Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences

Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences

Thirty minutes by seaplane from Malé, Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences sits on Horubadhoo Island in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, with only 67 villas and residences scattered across ground that is still mostly untouched jungle rather than manicured lawn. Amilla describes itself as one of the more spacious resorts in the Maldives, and it shows: the island is large enough that guests can walk stretches of it and find no other footprints, and most villas, including the Sunset Villa with Pool and the Lagoon Family Villa (Pool View), come with their own private plunge pool rather than a shared pool deck. The house reef was recently ranked among the top ten in the Maldives by Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, close enough for daily snorkelling without a boat, and Hanifaru Bay, where manta rays and occasional whale sharks gather between July and October, is a short trip away. Javvu Spa runs ten treatment pods with Balinese, Thai and hot stone massage plus a Sensora light and sound room, well beyond a standard spa menu. Families get a kids' club, playrooms, babysitting and a children's pool, and couples can book a bridal suite. None of this is cheap to reach: transfers are charged separately from the room rate, and a return floatplane runs over a thousand dollars per adult, so this suits travellers with the budget and time for a proper island stay rather than a quick beach fix. What stays with you is simple: on an island this size, the crowd never quite catches up. On Horubadhoo Island in the Baa Atoll, Amilla spreads 67 villas and residences across an unusually large, jungle-covered island, most with their own plunge pool and a top-ten Maldives house reef. It suits travellers with time and budget for a proper stay, not a quick cheap fix.