The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Part of a new man-made archipelago in the North Malé Atoll, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is one of the most strikingly designed resorts in recent memory, the work of globally renowned Kerry Hill Architects, responsible for many of Aman’s greatest hits.

Its contemporary, circular, one-bedroom villas are scattered above the water and up and down a gorgeous white-sand beach. Each is polished, pared back and designed to aid relaxation, with glass doors that open onto half-moon decks, teardrop-shaped plunge pools and the high-definition blue of the ocean just an arm’s length away. Best of all are the floor-to-ceiling windows that can disappear entirely for an indoor-outdoor living experience, letting gently lapping water become the soundtrack to your bath, breakfast or restful night’s sleep. While the two-bedroom water and beach villas swap the novel circular design for more traditional straight edges, they offer greater space and are ideal for families, as is the massive Ritz-Carlton Estate, which can sleep up to six adults and three children.

If the villas are striking, the halo-shaped spa at the resort’s far end is even more so: a floating, low-rise, timber-clad ring above the turquoise lagoon, with nine treatment rooms and therapies by UK brand Bamford. More active pursuits occur at the opposite end of the island, where you’ll find a dive centre, yoga studio, tennis courts, kids’ club and fitness centre. This is also the site of Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment programme, the only one in the Maldives, staffed by marine biologists who are monitoring sea life with underwater robots and airborne drones, in addition to guiding guests. It’s a cut above what most other resorts offer and typical of the resort’s trailblazing eco-efforts, which include running the villas on solar energy and the banishment of single-use plastics.