Milaidhoo Island Maldives

Come, kick off your shoes and let us tell you a story. . . once upon a time there was a tiny tropical island, an emerald drop of paradise wrapped in soft white sands, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef, lapped by warm turquoise waters and hidden in the heart of a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Milaidhoo is that island. That time is now and this is our story.

Not just another five star resort in the Maldives, at Milaidhoo, we like to do things differently: it’s called reinvented luxury. We don’t think of our guests as holidaymakers but as storywriters, crafting their dream holiday, and this is where your story of a small island begins.

Opened in November 2016, Milaidhoo is a boutique luxury resort in the Baa Atoll UNESCO biosphere reserve, close to Hanifaru Bay, 126km north west of Male. We’re perfect for nature lovers as our own coral reef, which encircles the island, is a protected area and noted as an outstanding snorkelling and diving site in its own right.

Our tiny beautiful island, abundant with tropical greenery, measures just 300m by 180m and is fringed by soft deep white sand beaches. Designed for couples seeking peace and privacy, we welcome guests aged nine and above, and have a strict no drone policy on the island.

Everything at Milaidhoo has been custom made and made for comfort; crafted around your needs. Service is tip top but always friendly, in line with our ‘barefoot informality’ ethos. Above all, we’re proud to offer a taste of the true Maldives, opening doors to Maldivian culture and unique experiences.

THE “FAMILY”
Our team is called ‘the Milaidhoo family’ and not staff because that’s the way we work together. And you, our guest, aren’t guests to us, but storytellers, writing your story of a small island with us.

You may only be staying with us briefly, but we hope that Milaidhoo will touch your heart and a little piece of us will live on with you. We hope you’ll feel like you’ve found somewhere you truly belong and maybe would like to call yourself a member of our family too.

Milaidhoo is not just another five star resort in the Maldives: even when we offer the same service as other resorts, the way we do it will be uniquely our way: with passion, in a natural manner and with a genuine intent to deliver a meaningful moment.

At Milaidhoo, we’re reinventing what was lost in time, portraying a re-imagined Maldivian heritage in a luxurious way. We’re all about crafting meaningful experiences that are rooted in our Maldivian heritage so that our guests leave our island feeling not only relaxed, but enriched by these genuine and memorable experiences.

VILLAS & RESIDENCES
Your villa: a place you may never have been before but where you instantly feel like you belong. Spacious and filled with light, outdoor living is what we do best: your villa opens up 180-degrees to allow the natural beauty of the Maldives inside. Indoors all around you are striking Maldivian elements, art pieces and contemporary custom-made furnishings thoughtfully designed for your comfort.

All villas offer: a large private freshwater pool on the sun deck; a hanging Maldivian swing (‘undhoali’); an outsize day bed; air conditioning and ceiling fan; ocean views; tea and coffee machine; oversized minibar; private wine fridge; flatscreen satellite TV; en suite bathroom with soaking tub and separate rain-shower; a full range of toiletries by Acqua Di Parma.

OCEAN RESIDENCE WITH PRIVATE POOL
In the Milaidhoo Ocean Residence guests discover an over-water paradise with spectacular views. Set at the very end of the over-water jetty, this residence has separate living and bed rooms created with plenty of space to make guests feel at home.

An additional refinement is a dedicated personal butler on call to arrange everything guests wish. This 475sqm thatched-roof residence created on pillars over the ocean, has a spacious bedroom with wonderful ocean views.

There is a hidden loft deck under the roof as a relaxing and secret space for chilling out and enjoying the inspiring view. Outside on the large sundeck are a swing chair, sun loungers, private freshwater infinity pool and steps down into the ocean.

The air-conditioned bathroom re-defines bathroom luxury with one side that can be opened up completely bringing in daylight and mesmerising views of the ocean. There is an indoor rain shower and a separate, deep bathtub facing the ocean. This creates a memorable setting for a relaxing hot bath after a day of diving or snorkelling. At hand, are premium Acqua Di Parma toiletries.

Inside the Ocean Residence, under high ceilings creating space and light, is a king-size bed facing the ocean, a concealed flat-screen television, a dedicated wine chiller, a full-sized, silent refrigerator and mini bar, a coffee machine and kettle with gourmet coffee capsules and premium tea bags, a ceiling fan and individually-controlled air-conditioning.

