Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, tucked inside the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, remains one of those rare Maldivian resorts that gets under your skin and stays there. This is barefoot Maldives at its most genuine — "No News, No Shoes" without a trace of pretence. Twenty-five years in, the resort wears its heritage lightly, evolving in ways that feel thoughtful rather than forced.

You feel it the moment you arrive. The approach reveals dense, mature foliage and a wide, pristine white-sand beach on the sunset side — the kind of shore that makes you exhale before you've even set foot on it. Sandy paths wind through thick greenery, every turn a reminder you're on a deeply natural island. The reception area, now marked with 25th-anniversary touches, lands with a quiet warmth that feels like coming back to a place you already know.

The Deluxe Pool Villas have had a particularly good refresh. Light woods, shuttered windows, carefully considered vanity spaces — it's all been done with a light touch that keeps the Coco Palm character intact. Modern amenities (updated bathrooms, proper power points, USB sockets) are woven in without shouting about it. Cleverly, some villas can now be discreetly linked to create spacious two-bedroom setups.

Dining remains a real strength. Cowrie's buffet and live cooking stations are as good as ever, and Cornus delivers bright Asian flavours in a setting that feels genuinely tropical. Sunset barbecues on the beach turn dinner into an event, while the waterfront Conch Bar and the ever-popular Abul's Beach Bar are the kind of spots where a drink turns into an evening without you noticing.

The underwater offering has grown up too. The house reef on the sunrise side is easy to access, and excursions to nearby sites take you to richer coral terrain. On the lagoon side, seagrass has been reintroduced, and it's working — turtles are appearing more and more regularly. The resort's partnership with the Olive Ridley Project, hosting a sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation centre on the island, speaks to a genuine commitment to sustainability.

For honeymooners, milestone anniversaries, or anyone after an authentic Maldives escape that doesn't chase trends, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu offers remarkable value and genuine charm. It's a true standout among the Maldives' resort line-up, and it earns that place honestly.

Pro tip: don't miss the Snorkel With Mantas excursion — it's a genuine highlight.

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu sits on Dhuni Kolhu Island in Baa Atoll, 124 km from Malé International Airport, reachable by a 40-minute seaplane flight or via domestic flight to Dharavandhoo followed by a 30-minute speedboat transfer.

The island is a natural standout — a bright turquoise lagoon on one side, coral banks on the other, fringed by white-sand beaches and dense indigenous vegetation. Its 98 villas, all with authentic thatched roofs, are tucked in quiet isolation among tropical ferns, vines, palms and flowers, or set over the lagoon itself. The lagoon villas offer good water depth for stepping directly off your sundeck into the sea.

Dining spans two restaurants (Cowrie's and Cornus) and two bars (Conch Bar and Abul's Beach Bar), with options for in-villa or private beach dining. The watersports centre is well-equipped and the dive centre is professionally run. A range of excursions includes cruises, fishing trips, champagne breakfasts and romantic island visits for honeymooners.

Note: there is no swimming pool — but the natural lagoon more than makes up for it.