Things to do
Known as ‘free spirited experiences’, The Nautilus is proud to allow guests to veer completely off-script, giving them an opportunity to do something they’ve only ever dreamed they could. Would you like to swim around giant manta rays as they perform their timeless dance? How about movie time on a deserted sand bank with a loved one and plenty of champagne? Or if you’d like to create a house party in your private villa with live music and cocktails – just ask.
Sleeping
There are 26 houses dotted around the palm-fringed beach and on stilts over the turquoise Indian Ocean. Circular thatched cabanas are grouped together to create each sizeable ‘house’, and all come with a private pool. Inside, soaring ceilings create a feeling of space, and over-water villas benefit from a round glass panel on the floor to facilitate marine gazing. If you’re travelling as a family, take over the three-bedroom beach mansion and create your own island idyll.
Food and drink
Continuing the anything, anytime theme, dining is an unscripted affair which is very much based on your own personal whims. There are four restaurants, with no closing times or dress codes, or you can of course dine in your own villa, or on a secluded spot on a beach. Take inspiration from your environment and order freshly-made sushi or grilled lobster or go off-piste with Turkish meze or a Wagyu burger. Wines are sourced from all over the world – you’ll find old favourites and new world wonders.
What stands out
The can-do mentality and approach of the staff at The Nautilus is outstanding. Private butlers come as standard and constantly look for ways to make your experience better with flower petal bubble baths, pre-breakfast juices or snorkelling gear on demand. Elsewhere from the dive school, yoga studio to the restaurant staff, you’ll find hand-picked professionals who really know their stuff.
Best for
If you’ve ever been frustrated by a hotel’s food service timings or asked for something and been denied, then The Nautilus will be a breath of fresh air. Attracting bohemian types who are drawn to the hotel’s laid-back vibe, this is the place to come for a highly personalised experience in a setting of sensational natural beauty.