BEACH RESIDENCE WITH PRIVATE POOL 
These spacious 490sqm, thatched-roof beach-front residences have been created to allow luxurious, informal outdoor island living with a huge outdoor deck accessible from the bright and comfortable separate sleeping and living room.

Set on the beach, each light-filled residence has custom-made furnishings enhancing a luxurious yet simple environment that brings together elements of nature and Maldivian design heritage.

The bedroom has floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of the beach and ocean. These open to a sun deck with a private 60sqm freshwater infinity pool, Maldivian-style swing couch, sun loungers, sun umbrella, a dining table with chairs and a large daybed by the pool.

Inside each high-ceilinged villa is a king-size bed facing the ocean, a concealed flat-screen television, a dedicated wine chiller , a full-sized, silent refrigerator and mini bar, a coffee machine and kettle with gourmet coffee capsules and premium tea bags, a ceiling fan and individually-controlled air-conditioning.

The comfortable, circular living room opens to the view of the beach and ocean and the large bathroom has indoor and outdoor rain showers and a separate deep bathtub. At hand, are luxury-size toiletries by Acqua Di Parma.

RESTAURANTS & BARS
At Milaidhoo we’re serious about food, focusing on authentic, light food with clean flavours. Our three restaurants and two bars are designed to appeal to your senses, offering outstanding dining in wonderfully informal settings. No shoes required. Ever.

BA’THELI LOUNGE & RESTAURANT 
Welcome aboard the only restaurant in the world set on a boat in a lagoon featuring gourmet dishes of inspired island cuisine from the Maldivian Spice Route. Our story begins over 5,000 years ago when The Maldives became a key port of call for traders sailing from Indonesia and India to Arabia with cargoes of cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, cloves, ginger and pepper.

The Maldivians bartered coconuts, sun-dried fish, cordage, cowrie shells and sails woven from coconut fibre for spice, rice, ceramics and silks. Locally-made cargo boats, called ba’theli in the local language, sailed throughout the archipelago with these goods, spreading knowledge about different lands, their customs and cuisine.

At Ba’theli, the story continues as our chefs create dishes of finesse based on the epicurean delights of the old Spice Routes using only the finest ingredients, blending herbs and spices to enhance natural flavours.

Guests dine on the ‘deck’ of the restaurant where, underneath starry night skies, the team of chefs deliver an island influenced menu of locally inspired and sourced dishes. There’s also indoor seating in air-conditioned comfort where you can watch the sea-life below through glass floors. Expect to find seafood and traditional local flavours intelligently reinterpreted for the 21st century.

THE SHORELINE GRILL 
This beachfront grill is where you’ll find superb meats and freshly caught local fish and seafood, simply cooked and beautifully presented. You can dine barefoot on the sand in a private beachfront pavilion, or inside the grill for a fantastic view of the show kitchens.

We think several visits will be required including at least one evening at our chef’s “teppanyaki” table where our chef will ask what you feel like eating and cook accordingly.

Or why not arrange a pre-dinner wine tasting session in our wine room with our sommelier one evening? This is where you’ll find barefoot informality at its best. Easy, simple, no fuss. Open for dinner daily from 19.00 until 22.30.

CHEF’S TABLE 
If you’ve ever wanted your own private chef to cook for you, here’s your chance. At our chef’s table, our team of chefs are ready to cook up a perfect dinner, just the way you want it, right before your eyes at our teppanyaki-style table. For inspiration, we offer a choice of set menus, as well as an a la carte menu to pick and choose from. Open for dinner daily from 19.00 until 22.30. Can be opened for lunch on request.

GRILL WINE ROOM 
It’s time to pop a cork or two. Whether you choose to stop off here before dinner, or leave this as a post-postprandial treat or perhaps an afternoon eye-opener is up to you. Chill out in the superb cool temperatures of our Wine Room with a flight of wines and canapes, or ask our sommelier to organise a specialist wine tasting for you. Open for private bookings.

