THE NAUTILUS, MALDIVES: A PLACE WHERE FREEDOM TO ‘JUST BE’ WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS IS THE MANTRA

Images Courtesy of The Nautilus

Desirably located along the sparkling blue waters on Thiladhoo Island, lies a luxury beach haven where reality is better than any paradise you could ever imagine, — The Nautilus Beach and Ocean Houses in the Maldives. With its proximity to Hanifaru Bay, this stunning resort is an ideal escape for those who want a secluded stay of luxury that is second to none. Upon arrival, it is quickly apparent why this tropical destination sets the highest standard for a private oasis on the sea. It all starts at the Male airport, with bags quickly whisked away you are personally escorted to a VIP lounge, your time in paradise is officially about to begin. A pre conversation with your residence butler decides on the customization of your stay even before your arrival, as attention to detail is of the highest importance with each guest. Preferred temperature of your private fresh-water pool, sizing for robe/slippers, mask/fins, pillow type, water preference, you name it, they have thought of it.

As your plane lands in the clearest of turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, a sense of utter peace comes over you, if there is a heaven on earth, it has been found.  The term barefoot luxury could not fit in any better here, unlike any other resort in the Maldives the way of life at Nautilus is as easy as it gets. No dress code, no opening or closing times, no schedules, just come as you are whenever you choose. This way of life sounds almost too good to be true for a super exclusive resort of this stature but that is a large part of what makes Nautilus, stand out in a league of its own.

Choose from one of the property’s 26 beach and ocean houses that are equally beautiful inside and out, with personalized touches seen all throughout your residence. As you enter your over-water bungalow, your eyes are immediately drawn to a glass floor panel giving you a bird’s eye view of the glimmering ocean below.  After a quick gaze at the tropical marine display beneath your feet, your eyes take you to the spacious wooden sundeck fully equipped with a private infinity pool with the most breathtaking Indian Ocean views one could ever dream of.  Bohemian décor, the plushest of bedding paired with state-of-the-art technology creates a relaxing space to fully rejuvenate after a busy day of traveling. As you continue to explore your room, you pay notice to the plushest of luxury amenities, chilled champagne, gourmet dessert bites from the resort pastry chef, and an exotic fruit platter is just a few of the offerings left by your appointed butler.

With bags unpacked it is time to fully melt into the pure bliss of the resort’s no-schedule vibe, robe and slippers in tow, you slide into the most peaceful afternoon nap in recent memory. After some much needed post flight shut-eye, you awake fully refreshed ready to take in the best that the Maldives has to offer. The perfect way to start your vacation anxiously awaits, poolside sunset cocktail hour, yes please!  A quick 2-minute stroll across the over-water walkway you arrive barefoot at one of the most desirable locations of the resort, Naiboli Poolside Bar.  Bask in supreme comfort as you listen to the soothing sounds of the resort’s live entertainment, a Maldivian singer/songwriter that seamlessly blends in with the tropical island breeze moving through the air. Canapés and handcrafted cocktails are served as you sit back and enjoy this perfect moment in time, one that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Unscripted Dining

With 4 premier dining options available on property and a mantra of anything, anytime guests are in for a culinary adventure of a lifetime. The staff at the Nautilus Resort shows pure delight in veering off script when it comes not only to their dining program but with every aspect of the resort. Champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries for breakfast in bed, sushi at midnight, you name it, the team of chefs will work diligently to serve you with the highest of pleasure.

Thyme

The resort’s all-day dining venue Thyme is a meeting place for all things good.  This open-air beachfront cozy restaurant acts as a home base for guests due to its warm, inviting atmosphere and fun loving, dedicated staff.  Start your day off toes in the sand while you sip on a green smoothie gazing out onto the azure waters before you. Each morning like clockwork an exotic fruit platter and fresh-baked pastries arrive to your table summoning you to taste each savory and sweet bite. With the anything, anytime rule that rings true throughout the entire resort the Maldivian Lobster Curry sounds like the perfect breakfast option, wouldn’t you agree? Whatever you fancy, tell your server and the team of chefs will make it, customized just the way you like it, now if that isn’t true top-notch service, we don’t know what is! Lobster Curry for breakfast, Sushi for lunch, Thai food for dinner, anything any THYME!

Naiboli

The meeting place every night at 5PM for the idyllic Maldivian sunset, Naiboli serves as a place for great conversation, live entertainment and a poolside bar that serves up the finest of cocktails. Time slows down to a pace where life is as easy as it gets, pull up a lounger and kick back listening to the island sounds around you. Gourmet canapés are served poolside all throughout the day in the supreme comfort of loungers and cabanas. Feet up, a glass of wine in hand, this is how you live life to the fullest Maldivian style!

Ocaso “Fine dining amid pristine sands”

The team of chefs at Ocaso take pride in using the very best of ingredients, creating masterpiece menu items day in and day out. With a culmination of flavors derived from Latin America to the furthest reach of North Asia, you will be in for a chef-inspired meal you soon won’t forget. Specializing in Japanese, Mexican and Peruvian, using the highest quality seafood, meats, and local produce it is no surprise that Ocaso is well known as one of the premier restaurants in all the Maldives. Teppanyaki Grilled Maldivian lobster, local prawns, and fresh line-caught fish, it simply doesn’t get much better than this. Sit back with one of their many wine varieties (over 200 labels of fine wines from around the globe) and watch the show as the chefs display the highest of skills creating a meal fit for a king.

