Top 10 best new hotels and sailings in the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is a destination that is almost synonymous with luxury, so it’s no surprise that appetite remains strong among affluent travellers: Pure Luxury reports that premium and luxury sales to the region are up 15% year on year. Aside from pristine shores, turquoise seas and lush rainforests, a raft of new developments is enticing visitors, from new hotels and revamped resorts to exciting cruise itineraries that showcase the region’s hidden gems. Here are our top picks of the best hotels and sailings in the Indian Ocean. 

1. Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita, Mauritius 

Reopening: November 2025

Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita is scheduled to reopen this November following a seven-month renovation. The resort’s interiors, spa, wellness space and dining locations have all been rejuvenated, with earthy tones and fabrics reflecting the tropical surrounds. With a mixture of rooms, villas and residences, guests will have access to two golf courses, private barbecues and watersports including sailing and snorkelling, as well as a private beach on nearby island Ile aux Cerfs.

2. Veligandu Maldives Resort Island, Maldives 

Reopened: November 2024

An extensive 18-month renovation of Veligandu saw the island resort upgraded from a four to a five-star property. New overwater villas feature outdoor baths and showers with panoramic sea views, which are also front and centre at the oceanside fitness venue and padel and pickleball courts. Eateries include a Japanese teppanyaki grill, an Asian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant and a charcoal-fired pizzeria. Eco-friendly initiatives are a key focus of the new-and-improved resort: the overwater villas are equipped with solar panels and raised higher to prevent damage to the coral reef below.

3. Corinthia Maldives, Maldives 

Opening: Q4 2025

Set in the picturesque Kaafu Atoll, Corinthia’s first property in the Maldives will span two islands, the larger housing a 73-key resort while the smaller isle will be reserved for exclusive-use hire. ‘Aquatic-inspired’ architecture will celebrate the famous manta ray and the property’s design will incorporate swooping lines to echo the ocean. Guests can expect wellness facilities, fitness areas and five dining venues.

4. New Ponant sailing, Madagascar 

Launching: December 2025

Ponant will launch a cruise between South Africa and Madagascar on Le Bougainville in December. The 11-night sailing will travel from Durban to Nosy Be, a volcanic isle known as ‘the scented island’ due to its vast ylang ylang plantations. The voyage will include an overnight in former South African fishing village Richards Bay, with excursions to spot lions, hippos and elephants. It will then cross the Mozambique Channel to call at Nosy Hara, Nosy Komba, Mahajanga, Toliara and, finally, Nosy Be to enjoy Madagascar’s rich flora and fauna.

5. Rosewood Seychelles, Seychelles 

Opening: 2027

A new 40-villa property from Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is set to open in the Seychelles’ remote Aldabra Atoll, a region once described by Sir David Attenborough as “one of the world’s greatest surviving natural treasures”. Spacious villas will have direct beach access and sustainability at their core, with natural materials such as rattan prominent alongside ‘island-inspired’ textiles and decor. The resort will boast a beach club, outdoor cinema and extensive spa and gym facilities, alongside a kids’ club and multiple dining options. The Aldabra Atoll is one of the world’s largest, 5 with its rich coral, marine and bird life earning it Unesco World Heritage status.

6. Anantara Zanzibar Resort, Zanzibar

Opening: 2027

A luxurious 181-key resort from Anantara will open on the northern coast of Zanzibar in 2027. The new-build will feature a range of accommodation categories, including one and two-bedroom sea view villas with private pools; one, two and three-bedroom apartments; suites; penthouses; and a presidential villa. Guests can enjoy access to a selection of pools and a secluded lagoon – the resort has been ‘strategically designed’ with a range of calming water features – as well as a beach club and tiki bar. There will also be six restaurants and bars alongside a spa, gym, watersports club and library.

7. Bvlgari Resort Ranfushi, Maldives 

Opening: 2026

Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts will mark its 10th location in 2026 with Bvlgari Resort Ranfushi. Set within the Raa Atoll, it will feature 33 beach villas with private pools, 20 overwater villas and an ultra-exclusive Bvlgari Villa on its own island. There will be four culinary options: signature venue Il Ristorante – Niko Romito; Chinese fine-dining restaurant Bao Li Xuan; Japanese outlet Hōseki; and relaxed eatery La Spiaggia. There is also a bar, spa, boutique and La Galleria concept store planned.

8. Voaara, Madagascar 

Opened: December 2024

With a barefoot luxury ethos at its heart, Voaara – on the island of Nosy Boraha, off the coast of Madagascar – is the first property from new brand Voaara Hotels. The resort boasts eight tropical style bungalows and villas strung out along a stretch of sand, with a further 37 expected to be added. There’s also a beach club, two restaurants and two bars. Guests can spend their days snorkelling, quad biking through the jungle or, from June to October, spotting the migration of humpback whales.

9. Taru Villas Villu, Sri Lanka 

Opened: January 2025

Eco-luxury is the priority at Taru Villas Villu, set on the fringes of Sri Lanka’s Wilpattu National Park. This serene property – a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World – has just seven chalets, each with a plunge pool and private deck. In-room massages and wellness services create a relaxing haven, while an intimate restaurant offers a menu of local ingredients, fine wines and aged whiskies. But the jewel in the crown of this hotel is its location, as Wilpattu National Park delivers unrivalled access to viewing Sri Lanka’s big five: leopards, elephants, sloth bears, whales and dolphins.

10. Legend Hill Resort & Spa, Mauritius 

Opened: June 2025

Legend Hill Resort & Spa, the first new property in Mauritius for eight years, is tucked amid the trees of Tourelle mountain on the west coast of the island, offering spectacular views of both the ocean and the iconic Le Morne Brabant summit, a Unesco World Heritage Site. A series of buildings crafted from wood, stone and steel sit harmoniously on the hillside, housing 44 rooms, suites, penthouses and villas with private pools and panoramic balconies. The four-treatment-room Legend Spa offers therapies inspired by traditional Mauritian practices; guests can savour a menu curated by French chef Glenn Viel of three-Michelin-starred restaurant L’Oustau de Baumanière; and leisurely days can be spent overlooking the ocean from a lofty infinity pool.