience surrounded by vibrant coral reefs, sandy beaches and the world-renowned Hanifaru Bay, a haven for manta rays and whale sharks. With just 26 ultra-luxe boho-chic houses and residences, this exclusive hideaway provides direct beach or lagoon access, ensuring ultimate privacy and seclusion. Each spacious sanctuary is designed with an organic, bohemian flair and features ultra-luxury amenities, including personalized butler service. For added convenience, each of the houses and residences is equipped with modern comforts. Guests at The Nautilus can unwind with bespoke wellness journeys and holistic treatments at the overwater Solasta Spa or join yoga, meditation, and fitness sessions. The private island also offers an extensive range of free-spirited experiences, including both motorized and non-motorized water sports, all of which can be arranged anytime, as per the guest's preference. The Nautilus features three gourmet restaurants and two lounge bars, embracing the concept of unscripted dining. Here, world-class chefs craft personalized culinary and mixology delights, allowing guests to veer off the menu and enjoy anything, anywhere, at any time—without the constraints of opening or closing times. The Nautilus is easily accessible via a scenic 30-minute seaplane journey from Male’ International Airport or guests can enjoy a private luxury yacht transfer which takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes from the airport." - My Boutique Hotel (en)

https://www.myboutiquehotel.com/en/boutique-hotels-baa-atoll/the-nautilus-maldives.html

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835vittoriob

Google

We stayed at Nautilus in Jan 2025, I don't feel we can endorse this review, as our experience was absolutely different. |We arrived in mid Jan, peak season at the highest price, we ensured to fill the pre arrival form from the resort with our tastes, willingness to do experiences and a combination of easy things to do (a blow dryer for curly hair for my wife) and something more complex (I asked a particular type of soda, not easy to find), we also expressed interest in diving and provided our PADI certificate; we were very hyper for the food as well.|We arrived and the CIP was waiting for us under the plane, great stuff really, we got into the CIP lounge and we were told we'd soon depart with the resort flight, well, we waited over 3 hours, where the resort manager only passed by once to apologize for the delay, another flight was badly late and instead of taking us and come back to fetch the late passengers they told us there were some problems and let us wait for all that time. We were sorrounded by passengers of other prestigious properties (Cheval/Velaa/FS) and all got away before us, it was quite upsetting. In the end we got to the resort, no apology has been given us. ||Our butler barely spoke English, he didn't bother reading our form and basically told everything we asked for wasn't available (including a blow dryer for curly hair... SERIOUSLY?!).||The "room" (it's more a palace tbh) is huge, and smells amazing, but it's empty, it's big for the sake of being big, 2 people won't need that space, it doesn't feel luxurious, it's just huge. But the outside private pool was amazing and we enjoyed it at all, a special mention goes to the house keeper that made us funny towel animals everyday, it was super super funny.||The villas are close to the seawall, and you can feel it, the water is not that calm, but the view is nice nonetheless, it's a matter of personal preference I would say.|Anyway, we expressed the willingness to talk with the resort manager, as we were a bit upset, an English gentleman. We got assigned to another butler, a kind lady that was shared with other 2 villas (so, the story of unique butler is BS) but we didn't feel anyhow ignored. She organized everything for us in a very nice way and ensure my wife was constantly fed with mango, she even organized to have a dyson dryer in the room (it was possible, after all).||The sunset aperitive (I think they claim they change the location by the day) is a sad bland of boring alcohol (not inspired drinks -at all-) and some basic canape, served cold when they are meant to be warm (lazy), I'm not going to say it's bad, because that would be a lie, but surely isn't a highlight. ||The restaurants were simply... bad. We had the teppanyaki dinner at Ocaso, it was ok at best, the worst part is several elements were brought to us already cooked and the "chef" only incorporated them, something I have never seen before (and we have been 4 times already to maldives), truly embarrassing and lazy, I remember me and my wife laughing at seeing cooked ingredients arriving at the chef.||Zeytoun was supposed to have this Mediterranean touch and the chef was proud of his Italian kitchen knowledge, well, it sucked. Blend, boring, poorly seasoned. We're Italians that lived around the world for 15 years and this was the worst Italian fine dine of our life; I will avoid talking about the dessert because it was just a shame.||The bar restaurant (Thyme, I believe) wasn't bad, we had most of our meals there, but the service was inconsistent, you jump from being harassed by the staff to be ignored, I usually have everything I get served and provide feedbacks only if requested, but for the first time in my life I had to send back a burger, I asked a medium rare and I basically got served (with over 30 mins of waiting) a raw patty, it was simply disgusting, they apologized and gave me another one, this time properly done.||Breakfast was ok, nothing sensational, but not bad either. Special mention to the pastries, they were real nice. I just want to point out I disagree with the statement it's a small buffet, it's not.||The water center has been the highlight of the holiday, activities were fun and greatly executed (we did 2 dives, seabob and e-foil, turtle snorkeling).||The SPA was ok, nothing special, but also it was free (the manager kindly offered us a treatment as we were visibly upset with the first butler).||The cherry on top: I have asked if we could have a transfer for one evening to the sister property, Milaidho, we stayed there in august 2021 and fell in love with their maldivean restaurant, plus we loved the property in general, this is exaxctly what "unscripted luxury" should be about. Well, it was expensive as transfer but we got there (personally, I would have granted the service for free, being sister properties), but then the 2 resorts were not organized for this kind of event and didn't know how to charge us for the dinner, so we had to spend about 45 mins at Milaidho arrival structure waiting for somebody from the staff to come there and print us a receipt to pay on the spot, as they couldn't take any payment either at the restaurant directly nor to send it to the property where we were staying.||All in all we paid 20,8k USD for 5 nights including taxes and their flight. We left with a sour aftertaste and definitely didn't feel this luxury we got promised. |In comparison, we spent same amount of nights at JW marriot, Milaidho and Naladhu private island. All of those were better and we spent way less.|We're up to Cheval now and we hope it's gonna be better

