This all-villa resort is the only hotel in the Laamu Atoll, some 150 km from the equator. Getting there is a bit of a journey, but of course, this is part of the Six Senses allure—they deliberately pick remote locations.
From above the clouds and later, riding the resort’s luxury boat, it felt like getting deeper and deeper into the blue infinity of the Maldivian sea. As we docked to the jetty this feeling transcribed into a sense of stepping into a different kind of reality.
The simple aesthetics of the resort’s design play a huge role in these impressions. Similarly to other Six Senses properties, we stayed at, Laamu excels in the trademark style that utilizes rustic design in complementing a beautiful location—here the lush, green Maldivian island.
The guest villas follow this spirit of “barefoot luxury”, offering plenty of open space and cool features designed as a companion to a luxury island living.
Beach Villas stand out thanks to their outdoor areas, with rain showers, private gardens and terrace deck for alfresco dining (or sleeping!). For us, however, the epitome of the Maldivian dream was the villas-on-stilts, build along three wooden jetties.
Our Ocean Water Villa was attached to the Jetty B. It had an outdoor platform with day beds, sun lounges, over-water netting and sunken dining area with a glass floor. Inside there was a big four-poster bed looking out to the ocean, and further a bathroom with see-through bathtub and rain shower… which we loved.
As always at Six Senses, we appreciated some of the simplest of things. Among them were our personalized wooden tags attached to the bicycles parked in front of the villa—and barefoot-cycling around the island was the best thing, especially in the morning when the air smelled of fresh mist and the light seemed the brightest.
Check availability for Six Senses Laamu: Booking.com | Hotels.com | Mr And Mrs Smith or see what others think on TripAdvisor.
Speaking of the mornings—breakfasts were fantastic, with a bountiful buffet selection at the Longitude restaurant, which is open-air, two-story dining space set over the water. There are three other restaurants on the island, to which fresh vegetables and spices are supplied from the immaculately maintained organic garden, while local fishermen provide sea catch.
Overlooking the beach and located directly above the garden is The Leaf restaurant, which has a hanging bridge, made of planks of wood and ropes, leading to its entrance—true to the Six Senses style. The Leaf is a great place for a romantic dinner. Lunchtime hangouts include Chill and the Sip Sip, adjacent to the swimming pool, with sunken bar and seating, where we would pop in for fantastic homemade pizzas or some drinks. There is also the sweet department, which we could never resist. The Ice & Chocolate parlor serves home-made chocolate and 40+ flavors of ice cream and sorbets.
For another kind of pampering, there is an award-winning spa. The treatment rooms are housed in stunning spherical wicker nests, merged with the island’s greenery. With classic massages, sauna, yoga, and personal training programs, as well as the fully equipped gym, the spa delivers on the promise of the ultimate relaxation experience.
Then, of course, there is the sea, the beach, and the simple beauty of a tropical island. After a day filled with swimming, sunbathing, and all other attractions, just about all we needed to round off another perfect day in the Maldives were sundowners at the Chill Bar, sipped to the sounds of the sea… and some chillout tunes.
Categories: Barefoot luxury, Beach resorts, Eco travel, Editor's Pick, Family vacation, Honeymoon, Island resorts, Luxury resorts, Modern design, Private villas, Quiet location, Relaxing vacation, Romantic, Rustic chic, Secluded location, Six Senses Resorts, Spa, Tropical vacation, Wedding hotels, Wow factor,
Number of rooms & suites: 97
Rate per night: From $933 USD
*The rate is only approximate and is based on our own independent research, at the time of writing. We cannot guarantee the rate in any way.
Check room rates and bookTucked in a part of the Maldives relatively untouched by modern tourism, Laamu has all the ingredients of the perfect holiday—not least of which is the resort's genuine rustic luxury, presented in a pure atmosphere of carefree relaxation. This Six Senses concept is honed here to perfection.
We are awarding Six Senses Laamu the Editor's Pick without hesitation.
Author: Travel+Style. Last updated: 30/08/2024
One of the top resorts in the Indian Ocean