OCEAN RESTAURANT
Here’s the tropical breakfast you’ve always dreamed of: sitting on the deck by the ocean as our team delivers wave after wave of treats to your table. For lunch and dinner the style remains casually comfortable with international dishes perfectly presented from our a la carte menu. Here, the key words are fresh, flavourful and friendly. Open for breakfast 07.00 – 10.30), lunch (12.00 – 16.00) and dinner (19.00 – 22.30).

COMPASS POOL BAR
Here’s the place to chill out and fall in love with our infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. When hunger calls, we’re right here with a tempting drinks list of the freshest of fresh juices, infused waters, cocktails and light meals, such as gourmet pizzas from our wood-fired oven; bento boxes; fresh salads; sandwiches etc.

The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down; find yourself a sun lounger and watch the area transform into a laid-back chillout lounge. Open from 09.00 until late night with light meals available between 12.00 and 18.00 every day.

IN-VILLA DINING
To us, in villa dining means creating a magical experience for you on the privacy of the deck of your villa. On the menu you’ll find a carefully curated selection of dishes designed to please. If you’re craving something different, simply let our chefs know what you fancy and it will be our pleasure to make it for you. Open 24-hours.

GOURMET PLAN
At Milaidhoo we offer meaningful and memorable experiences. As part of that, The Milaidhoo Gourmet Plan is a dine-around meal plan offering outstanding dining and drinks throughout the stay.

Enjoy your daily breakfast at leisure and follow it with an indulgent set menu lunch at Ocean restaurant. You can also enjoy an a la carte light meal selection at Compass Pool Bar. Then smoothly move on to an a la carte dinner in either Ocean or The Shoreline Grill. You’ll also be invited to enjoy dinner at our signature restaurant, Ba’theli once every four days.

To ensure you never go thirsty, all day long in our restaurants and bars you’re welcome to enjoy international and premium brands of spirits, beers and cocktails from our selection as well as fresh juices, soft drinks, mineral water, teas, coffees, milkshakes and smoothies and a premium selection of wines, hand-picked by our sommelier.

A LOVE STORY
Fall in love. With each other, with our island, with life. Again and again and again. Allow us to set the scene for romance where you can reconnect with each other and with life. From candlelit dinners to scented baths, from flower bedecked beds to the perfect place to say I do, at Milaidhoo every moment is precious. Allow us to make it precious to you in your style.

HONEYMOONS
Honeymooners feel right at home at Milaidhoo where, when you book our ‘Perfect Honeymoon’ package, we’ll even name a star in the night sky after you, and give you the certificate and coordinates so you can view it at night.

Your star’s name will be copyrighted with its coordinates so that you and future generations can identify the star from the directory and locate it in the sky. Each star is unique and is only named once. You’re welcome to choose what you want to name your star and in which constellation it is located.

We’ll also treat you both to a complimentary 60-minute spa treatment for two during your stay and we’ll invite you to enjoy a private and romantic three-course candlelit dinner on the deck of your villa.

Perhaps after the dinner you’d like to relax with a romantic bath with flower petals, scented oils, a bottle of champagne and chocolates? There’s even more, as our chef will bake you a special signature cake when you arrive. Because we care about love

For those love birds who are planning to or already got married in 2020 and aren’t able to have a honeymoon this year or had to cancel it due to the extensive travel restrictions around the world, we are here for you.

MALDIVES WEDDINGS 
Let’s talk about love. Let’s talk about how you and the one you love most in the world can say ‘I do’ on the shores of Milaidhoo Island Maldives. We’ve got a range of romantic ideas for you and it would be our greatest pleasure to help you write your story of your perfect wedding ceremony by creating the day you always dreamed of.

ENGAGEMENTS
If this is more than ‘just a holiday’ and you’re planning to go down on one knee and ask your loved one to marry you, then allow our specialist Romance Islander to add some Milaidhoo magic to the moment.

With notice, we can create the most romantic staging for your proposal, from deserted islands at sunset to candlelit beaches under the full moon. Whatever your heart’s desire, we’ll make it a reality.

SPA & WELLNESS
And breathe blissful relaxation for your body and soul takes place in four over-water treatment suites which offer inspiring views of sky and ocean.  Explore our holistic treatment menu which incorporates the powers of botanicals combined with entrancing healing traditions from Africa, using local herbs and plants.