Zeytoun Lounge & Restaurant

The resort’s signature fine-dining restaurant Zeytoun serves Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors in arguably the most preferred location on the entire island. With 4 exclusive private tables jutting out like wooden pods you feel like you are completely alone in paradise over the crystalline waters of the Indian Ocean.  Sit back and allow the team of chefs to tantalize your taste buds while they showcase lesser-known spices and indigenous recipes that make up the many cultures of the Maldives and surrounding countries. Enjoy awe-inspiring sunsets, heavenly moonscapes, and the warm Maldivian ocean breeze with a champagne glass in hand, now this is what we call “dinner in style”.

Activities

There is no shortage of ways to spend your days in paradise at the Nautilus Resort. Bucket list items around each corner make for the ultimate Maldivian beach escape. From time spent aboard Nautilus One, the resort’s private yacht, to swimming with the mysterious Giant Manta Rays, one thing is for sure, memories will be made each day. Fitness lovers marvel at the resort’s state-of-the-art gym facility fully equipped with the latest and greatest cardiovascular, strength and core modalities. Indoor workouts, not your thing? No worries, Nautilus staff have you more than covered with a plethora of aquatic adventures ranging from world-class snorkeling on the house reef, to big game fishing on a private luxury boat all the way to high octane jet ski rides through the clear blue Maldivian waters. If Scuba diving is of your preference, you are in for an absolute treat being exposed to arguably the most colorful and thriving reef systems on this entire planet. With access to over 40 unique dive sites run by AquaNautica PADI Dive center, you will be in the best of hands while you dive into the deep blue waters of the UNESCO biosphere of the Baa Atoll. Diving with whale sharks, giant Manta Rays, sea turtles, sharks, and a variety of colorful marine life in the magical reefs of Hanifaru Bay, this truly is the pinnacle of underwater adventures.

Private Dining Experiences

The quintessential icing on the cake at the Nautilus resort is the dine anywhere, anytime mantra that can and will create once-in-a-lifetime memories that are sure to last forever. From being dropped off on your own secluded sandbank for a private BBQ dinner to breakfast for two aboard a luxury yacht, the team at Nautilus revels in making fantasies a reality. A true highlight of all the Nautilus private dining experiences surely has to be the cinema under the stars dinner for two. Simply choose any movie of your desire, from the latest releases to timeless classics and the team will create a romantic dinner for two using a stranded sailboat as the movie screen.  Your very own appointed chef will take the helm as you sit hand in hand gazing out onto the stars above, a private grill assembled nearby on the beach, this will go down as one of the best meals of your existence. Grilled lobster, fresh prawns, locally caught fish, the finest cuts of meat and a wine list that is sure to impress, this is as good as it gets.  After dinner simply a few steps away your cinema under the stars awaits. Toes in the sand, champagne in hand, sit back in your plush bean bag and take it all in, a 5-star dining experience you will never forget.

Solasta Spa

Your pinnacle of relaxation awaits at the wondrous delight of Solasta Spa. A sense of pure and utter stillness will overcome you as you set foot into this one of its kind spa sanctuary. The warmest, caring staff of internationally trained therapists will be at your every beck and call from the moment you arrive, the utmost beauty that surrounds you will instantly bring ease to your soul. Three glass-bottomed, over-water pavilions await guests any time of the day with a plethora of stress melting treatments ranging from the lightest of meditation sessions to deep tissue sports massage. Begin or end your treatment in the sauna, steam bath, or open-air bath, no schedules, no time, no stress.  Looking for something to bring pure holistic health to your mind, body and soul? Opt for one of the many specialty treatments offered on-site such as Elan: Spa Morning dawn of Senses which combines an invigorating body brush, followed by a cleansing facial, and finishing up with an immersive steam bath with infusions of light mint, bramble, nettle and Alchemilla or choose the Omorovicza massage which harnesses the healing power of Hungary’s mineral-rich waters which are then infused into an exclusive range of healing oils that are used in your deep tissue massage.

The Nautilus Maldives holiday season is something you don’t want to miss, and this year’s festivities include a long list of creative activities and magical offerings. From Treasure Hunts, Elf Zumba, a Christmas Crab Race, a Tropical Concoctions Master Class, Bubble Shows on the Beach and Maldivian Cooking Classes, to a curated Chocolate Room chock-full of handmade treats. Their cinema under the stars program will debut a few holiday movies including The Grinch and A Christmas Carol and if that wasn’t festive enough you can even skydive into 2022 to start the year off with an adrenaline rush.

The Nautilus Resort envelops all one could ever expect of a dream vacation spent in a Maldivian paradise. From the moment you set foot onto the purest of white sands until the very last sad goodbye, the level of service is at the pinnacle of the luxury hotel industry.  Between its awe-inspiring accommodations, unending selection of customizable excursions, and the highest level of internationally inspired culinary adventures, it is easy to see why so many discerning travelers rate this retreat as one of the best resorts in all of the Maldives.