TIME Magazine has names Six Senses Laamu among the "World's Greatest Places of 2026", citing its standout experiences and global impact. The recognition spotlights the resort's leading marine conservation efforts and its sustainability-driven luxury model.
"Being recognized by TIME as one of the world's greatest places is an incredible honour for our team," said Marteyne van Well, Regional General Manager at Six Senses Laamu.
"Our vision has always been to demonstrate that hospitality and meaningful environmental stewardship can coexist. This accolade celebrates the dedication of our entire resort team, and local community who work every day to protect Laamu's remarkable ecosystem."
Set in the secluded Laamu Atoll, Six Senses Laamu is known for integrating environmental research into the guest experience. The resort said that the Sea Hub for Environmental Learning in Laamu (SHELL) is at the core of these efforts. SHELL is a dedicated marine research centre that hosts resident NGOs and supports on of the world's most ambitious resort-based conservation programs.
Highlights among these efforts include the establishment of the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) in collaboration with various NGOs, through which the resort played a key role in reef restoration and marine research across Laamu atoll. As part of this, the 2024 global coral bleaching event saw the resort work to mitigate the impact by releasing three million coral larvae grown in on-site laboratories onto damaged reefs while cloning vulnerable coral species to support ecosystem recovery.
Six Senses Laamu also backs major research efforts across the atoll. The Manta Trust has identified more than 150 individual manta rays in the area and uses the world's first underwater contactless ultrasound scanner to monitor pregnant mantas.
Meanwhile, the Olive Ridley Project leads key sea turtle conservation work. Ongoing seagrass studies have uncovered previously undocumented species and confirmed the habitat's role as an essential nursery for reef fish.
A hallmark of Six Senses Laamu is the way scientific initiatives are interwoven with the guest experience. Guests can tour the SHELL's labs and galleries, join conservation activities, dive alongside marine biologists, and earn specialty diving certifications focused on manta rays and reef ecosystems.
Framed by Laamu's brilliant turquoise waters, Six Senses Laamu features sustainably crafter overwater and beachfront villas. It is also the only five-star resort in Laamu atoll.