Here you’ll feel the benefits of our organic and natural spa therapies offered by Elemis, TheraNaka and Coola. Our over-water yoga pavilion hosts complimentary daily yoga or meditation sessions where all you have to focus on is your mind, body and soul.

ACTIVITIES & EXPERIENCES
This is where you’ll feel a million miles from everyday life. You’ll discover inspiring moments that enrich your life and excite your spirit of adventure. Don’t just go fishing: instead join a Maldivian fisherman and learn how it’s done here.

Don’t just go on an excursion; instead let a local take you by the hand and guide you through our culture and history. Don’t just do a cooking class; accept chef’s invitation to pick some local herbs with him and create a new dish together.

Don’t just drink cocktails; join our sommelier or bar tender for a tasting class and see if you can concoct something good enough to make it onto the drinks menu.

DIVING
While the beauty of the Maldives is breath-taking, what you’ll find below the surface is even more moving. Our experienced diving team have the keys to the best dive sites in the atoll and welcome everyone, from novices making their first dive to experts logging their 1000th dive.

At Milaidhoo we have a five star PADI dive centre that offers house reef diving, boat diving, private diving, night diving, fluo night dives, Manta Ray diving and nitrox. PADI Five Star Dive Resorts are committed to providing quality diver training and continuing education programmes that include dive experiences and environmental awareness.

WATERSPORTS
Water babies will love our collection of non-motorised watersports, which include kayaks as well as clear bottom kayaks, windsurfers, catamarans, stand up paddle boards (SUPs) and Zayaks. Snorkelling equipment, which can be used free of charge during your stay, can be borrowed from here.

EXCURSIONS
Sail away to your own private deserted sandbank where a feast awaits, cruise with dolphins at sunset with champagne and canapes on board one of our luxury craft or just set sail under the starry night skies and be at one with the universe.

MARINE BIOLOGIST
With the UNESCO biosphere reserve and the world-famous Hanifaru Bay on our doorstep, this is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the incredible wildlife in the area from our resident marine biologist.

Here you may discover what makes whale sharks tick, why manta rays dance, what makes dolphins smile and help with identification and conservation practices. We offer a ‘be a marine biologist’ programme where the curious can shadow our biologist and learn more about what she does.

FISHING
This ocean country stocked with plentiful fish calls to anyone with the soul of a fisherman. Our big game fishing boat can take you out to the high seas looking for wahoo, sailfish, swordfish, giant trevally or marlin for our catch and release programme. Alternatively, let our guides show you the local way to fish by hand from a traditional Maldivian fishing boat.

HANIFARU BAY
The jewel of the UNESCO biosphere reserve is undoubtedly Hanifaru Bay, the place where – in season – the world’s largest groupings of manta rays can be seen. This is also the place for whale shark spotting. Snorkelling with these peaceful ocean giants is an unmissable experience.

The season runs from June to November each year and sightings depend on many factors such as tide times, moon phases and currents. We plan to run three trips a week to Hanifaru Bay (weather permitting) and can also offer private excursions for just the two of you accompanied by our marine biologist.

ENVIRONMENT 
With our location in the UNESCO world biosphere reserve, conservation of our precious environment is one of our guiding philosophies. We are participants in the Green Globe certification process which sets strict standards, not just in our environmental actions, but also in ethical business behaviour, fair trade and compliance with international best practices and standards.

