Upper Upscale Resort, 5 star
Dusit Thani Maldives is located on its own 16-hectare island, Mudhdhoo Island, in Baa Atoll, which is The Maldives' first UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, just a 35-minute seaplane journey from Male’ International Airport.
The island’s natural beauty comes from the white sandy beaches, extensive lush vegetation, turquoise lagoon and 360-degree house reef, abundant with a huge variety of marine life and three underwater caves.
The resort’s 94 villas combine Thai furnishings with a Maldivian twist to reflect the Dusit Thani heritage and the local Maldivian culture.
Guests can take a dip in one of The Maldives’ largest infinity pools, explore the house reef, take a worldwide culinary journey at the restaurants and bars, or retreat to the award-winning Devarana Spa, meaning ‘garden in heaven’ in Thai, with elevated treatment rooms among the coconut trees.
Other facilities include a well-equipped fitness centre, island jogging trail, Kids Club with indoor and outdoor play areas, yoga pavilion with resident yogi, two floodlit tennis courts, bicycles per guest, activity centre with conservation programmes, outdoor private cinema, cooking classes, wine tasting with a resident sommelier, behind-the-scenes tours and butler service for each villa.
Guided nature walks show guests the diversity of natural flora and fauna to be found around the island, including Banyan trees which are more than 100 years’ old, plants and flowers that are indigenous to the country and region, as well as naturally-growing fruits and vegetables that are used in some of the chef’s recipes.