Name: Naladhu Private Island Maldives
Address: The Maldives

Private island

About Naladhu Private Island Maldives

A private island of just 20 pool houses, each guest with a Kuwaanu on call day and night. The restaurants of the sister Anantara resorts are a short boat ride across the lagoon.

A private island of 20 houses

Locals knew this small island for its beauty long before it became a resort. Today Naladhu has just 20 houses, each with its own pool, on one of the finest beaches in the Maldives, where white sand runs straight into the lagoon.

Days slip by with sailing trips, picnics on deserted sandbanks and spa treatments in your own house. The reefs of South Malé Atoll are close by, with manta rays, bright coral and schools of reef fish. You also have full use of the restaurants and facilities at the sister Anantara resorts across the lagoon.

Naladhu has been named Best Island Resort in the Indian Ocean four years running, and has appeared in the world's top 10 resorts in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards.

At a glance

A private island with only 20 houses, all with private pools
A personal Kuwaanu on call around the clock
Experiences without limit
Dining without menus
Technogym-equipped training

The island

Naladhu means "beautiful little island" in Dhivehi. It was discovered in 2001 by the late hotelier Dr Ibrahim Maniku, who turned it into a quiet luxury retreat.

Each of the 20 houses is named after a local plant or flower, and under the care of the island's horticulturist, Deva, the gardens now hold dozens of rare species.

Every guest has a Kuwaanu, whose title comes from the Dhivehi for storyteller: part butler, part local guide, who helps shape each day. The two-bedroom Finifenmaa residence was inspired by a Middle Eastern royal visit and is built for guests who expect the highest level of privacy and service.

The houses

Choose between beach houses and ocean-facing houses, all set for complete privacy in South Malé Atoll.

Accommodation

Rooms, suites and villas

11 Ocean House with Pool and Private Beach Cabana 2 adults and 2 children An ocean-facing house with an infinity pool, endless shades of blue and a terrace with a swing for slow lunches and lazy afternoons, plus your own cabana on the beach. Details

8 Beach House with Pool 2 adults and 2 children For beach lovers: a private garden, an infinity pool and the sand at your door. Details

6 Two-Bedroom Ocean House with Pool 4 adults and 2 children Two connected houses that give you both space and privacy. The sunrise fills the view as you walk in, and the main living area opens onto a deck that runs the length of both houses. Details

7 Two-Bedroom Beach Pool Residence 6 adults A family residence with both sunrise and sunset views: a master suite upstairs, a twin room with its own bathroom below, and plenty of space to be together or apart. Details

Dining

At the table

Naladhu pairs a beachfront setting with serious cooking. Eat at The Living Room, anywhere on the island you choose, or across the lagoon at the sister islands of Dhigu and Veli, where restaurants cover Thai, Japanese, Italian and Indian Ocean cooking. A complimentary boat makes the crossing, Veli can also be reached by bicycle or buggy along a walkway, and your Kuwaanu handles every booking.

The Living RoomBeachfront dining with a modern, global menu. Breakfast is served whenever you like, and dishes are built from fresh, seasonal produce to your taste. Secluded beach diningDinner for two on a deserted stretch of sand at sunset, looked after by your Kuwaanu, a private chef and the sommelier. In-residence diningMeals wherever you like in your house, in the sala, the cabana or on the beach by candlelight, with your Kuwaanu taking requests. Cooking classPick Thai or Maldivian dishes and learn to cook them: a walk through the chef's herb garden with a fresh coconut, a hands-on lesson by the lagoon, then lunch, plating and table-setting tips. Dhigu and Veli restaurantsThe restaurants of the sister Anantara resorts on Dhigu and Veli, among the best in the Maldives, reached by complimentary boat.

Wellness

Rest and renewal

Wellbeing sits at the centre of Naladhu. Whether in your house or at the spa, treatments are tailored to you, for one or two, in a private treatment room. Full wellness programmes add personal nutrition, fitness and relaxation sessions.