Ask most people to picture the Maldives and they will describe the same overwater villa, but there’s far more to the Maldives than that.
Each atoll has its own reef, its own season and its own way of life, and the right island depends on how you want to spend your days. After a wonderful day in Westminster today, spent with some of the most luxurious Maldivian hotels, here's how I'd match five very different hotels and the islands they call home:
For the Wildlife Enthusiast: Amilla, Baa Atoll
Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Amilla sits about five miles by boat from Hanifaru Bay, where reef manta rays gather to feed in numbers seen almost nowhere else. The season runs from May to November and usually peaks around July. Amilla has a resident marine biologist and works with the Manta Trust, so your guide knows these animals well.
Worth knowing: Hanifaru Bay limits daily visitors and trips run by the tide. Your manta day should be planned before you land, not after.
For the Wellness Wonderer: JOALI BEING, Raa Atoll
This was the Maldives' first island built entirely around wellbeing. Each of JOALI BEING's 68 villas has a private pool. Programmes of five to ten nights follow four pillars (mind, skin, microbiome and energy) and begin with a one-to-one consultation. The Areka wellbeing centre and the Aktar herbology centre sit at the heart of the island, about 40 minutes from Malé by seaplane.
Worth knowing: JOALI BEING welcomes guests of all ages, so a wellbeing programme doesn't mean leaving anyone at home.
For the Surfer: Niyama Private Islands, Dhaalu Atoll
Niyama is two islands, Chill and Play, joined by a bridge. Off Play is Vodi, a left-hand break you reach by paddling out from the beach. That is rare in the Maldives, where most surf means a boat. Kasabu, a right-hander, is a short ride away, and the Surf Beach Studios come with board racks. The bigger swell runs from March to November, and smaller days suit lessons.
Worth knowing: the surf team sends condition updates to a guest WhatsApp group, so you know when to pick up your board. Non-surfers keep to Chill.
For the Creative: Patina Maldives, Fari Islands
Patina was designed by the Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan of Studio MK27. The centrepiece of its art collection is Amarta, a James Turrell Skyspace whose open timber ceiling frames the sky and shifts how you see colour and light. There are 90 villas, 20 Fari Studios and 12 places to eat, and the Fari Marina Village is shared with neighbouring resorts.
Worth knowing: Patina is in North Malé Atoll, the closest of these five to the airport. That makes it a good fit for a shorter stay or as a second island on a longer trip.
For the Family: The Nautilus, Baa Atoll
The Nautilus has 26 beach and overwater houses on a private island. The Young Wonderers club takes children up to 11, and its programme is shaped around your children's interests with your House Master. Two-bedroom residences and the three-bedroom Nautilus Mansion give families room. The resort's own seaplane takes about 30 minutes from Malé, and Hanifaru Bay's mantas are about 15 minutes away by speedboat.
Worth knowing: cots, high chairs, strollers and baby-bathing kit can be set up in your house before you arrive. With a one- and a four-year-old of my own, that is the detail I check first.
When is the best time to visit the Maldives?
December to April is the drier season and the most popular time to visit. Manta season in Baa Atoll runs from May to November, and the larger surf at Niyama from March to November. The best month depends on which island is yours.
Not sure which island is yours?
Tell me how you want to spend your days, and I will tell you where to go. Leave it with me. Start planning your Maldives trip →