A big, independently run Baa Atoll island with roomy pool villas, family residences and a relaxed, unfussy style that suits all ages.
Amilla is the Maldives resort we reach for most often when a family asks for space. The island covers 23.5 hectares but holds only 67 villas and residences, and every pool villa is at least 220 square metres, so even the entry categories take a travel cot and a pile of beach toys without feeling cramped.
It is independently owned by Maldivians, and it shows in a warm, low-key style rather than a corporate one. There are eight restaurants, which matters on a week-long stay with children who get bored of the same menu, and the dine-around all-inclusive plan takes the arithmetic out of mealtimes.
Couples looking for silence might find the school holidays lively, and the design is comfortable rather than cutting-edge. If you want a single standout restaurant or an architect-led island, look at Cheval Blanc Randheli; if you want an easy, generous family base, Amilla is hard to beat.
Set up among the trees with a private pool and living room, from 220 square metres like every Amilla pool villa.
On the sand with a private pool and a large outdoor area, a straightforward choice for couples and small families.
Overwater pool villas facing either the reef or the sunset, the pick for couples who want to be over the water.
An overwater option with a second bedroom, useful for families who want to be over the lagoon rather than on the beach.
Multi-bedroom residences on the beach, including the Great Beach Residence and the Amilla Estate, for larger families and groups.
Eight restaurants and three bars. Feeling Koi does Japanese on an overwater deck, Barolo is Italian with pasta made in-house, Tessera serves Arabian-inspired sharing plates, East covers Indian, Chinese and Thai, and Joe's Pizza is a guaranteed win with children. The Cellar Door holds the wine, and Sunset Bar and Baa Bar handle the evenings.
Javvu Spa sits in the jungle with ten treatment pods, plus Sensora light and sound therapy, yoga, a sauna and steam room, a tranquillity pool, a meditation labyrinth and a 3km jungle running loop around the island.
Families are a core part of Amilla's guests. The Kids Club has a playground with a splash area and a daily programme, and the family residences give parents and children their own space.
| Villas | 67 villas and residences |
|---|---|
| Island | 23.5 hectares, Baa Atoll |
| Opened | 2014 |
| Transfer | About 30 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport |
| Dining | Eight restaurants and three bars |
| Spa | Javvu Spa, ten treatment pods |
Baa Atoll, Maldives
A few of the things we plan for guests in Maldives.
Hanifaru Bay is a small, shallow bay in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. During the southwest monsoon, tides and currents trap plankton in the bay and manta rays, sometimes whale sharks, gather to feed, most reliably July to October. It is snorkel only, with licensed guides and capped numbers. Stay in Baa so you can go when mantas are reported.
The outer reef of South Ari Atoll, around Dhigurah and Maamigili, is known for juvenile whale sharks, which are seen here all year. Boats patrol the reef edge and you slip in to snorkel as one passes. Keep your distance and never touch.
A house reef is the coral wall that rings your island, and the best ones start a few fins from the beach. Expect turtles, blacktip reef sharks and eagle rays. Ask for a guided swim on the first day to learn the currents and exit points.
Eight nights in Sri Lanka with a private driver-guide, from the rock fortress at Sigiriya to the tea estates and the old fort at Galle, then a short flight to Malé and five nights on a quiet island in Thaa Atoll.
Break the flight with two nights on the beach in old Jumeira, then seven nights on a barefoot island in Baa Atoll with a large kids club and a UNESCO biosphere reserve on the doorstep. Good for families.
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.
