The best luxury hotels off the beaten track

The pristine atolls of the Maldives are usually more associated with smooching honeymooners than adrenalin junkies, but this new opening is set to draw an adventure-hungry clientele to the island chain. Located in the North Malé Atoll, Kuda Villingili offers easy access to Chickens, one of the world’s top 10 surfing spots. First discovered when Australian surfers Tony Hussein Hinde and Mark Scanlon were shipwrecked nearby in the 1970s, this roping, high-performance “left” (a good wave, for those who don’t know the lingo) still attracts surfing aficionados from across the globe.

Back on dry land, the 16-hectare island’s resort, which was originally slated to open as a Chedi, does have some of the hallmarks of a traditional luxury property in the Maldives. At its heart sits a 150-metre pool encircled by palm trees and cream sun loungers, and its sprawling spa features eight overwater villas, with free-standing bathtubs filled with tropical flowers. However, Kuda Villingili’s ethos is deliberately different. The island’s bevy of activities – ranging from lobster and champagne nights to sunset DJ sessions – and millennial-friendly interiors (think local Maldivian textiles and rugs manufactured from recycled plastic bottles) are testimony to its intention to draw in a decidedly cooler crowd.

The latest boutique resort to open its doors on Mahé, the Seychelles’ largest island and home to the country’s capital of Victoria, is a must-visit for any superyacht cruising this part of the Indian Ocean. Owners are likely to find L’Escale Resort Marina & Spa ticks a lot of boxes; after all, its architects, none other than Winch Design, know a thing or two about yachts. This boutique property is the first hotel project completed by the firm, who sourced bespoke furnishings from across South East Asia, including materials such as local tropical hardwood Nyatoh, teak from Indonesia, drift oak and renewable rattan. A light, neutral base palette is enriched with shades inspired by the verdant surroundings, woven and printed on fabrics of contrasting textures. Hints of turquoise, coral and bright yellow are a nod to the sea and to the rich marine life. The room to book is the Royal Suite, with its own private deck and infinity pool, or opt for the entire two-bedroom, two-storey Presidential Villa. Mooring won’t be an issue thanks to the marina, which is able to accommodate yachts up to 100 metres. Head straight to the Eden Holistic spa for a relaxing Rasul cleansing ritual, which combines the benefits of heat, steam and mud. After that, head to the pool for a swim and sundowners and enjoy the view of neighbouring Eden Island. End the evening with a Creole-inspired feast (and more cocktails) at the resort’s restaurant.

A circular speck in the Baa Atoll, Anantara Kihavah is arguably the most picturesque destination for high-tech wellness treatments in the world. Having snapped up a team of therapists from Cocoon in Bali, its new medi- spa, the first in the region, offers cutting-edge treatments from the comfort of its overwater rooms – think light, airy spaces with a minimal design and a neutral palette, offset by natural wood and thatching outside. A 30-minute IV- drip session promises to pep up overworked souls as well as banish jet lag. Or if you’re feeling brave, opt for the Vampire Facial, where your blood platelets are massaged on to the skin following microneedling to help reduce wrinkles and stimulate collagen production. After your treatment, relax in the spa’s outdoor lounge with an uninterrupted view of the ocean, ginger tea and macaron in hand.

Ideal for yacht owners ready for a spruce-up, Anantara Kihavah is a three-hour cruise from Gulhi Falhu and you can dock 200 metres from the beach. Make sure you visit the resort's dining spot SEA, one of the best underwater restaurants in the world, where you can enjoy spiny lobster medallions and Wagyu tenderloin while watching the fish and turtles going about their lives. Back on land, recline with a glass of champagne for an astronomy lesson with the resort’s in-house guru and the Maldives’ most powerful telescope.

Not every yachting destination can juxtapose the open ocean with a backdrop of majestic mountains. This Middle Eastern outpost of European brand Kempinski, however, boasts panoramic views of both from its sweeping infinity pool. In keeping with its surroundings, the magnificence continues as you enter the cubic hotel; a vast white marbled lobby is decorated with pillars that echo the architecture of the Sultan’s Palace.

The beachside retreat, handily located just 15 minutes from Muscat International Airport and a short stroll from Al Mouj Marina, is the perfect base for exploring Oman’s adventure-packed coastline. Within a couple of hours you can find yourself kayaking through a craggy canyon or trekking across the rugged terrain towards an unspoilt oasis like Wadi Tiwi. Once you return, dine like royalty in one of the hotel’s eight restaurants, with cuisines ranging from Indian dishes to Thai street food. For local delicacies, including citrus-infused Omani Gulf lobster, head down pathways shaded by date palms and frangipani trees to the shoreside Zale Beach Club & Lounge. Afterwards, return to nest in one of the hotel’s four palatial suites, with your own plunge pool.

