Six Senses Laamu Wins Recognition on TIME’s List of the World’s Greatest Places 2026
The Six Senses Laamu Resort in the Maldives is one of the distinguished resorts selected by TIME Magazine on its annual World’s Greatest Places of 2026 list. TIME Magazine considers such places which exhibit innovation, unique experience, and significant influence on the global landscape. The award highlights the resort's sustainability and environmental protection efforts made in the Maldives, as per Marteyne van Well. The resort has been praised in the magazine due to its constant environmental protection efforts. A special feature of the sustainability initiatives of the resort includes the Sea Hub for Environmental Learning in Laamu (SHELL). This marine research centre combines science and guests. Furthermore, the resort runs an initiative named the Maldives Underwater Restaurants Initiative (MUI). It collaborates with non-governmental organizations in reef and marine protection. After the 2024 event of coral bleaching, researchers at the resort have released nearly three million coral larvae in damaged reefs. The resort conducts coral cloning programs.
The resort is also collaborating with some of the top conservation organizations, such as Manta Trust, where more than 150 manta rays have been discovered in the area and an innovative first-ever underwater contactless ultrasound scanner has been designed to study pregnant mantas. The resort also collaborates with Olive Ridley Project to ensure that sea turtles are effectively protected. Seagrass habitats are also being studied in the area, and some unknown species have been identified while highlighting the importance of these habitats as nurseries for reef fish. The guests can actively get involved in such endeavors by visiting SHELL, participating in conservation programs, learning about marine biology through diving and obtaining manta rays and reef certification. SIX SENSES LAAMU offers luxurious accommodation in the form of sustainably designed overwater and beach villas and still remains the only five-star resort in Laamu Atoll.