How you can help

• Unless you specifically request otherwise, we’ll launder your bedlinens every three days to save water and reduce usage of detergents.
• Please hang your towels on the hook to indicate that you’re happy to re-use them for another day. If you’d like them replaced, please leave them on the floor.
• Many items aren’t easily recycled in the Maldives. We’d greatly appreciate if you could take plastics such as sun cream bottles back home with you for proper recycling. Likewise with batteries and other electrical items you may have finished with.
• Suntan lotions can damage the reef. We kindly ask if you could consider using reef-friendly creams or wear a rash-vest or other clothing to protect you from the sun.
• Never feed the fish. This not only changes their natural behaviour but in many cases can kill them. Fish can’t digest bread or most other human foods.
• Please pay follow the guidelines in your villa about protecting the coral reef
• Never touch any animals you may see (on land or in the water) including turtles, starfish, crabs and seacucumber.
• Our coral reef and lagoon is a marine-protected area. Fishing, crab-hunting, and lobster-catching are all prohibited.
• Please read and understand the guidelines in your villa on interacting with manta rays and whale sharks before joining an excursion to see them.
• It’s illegal to remove sand or shells from our beaches and there are harsh penalties if found in your luggage at the airport. If you must collect shells during your stay we ask that you enjoy their beauty during your visit then replace them before you leave for others to enjoy and for the local wildife to use as nature intended.

What We’re Doing

The protection of our fragile environment is at the forefront of everything we do. Here’s a quick overview of what’s most important to us:

• We have a state-of-the-art water and STP plant ensuring no contaminants enter the ocean and making best practicable re-use of grey water.
• We use accredited eco-friendly chemicals in our laundry and cleaning. Due to the harsh nature of the chemicals involved, we don’t offer dry cleaning services.
• An in-depth environmental impact assessment report was carried out before we began building the island. All guidelines set out in this form have been complied with.
• We have a coral regeneration programme in place. Our guests can support this by ‘adopting’ a reef of their own, planting it and watching it grow over the years.
• We support and work with local charities such as The Manta Trust and Manta Matcher.
• We make it our responsibility to ensure that all of our Milaidhoo Family understand the importance of conservation and take a pledge to personally protect the environment.
• We have a sustainability plan that considers environmental, socio-cultural, quality and health & safety issues. This plan is measured, evaluated and updated annually to ensure continued progress.
• We comply with all local environmental laws, standards and regulations. These are kept updated and referred to regularly.

Who We Work With:

• Green Fins: Ocean Stories Aquatic Centre at Milaidhoo is a member of Green Fins. Our marine biologist and the team are dedicated to the care and the protection of marine life and participate in implementing environmental initiatives and educational programmes. Green Fins is initiative of UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) and the Reef-World Foundation. It’s paving the way to unite politics and marine conservation efforts to ensure the sustainability of popular diving and snorkelling destinations around the world. Green fins is a unique approach to conservation designed around threats to coral reef biodiversity People choosing Green Fins members as their dive and snorkel operators can be assured that members are working to reduce their threats to the marine environment.
• Milaidhoo Turtle ID programme: There are seven species of sea turtles worldwide, and five of them can be found in the Maldives with the hawksbill turtle and the green turtle being the most commonly sighted species. By taking pictures of the turtle’s head we can identify which turtle has been seen and add it to our Milaidhoo turtle database.
• Olive Ridley Turtle Programme: We’re actively involved in providing data for the charity organisation Olive Ridley Project based in the UK about the olive ridley turtle.
• Coral Planting and Reef Restoration: Broken pieces of corals are harvest at the Milaidhoo house reef. These fragments are often broken off by turtles, fish waves or humans.The fragments will be attached to a so called “coral frame”. After a month the coral fragment will is settled and start slowly to grow and attach to the frame. After a couple of years, the frames will be covered by corals and give food and shelter to a diversity of Marine Life.
• Shark Watch: We also participate in Shark Watch to observe the number of sharks in the Maldives. This is a project from the Darwin Reef Fish Project, Marine Research Centre, Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, Male’, Republic of Maldives.
• Manta Trust and Maldives Manta Ray project: Manta rays are among the most charismatic creatures living in our oceans and now on the endangered list. With the largest brain of all fish, their intelligence and curiosity make encounters with these creatures a truly amazing experience. The Manta Trust was founded to learn more about the life cycle, population dynamics and habitat usage of the Maldives manta population, while also working with the government, tourists, local communities and tour operators to create greater awareness and protection for these graceful rays and their habitat. We collect data for the Manta Trust organisation by taking pictures of the distinctive spot patterns on manta rays’ bellies, which, like finger prints for humans, are unique to each animal. All pictures are uploaded to the Manta trust database enabling them to record manta sightings and count how many there are in the Maldives. Currently the population of manta rays in the Maldives is around 5,000.