Gili Lankanfushi

Gili Lankanfushi is a single coral island in North Malé Atoll, reached by a 20-minute boat transfer from Malé. The lagoon around it runs turquoise and shallow, with coral gardens close enough to reach by snorkel from the jetties. Forty-five villas and residences stand on stilts over the water or sit along the shoreline, built from teak, palm wood, bamboo and palm fronds harvested during the island's own rehabilitation. Each has separate areas for lounging, sleeping and bathing, and several include a catamaran net slung over the sea for lying above the water itself. The Private Reserve stands alone in the lagoon with its own spa pavilion, cinema and water slide. A desalination plant supplies the still and sparkling water in every villa, and toiletries come in refillable earthenware jars rather than plastic. Each guest is assigned a Mr Friday, a personal host on call for the length of the stay. Meera Spa sits over a quiet bay with over-water treatment rooms open to the sea breeze. You can dive at Manta Point within ten minutes by boat, or sign up for the resort's own coral research at Gili Veshi. Dinner runs from the Overwater Bar on stilts to a wine cellar cut into the ground below the island, holding over 400 labels. There are no keys anywhere on the island.