Drop anchor off Phuket’s west coast and tender in to the secluded beaches of Amanpuri, which means “place of peace” in Sanskrit. It was the first Aman resort to open, 32 years ago, but there are now even more reasons to visit. Its 40 Thai-style pavilions and 47 villas are as welcoming as ever and the spa has recently been expanded and upgraded. 

Now home to 12 treatment rooms, it offers a series of recently launched wellness immersion programmes to tackle specific concerns such as weight or stress. After sunset you can toast your health at The Lounge bar with an Aman 1 Tonic, a gin concoction by mixologist May Sriskaew, followed by exceptional Thai food by chef Kannika Jitsangworn at the Terrace.

A petite private island lying in the baby-blue water of South Malé Atoll, Naladhu is home to 19 colonial-style villas. Step off the resort’s Sunseeker yacht, after a 30-minute blast from the airport and collect the key to your private paradise – complete with an infinity pool and house master (butler) to take care of your every whim. The star of the island is the Pool Residence: 600 square metres of seclusion spread over two floors, with stunning views of the Indian Ocean at dusk.

The resort’s promise of privacy lures castaways ranging from love-struck honeymooners to paparazzi-dodging celebrities – Kate Moss and Roger Federer are both rumoured to have been spotted on shore. But the island also has easy access (via a bridge and boat) to the amenities of its neighbours Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli. Their 10 restaurants, two spas and outdoor cinemas are just a quick paddle away – if you can be persuaded to leave your villa, that is.

No island is as synonymous with sailing in Australia as Hamilton, so it seems fitting that the late Bob Oatley first spotted its potential while cruising nearby as a young man. He took over the island in 2003 and set about transforming it into one of the country’s most sought-after holiday destinations. The jewel in its crown is Qualia, sat on its own peninsula on the northern tip. Celebrities such as Chris Hemsworth and Miranda Kerr have posted envy-inducing pictures from its private infinity pools, which offer stunning views across the Whitsundays.

Saltier sailors can tender straight in to the beach, while those wanting to keep their stilettos clean can dock in the island’s marina and be escorted by golf cart behind the resort’s imposing wooden gates. Once inside, a cold glass of Charles Heidsieck champagne awaits in the Pavilion Lounge, which offers epic vistas of the turquoise sea. The resort took a beating from Cyclone Debbie in 2017 but a monumental effort by staff, who stayed on the island while the resort closed for three months, has returned it to Oatley’s original and spectacular vision.

The hushed villas at this Seychellois hideaway are so discreetly tucked into the native flora that the only person likely to wander past your door is your private butler. But in the crystal waters around Mahé island it is as busy as a city-centre rush hour (for fish). Take out your boat, or one of the many sportsfishers for charter here, and once you’ve landed your catch, the resort’s chefs will prepare it in any style you like, from barbeque to sashimi. It can be served in the restaurant, on the beach, on the helipad or back in the sublime quiet of your villa. Maia is also home to one of the best luxury spas in Asia so make sure you also book in some time for some serious pampering.

Cascading down a hillside that faces the iconic limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay, Six Senses Yao Noi offers a restorative hideaway near the bustle of Phuket. Anchor off Ko Yao Noi (which means small long island) and tender in to the resort’s private jetty, leaving your superyacht in the bay made famous by James Bond in The Man with the Golden Gun. From there a golf cart will whisk you up the hill into the verdant plantation, which is peppered with rubber trees and home to 56 thatched villas, three restaurants and a sprawling spa village. Combining luxury and sustainability, the resort’s on-site water bottling plant means it is plastic bottle free, while its organic gardens and farm produce the freshest ingredients – the chickens are even played jazz music to encourage them to lay better eggs for your morning omelette. Before breakfast watch the sun come up over the limestone pillars that rise from the emerald waters as tropical birds sing the morning chorus.

Lying in the pristine southern waters of the North Malé Atoll, this Maldivian-owned escape is a natural Eden. Its splendid 300 metre house reef is a nursery to blacktip sharks, while shimmering white beaches and foliage-lined pathways peppered with exotic flowers lead to its 75 private villas.

You can dip your toes into the vivid waters surrounding this coral island less than 30 minutes after touching down in Malé, as the hotel’s powerful private speedboat will whisk you directly from the airport. For the ultimate dining experience, sail on a traditional Maldivian dhoni to the island resort of Baros and its pop-up restaurant on a secluded sandbank, located just outside the electric blue lagoon. Enjoy a lantern-lit dinner under the stars and try Maldivian favourites like reshmi prawn kebabs or indulge in the fresh sushi station, while the sandbank sommelier will be on hand to suggest perfect pairings.