Cruiser46254063160

Google

A deeply distressing experience at The Nautilus Maldives – unsafe handling causing injury to guests, inadequate medical care, and disappointing management ||||My family had high expectations for our stay at The Nautilus Maldives, but we were devastated by a serious incident involving my mother, who suffered a second-degree burn when a staff member spilled boiling water on her arm and thigh on the first night when she was dining at the resort. ||||After a severe burn incident—caused by dangerously mishandled boiling water by staff—there was a disturbing delay in medical assistance. The nurse didn’t arrive until 15 minutes later, leaving us no choice but to perform emergency first aid ourselves with chilled towels and basic burn ointment we had to retrieve from our villa. This lack of urgency and preparedness during a critical moment was profoundly disturbing and raises serious concerns about the resort’s safety protocols and staff training.||||What’s even more troubling was how the resort’s medical team downplayed the severity of my mother’s injury. Although the nurse’s own report described skin peeling and blistering—clear indicators of a second-degree burn—the resort diagnosed it as a first-degree burn and provided only a basic topical cream suited for mild burn.||||For three days, my mother followed this incorrect treatment, during which the wound visibly worsened. It wasn’t until we requested to be taken to ADK Hospital in Malé that a licensed doctor confirmed the correct diagnosis: a second-degree superficial burn involving blistering, slough, and maceration. The treatment at the resort had not only been insufficient—it likely exacerbated the injury.||||As a result, my mother was confined indoors for the entire holiday, prohibited from sun exposure and sea water, and subjected to painful daily dressing changes. It caused not only physical pain but mental distress for all of our family members, ruining the family reunion holiday for us. ||||For such a serious incident, we expected compassion and accountability from management. Instead, despite clear documentation and multiple attempts to communicate, the General Manager, Mr. Adan Gomez, refused to acknowledge any fault on the resort’s part, going so far as to state that “the guest contributed to the incident” in the most offensive, unethical way possible. A significant burn injury on a woman’s body is a matter of serious concern, both medically and emotionally. It demands urgent attention, appropriate care, and compassion—not only for the physical trauma but also for its potential long-term impact on her well-being and quality of life.||||This lack of ownership and deflection of responsibility from the management was deeply unsettling, especially from a resort commanding rates over $3,000 per night and promising world-class hospitality. When a guest’s safety is at stake, the minimum one should expect is dignity and respectful treatment—not deflection, skewing the narrative for misplaced accusations or denial.||||Our holiday turned into a traumatic ordeal, and we couldn’t enjoy activities together as planned. Please consider the ugly handling of such incidents when considering The Nautilus Maldives, especially when traveling with young kids and family.

scubanut62

Google

We have recently returned from a two week trip to The Nautilus. The original booking was to split our time between an over water villa and a beach bungalow . In the end we decided to stay with the former as we were comfortable and didn’t want the disruption.|The CIP arrival process at Velana , whilst not exclusive to the Nautilus (but is included in the resort’s tariff) is superb. You are met from the steps of the plane and escorted to a CIP lounge which deals with all your immigration and luggage formalities. The process is very fast and if you book the exclusive Nautilus plane you can expect to be at the island within 40 minutes. We actually had the entire plane to ourselves which was a novelty!|We had a full management greeting at the arrival jetty and Mira ,our very kind butler, escorted us around the small but manicured island. Everything you would expect for a 5 star resort is in pristine condition. You receive a contact form before arrival as many reviewers have already commented on regarding pillows, mattresses ,allergies and even down to the temperature of the swimming pool.|We had a few hit and misses on the food. It is expensive and items starred on menu’s are surcharged so you expect something special. We had such an experience at Zeytoun which was below par. The chef rectified this on the next night with a beautifully seasoned and cooked porterhouse!|The dine anywhere, eat breakfast anywhere concept is well known to the Nautilus and it is pretty cool. By and large though we vacated our room so that it could be serviced by Allam. You very rarely saw him but whenever we came back to the villa it was spotless, fridge replenished, ice bucket full…incredible.|For medical reasons I was unable to dive but we did snorkel on the beautiful house reef.|They have a cocktail 1/2 hour every evening at Naiboli where you can meet other guests but there won’t be a lot because it is a small and private island!|Last shout out for Mira who was wonderful. Friendly and discrete but always on hand. He noticed that my wife didn’t like the a/c light on which was bothering her sleep. Next day all lights were taped up. That’s attention to detail.|It is an expensive resort but they look after you very well and you will struggle to want to leave.

