Set over five stunning hectares in the Baa Atoll’s beautiful UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the new Milaidhoo Island Maldives has recently opened its doors to the Maldives most discerning guests.

The boutique private island is all about barefoot Maldivian luxury, with deep soft white sand beaches and a vibrant coral reef where dolphins, whale sharks and manta rays play. But the resort is also proudly rooted in local island traditions, priding itself in curating a bespoke selection of exclusive activities for those guests seeking more meaningful and memorable experiences.

Standing on stilts over the lagoon are 30 spacious over-water villas with another 20 villas located on the beach. All offer private freshwater swimming pools and a host to attend to your every desire.

The Lux Traveller recommends a stay in the Ocean Residence, a palatial over-water villa with separate sleeping and living spaces, and a secret loft deck on the rooftop where you can soak up the views while your personal butler indulges your every need. There’s also a large sundeck with a swing chair, sunlounge and private freshwater infinity pool. Or simply dive straight into the turquoise ocean.

As well as sublime cuisine in wonderfully informal settings at the resort’s three outstanding restaurants, the Milaidhoo Island Maldives’ philosophy of offering guests’ more authentic experiences has seen them introduce a fabulous new mood dining concept. With five curated mood menus, each offered at a specific location on the island, the concept behind mood dining is based on the ability of certain foods to alter a person’s mood, creating a burst of energy, an uplifting emotion or even encouraging sleep.

The menus are paired with spa treatments, special baths and meditation and are set everywhere from deserted islands and sandbanks in the middle of the ocean, beaches to the private deck of your own villa.

If all that sun and saltwater isn’t enough to relax you, the spa has four over water treatment suites with complimentary yoga and meditation classes, as well as a variety of indulgent and therapeutic treatments that use natural, organic products.