Editor’s Pick: Amilla Maldives and the Freedom You Did Not Know You Needed

Some resorts capture your attention through spectacle. Amilla Maldives does something gentler. It creates a sense of spaciousness that settles into you from the moment you arrive. The island rests inside the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, and its scale feels almost surprising. With 23.5 hectares of land wrapped in white sand beaches and native jungle, Amilla Maldives gives guests a rare feeling of having room. Room to walk without interruption. Room to hear your own thoughts. Room to move at a pace that feels like your own.

The quiet comes first. There are more than 2,500 coconut trees here, along with centuries old banyans whose roots seem to hold stories of the island’s past. Even when the resort is full, the pathways feel open and unhurried. The distances between spaces allow for small discoveries: a cluster of birds, a stretch of untouched jungle, the shade shifting across a bicycle path.

Spaciousness With Intention

The villas reflect the same philosophy. Whether it is the 100 to 130 square metre interiors of the water villas or the 220 square metre Beach Pool Villas, each space feels designed to let you settle into comfort without distraction. There is an ease in the layout, a clarity in how rooms flow into open air verandas and private pools. Nothing crowds you, and nothing feels empty. It is a balance that is hard to achieve, and yet Amilla Maldives does it almost intuitively.

Dining carries that same sense of openness. Tables sit with generous spacing, giving couples, families, and solo travellers a sense of privacy without disconnecting them from the atmosphere around them. Italian dishes at Barolo, Southern Indian flavours at East, fresh sushi at Feeling Koi, and Greek plates at Tessera all share a common thread: the food feels rooted in the place. Much of the produce comes from the island’s own gardens and hydroponics, and menus are thoughtfully created for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, low carb, and other dietary lifestyles. It feels considered, never forced.

A Natural Environment That Shapes the Experience

Amilla Maldives is one of the Maldives’ most naturally lush islands, and the resort works intentionally to keep it that way. It is EarthCheck Gold certified, part of the Small Luxury Hotels Considerate Collection, and recognised for responsible hospitality. Solar panels currently provide 14 percent of the island’s total energy usage, and refillable water bottles have dramatically reduced single use plastics. Homemade kombucha, kefir, coconut oil, soaps, and balms are created from island grown ingredients, weaving sustainability into everyday life.

The surrounding waters are just as alive. Amilla Maldives partners with local NGOs such as Atoll Marine Centre and Maldives Resilient Reefs, supporting coral restoration, reef fish sustainability, and marine education. Manta rays, turtles, and reef fish are regularly monitored through data collection programmes, and guests can join marine biologists to contribute to conservation efforts. Even the white tailed tropic birds that nest on the island are part of ongoing research to protect their breeding sites.

Wellness That Follows the Island’s Rhythm

Javvu Spa sits within the greenery, offering treatment pods, a meditation labyrinth, steam and sauna rooms, and a light and sound Sensora therapy space. The main pool stretches 68 metres across shimmering water, long enough to invite slow laps under the afternoon sun. For those who prefer movement among trees, the jungle gym offers a completely different kind of workout, framed by the sounds of birds and the rustle of leaves.

Whether it is yoga at sunrise, a walk through the gardens, or a cooking class using freshly harvested herbs, the activities feel grounded in the island rather than scheduled over it.

The Feeling That Stays With You

Amilla Maldives’ greatest luxury is the sense of spaciousness that follows you through your stay. You can walk the length of a beach and see no other footsteps but your own. The island never imposes on you. Instead, it opens slowly, generously, inviting you to move lightly within it.

When you leave, what remains is not a single image, but a sensation: the quiet of the pathways, the way sunlight filters through the banyan trees, the comfort of having room to simply be. It is a rare kind of freedom, and Amilla Maldives offers it with grace.