Kien Tran

Google

Having been to numerous resorts in the Maldives, our experience at The Nautilus was overall decent. However, as an ultra-luxury resort that focuses on exclusivity, we found that nothing in particular stood out or impressed us. It was a good, but rather underwhelming experience. The property itself is small and private, the modern rooms and facilities are on-par with other top resorts in the world. We all got great sleeping experiences thanks to the comfort of the beds. However, where the property falls short is the service and general soft-product. To start, our butlers were very standard, carrying out their responsibility well but never going the extra mile that is expected at such a high-end resort. Occasionally, we weren't able to contact our butlers, even when we directly called them. The dining experience also varies greatly depending on the day. During our stay, we ordered the Maldivian Chicken Curry twice – it came out different both times in terms of flavors and quality. This inconsistency, while minor, greatly affected our dining experience and is something the resort can work on in the future. It was worth mentioning that the service you received also varied vastly across different staff members. While we were looked after extremely well by staff members like Lotto, this care was lackluster amongst others. Again, this is something that can easily be fixed with more thorough training and better management. Lastly, we realized that the property's water treatment systems weren't the best. Our bathwater had a slight foul smell, which was also the case with the beach water around the resort. The house reef wasn't anything spectacular or worth mentioning either. While we had a good time, we left the property with mixed feelings. We would recommend The Nautilus to those truly seeking a private experience that you could get at any beach island in the world, but would strongly advise others to consider other properties such as the Four Seasons at Landaa Giraavaru, all 3 Soneva properties, or even the more trendy Patina if you're looking for true Maldivian hospitality & a top notch experience.

PAN2012

Google

Had the most beautiful family holiday at the Nautilus, everything was simply perfect. |The villas really are WOW with no expense spared in creating a home from home , food and service excellent in all restaurants , and every member of staff is friendly , attentive and professional, special thanks to our housemaster Siyam who took care of us so well. |The highlight of our trip was swimming with the manta rays at Hanifaru bay , which is unforgettable and should not be missed. |Thank you to everyone at The Nautilus and hope to visit again soon.

fernandalG3707PR

Google

We had a great family stay at the Mansion house. The house is big enough for 3 families stay very comfortable together. The Mansion is a trully luxury experience. We had the pleasure to have Siyam as our buttler, who provided fresh fruit and snacks daily for the house. Also, we could easily contact him to ask any question related to our stay. He has a great energy, was always happy and very friendly. As we had 4 kids together one of the most import things we took into account while searching for a resort in the Maldives was one with Kids Club, so I must to talk about how great this one is. After a late breakfast, our kids would go straight away to the Kids Club (less than 1 min walk from the Mansion - just one house away), and they would spend around 3 hours daily around there. The lovely lady who works there is kind and gentle with kids and very enthousiast of making actvities with them. I wouldnt be able to mention all the great things they made with her - from DIY t-shirt, to DIY kite, making drinks, having ice cream and searching for coins or butterflies around the island.. to name a few.. the kids felt bonded with her and the day to say goodbye was a bit difficult for the oldest. |We noticed that many of the staff looks genuinely happy while working, so we asked to one of them how it is working there, how they spend their free time and how he told yet with enthousiasm how they can get reunited to enjoy the free time and go to other islands and even eventually get presents (goods) from the Resort as apreciation to their work. |In sum, I highly recommend this resort, mainly the stay at the Mansion.

Monika Rams

Google

A Slice of Heaven on Earth! From the moment we arrived at The Nautilus Maldives, we were immersed in pure luxury and warmth. Every detail was thoughtfully curated, and the personalized service was beyond exceptional. Our villa was stunning - spacious, private, and elegantly designed with breathtaking views. The food was incredible, offering a perfect blend of international cuisine and local flavors. What truly set this resort apart was the genuine hospitality we felt not just like guests, but like cherished friends. This was more than a holiday it was a transformative experience. We can’t wait to return! Thank you Nappe and Team for always assuring we were taken care of from every possible aspect. Your kindness and professionalism truly stands out!

demishan6394

Google

We stayed at the Nautilus in Dec 2024 for our honeymoon, and it was the best decision we ever made. Coming from the US, it was definitely a lot of travel to get there, but immediately when we arrived, we knew it would be worth it.||We stayed in an Ocean House, and had Nappe as our house master, who was absolutely lovely. The service was impeccable, and rivals, if not exceeds, any other luxury resort. We specifically chose The Nautilus because of its size, and loved that we felt like we were on our own private island. We only saw others at breakfast, sunset cocktail hours, and dinner; and even then, it never felt crowded.||The food was definitely a highlight for us - every single meal we had was incredible, and the service even better. All of the staff are so lovely and welcoming, and made the experience that much better! Our favorite night was when we went sunset fishing, came back with our haul, and were treated to a meal by the chef, where we were served our catches 4 different ways. It was unlike anything we ever had.||There are not enough good things I could stay about The Nautilus. We had an incredible honeymoon, and are already trying to figure out when we can make the trip back!