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The Nautilus Maldives earns spot on coveted Condé Nast Traveler Gold List
The Nautilus has officially been selected among the esteemed editors’ favourite hotels to earn a coveted spot within Condé Nast Traveler’s ‘The Gold List’ 2021.
Selecting the absolute crème de la crème of luxury travel, a spot on Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List doesn’t come around often. That’s why The Nautilus, which only opened in early 2019, is humbled to already be recognised as having such international recognition and excellence.
This win follows The Nautilus’ first-place success within Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2020 for ‘Best Resort in the Indian Ocean’, as well as its top three placing for ‘Best Resorts in the World’ earlier this year.
The Nautilus also recently won ‘Best Private Island Retreat’ 2021 within Tatler’s renowned Travel Awards.
While The Nautilus may be ultra-private and remote in size and location, it is paving the way for absolute domination among the very best properties in the world.
“We are humbled by the international recognition The Nautilus is receiving within just one year of operating,” General Manager Mohamed Ashraf said.
“Many world-renowned properties wait a lifetime to be featured within these awards, yet The Nautilus’ quick rise to recognition for its excellence it’s testament to its unrivalled ultra-luxe offering, incessant attention to detail and our loyal guests and team.”
Here are just a few reasons why The Nautilus was featured within The Gold List…
Time stands still
The Nautilus transcends time. There are no clocks, no schedules, no opening or closing times. Here, every moment is fluid. Boundless freedom finds every guest – all in its own good time.
Art of Bohemia
A celebration of the individual spirit, The Nautilus offers liberation. Freedom unconditional. Space to share, to meet, to be yourself and shape your own personal journey. And, most of all, to celebrate the people you’re with, in any way you choose. Because in the end, it’s these simple, elemental pleasures – that ability to simply be – that form the greatest luxury of all.
Comforts of home
Just steps from pristine sands or perched over turquoise waters, The Nautilus’s houses and residences offer unrivalled space and privacy. Each is a secluded haven with separate living rooms, a temperature-controlled freshwater infinity swimming pool and its own private butler. Places to sink in, unwind and enjoy life’s greatest gifts, together.
Free spirited experiences
Days dance to their own rhythm at The Nautilus. The guest experience is one of liberation at every turn. Impromptu adventures on crystal-clear waters. Fluid and personal spa journeys. Starlit dinner dates at every turn. Narratives unfold without an itinerary, and without inhibition.
Unscripted dining
The Nautilus delights in veering off-script. Eat when you’re hungry. Have breakfast for dinner. Drink Champagne in bed. We want guests to create their own dishes and dine anytime – anywhere.
Enjoying a remote setting in the stunning UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the Baa Atoll, The Nautilus is one of the smallest island resorts in the Maldives — a tropical haven of just 26 exceptionally spacious Houses and Residences, each with its own temperature-controlled freshwater infinity pool and extensive private decks, and attended by a dedicated House Master offering full butler services.
The Nautilus epitomises spacious seclusion and sublime service, with consciously minimal interaction from the moment guests step off the plane at Velana International Airport and into the care of island’s exclusive, ultra-smooth and queue-free VIP arrival and transfer service.
The only Relais & Châteaux member resort in the Maldives is the realisation of a vision of life unbound, a place of liberation and unscripted luxury, where guests are free to do – and be – as they please. Casting off the anchor of inflexibility and rejecting the tyranny of timetables, The Nautilus liberates guests to enjoy a private island experience beyond the humdrum clockwatching constraints of opening hours and menus.
If you would like to experience The Nautilus yourself and begin crafting a world of your own making, the resort team would love to chat with you at hello@thenautilusmaldives.com.
Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives has been nominated in the Resorts category for the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (UK) and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (US), marking a further development in the resort’s international recognition.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on traveller feedback and are considered a key benchmark within the global travel industry. The dual nomination reflects the resort’s presence across international markets and its engagement with guests from different regions.
The nomination follows a series of recognitions for the resort. In 2025, Kuda Villingili was ranked among the Top 5 Overseas Leisure Resorts Worldwide in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards, placing fifth globally. It was also listed among the Top Resorts in the Indian Ocean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 (US). The resort was similarly recognised in the 2024 edition of the awards.
Located in North Malé Atoll, approximately 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers 75 villas and residences, each with private pools and views of the surrounding ocean.
The resort features eight restaurants and three bars, including Japanese-Peruvian dining at Mar-Umi and Teppanyaki by Mar-Umi. Other dining options include Asian cuisine at East and grill offerings at Fire. Additional facilities include a cigar lounge, a large swimming pool, a spa with overwater treatment villas, and a range of wellness and recreational activities such as yoga, sound therapy and surfing.
Amjad Thaufeeg, Commercial Director at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, stated that the nominations reflect feedback from guests across international markets and noted the importance of maintaining consistent service standards.
Voting for the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 is open until 30 June 2026, with results scheduled to be announced in November 2026.
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives has been recognised as a Quality Winner at the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2026, an accolade based on guest feedback from travellers worldwide. The recognition reflects the resort’s delivery of guest experiences shaped by service standards, facilities and alignment with evolving traveller preferences.
Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers a range of accommodation options, with more than 140 units including overwater suites, beach bungalows and duplex garden bungalows. The resort is designed to accommodate couples, families and groups.
The resort features seven dining venues offering a mix of international and local cuisine. Tex Mex serves Mexican and Spanish-inspired dishes, while Dalchini offers an Indian à la carte menu available for lunch and dinner. Raalhu Bar provides a setting for evening refreshments, with views of the sunset.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is also known for Pasta Point, a surf break recognised for its left-hand waves. The resort attracts surfers from international markets who travel to access the location. Surf operations at Pasta Point are managed by Atoll Adventures, with bookings handled through Atoll Travel to ensure a structured approach to surf access.
The TUI Global Hotel Awards are determined by guest reviews, making the recognition an indicator of guest satisfaction. The resort’s inclusion as a Quality Winner reflects its performance in meeting guest expectations within the Maldives tourism sector.
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