Sophie Morgan visiting Amilla Fushi, a wheelchair accessible beach resort in the Maldives dedicated to inclusive hospitality.
Amilla Maldives

Inclusion Certified & Accessible Resort

OUR Accessibility COMMITMENT

We have made a commitment to embrace total-guest-inclusion, undergoing comprehensive training from Inclucare to ensure everyone can enjoy the paradise on earth that is the Maldives. We are a wheelchair accessible beach resort with additional accessible adaptations for our hearing and visually impaired travel guests. 100% of our front-of-house staff have undergone inclusive hospitality training to accommodate all guests regardless of disability or impairment. We achieved the premier certification of Inclucare in 2022. It is a status we are beyond proud of. We are also the only business in the Indian Ocean proud to be a member of the Hidden Disabilities Society.

“Amilla is leading the way in inclusive travel,
expanding our world as a result.”

— Sophie morgan,
Disability Advocate & British TV Presenter
A guest at Amilla Maldives using one of our beach wheelchairs to enjoy paradise.
One of the many accessible pathways leading to the Maldives luxury villas, part of Amilla's accessible accommodations.

What does being a leading Inclucare-certified resort mean?

A guest at Amilla Maldives using one of our beach wheelchairs to enjoy the water.
Amilla Maldives' wheelchair accessible beach resort restaurants.
A guest at Amilla Maldives using one of our beach wheelchairs to enjoy the water.
Amilla Maldives

Inclusive & Accessible Resort

The following areas of our private resort, a naturally lush island in the Maldives, are accessible:

  • Walkways and roads at Amilla are built of sand. However, as an established resort, the base is hard packed, making a more accessible path. We offer beach wheelchairs as accessible accommodations for the looser sand areas.
  • All 7 of our wheelchair accessible beach resort restaurants and our award-winning Javvu Spa have ramps or are easily accessible from the ground floor.
  • Beach strollers that are suitable for moving on sandy surfaces or by buggy transportation
  • There are no hills or slopes that can cause inconvenience for mobility impaired vacationers.
  • Hearing accessible room accommodation is available, such as fire alarms with lights to alert hearing impaired guests and a portable hearing induction loop.
Amilla Maldives' wheelchair accessible beach resort restaurants.

Villa & Residences Accessibility Features

  • All villas, except the Treetop Pool Villas, are on the ground floor level for easily accessible accommodations.

  • Many of the villas and residences have accessible features.

  • We can organise a bed lift and pool lift for easy pool access, with sufficient notice.

  • Indoor and outdoor showers are walk-in, with shower seats available. Bathtubs and private pools are not walk-in.

  • Guest requests are handled personally by your Katheeb.

  • Each residence has ground-floor bedrooms. The residences are two storeys, with stairs to the upper level.

  • Villas and residences are extremely spacious, making it easy to move around with a wheelchair.

  • Fire alarms are equipped with flashing lights, and in-villa phones light up when they ring to create more hearing accessible rooms.

  • Smart TVs inside all villas and residences have subtitles and other accessible functions.

Resort Accessibility Features

  • Main Pool: There is a ramp to access the main resort pool deck. A mobile pool hoist is available upon advanced notice.

  • Ocean Excursions: We are happy to assist with getting on and off boats including our famous sunset dolphin cruise and fishing (the boat bathroom is not accessible).

  • Kids Club: A ramp is located at the building entrance and there is a range of activities for all abilities.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Accessibility FAQs

  • Inclusive travel to Velana International Airport

    Is Velana International Airport accessible?

    Velana International Airport (VIA) in Malé has several facilities for physically disabled and visually impaired travel guests. However, there is no air bridge, so passengers disembark the planes via boarding stairs and then take a short walk across the open tarmac. Those with physical disabilities may request from their airline the use of the wheelchair lift to exit the plane. The rest of the international airport is one level on the ground floor.

    Visually impaired passengers may request a staff member for assistance disembarking the plane via the boarding stairs and escorting them across the tarmac to the immigration building.

    Download our accessible travel guide.

     

    What are the accessible accommodations at the airport?

    Upon exiting Immigration, an Amilla airport representative will be waiting to meet you with a sign bearing your name. If you are a visually impaired travel guest and need assistance locating this representative, please inform us—we will coordinate with the airport staff to ensure you receive assistance in locating the greeter.

    Hearing impaired guests may be interested to know that flight arrivals and departures are streamed live on screens at the airport. There are accessible toilets at the international airport, domestic airport, CIP (VIP Lounge) and the seaplane terminal.

    Accessible vehicles are available to book and may be required between the international airport and the seaplane terminal. Our Guest Experience team can assist with pre-booking this vehicle (call +960 6606444 or email guestexperience@amilla.com).

  • Transfers & on-island accessibility

    What are the best ways to reach Amilla from Malé?

    Domestic transfers: A domestic transfer between Velana International Airport and Dharavandhoo Airport in Baa Atoll is a 15-minute flight, followed by a 10-minute speed boat ride. The Dharavandhoo domestic airport does not have a wheelchair lift. Flights are accessible via stairs. If you require assistance with boarding, we will advise the airline at the time of booking.

    Seaplane transfers: Seaplane flights are just 35 minutes, sometimes flying directly to the resort, but often passengers are dropped off on a small floating platform adjacent to the island, which may present some challenges. Seaplanes are small and restricted in terms of space, with just three small seats in each row, no space to stand up straight and a very narrow aisle not wide enough for wheelchairs and buggies to be wheeled down.

    An Evacuation Chair or manual carry sling is available for guests embarking and disembarking from seaplanes or domestic flights. If you require any additional transportation assistance, just let us know.

    How accessible is the Speed Boat Transfer?

    After your domestic or seaplane flight from the international airport, it’s just a short 2–10-minute speed boat ride to Amilla Maldives. The resort team assists all guests with getting on and off the speed boat. This involves stepping up and onto the side of the boat. If necessary, our team members manually lift guests, and the use of the Evacuation Chair or sling would be required.

  • Inclusive hospitality travel certification

    What percentage of your team has received training from Inclucare on assisting differently abled guests?

    The majority of our front-of-house team was trained in August 2022.

    What standards are you working towards?

    We are working closely with Inclucare in the UK and strive to be transparent on what accessible accommodations we can offer and how we have reduced some barriers and are working towards better understanding your individual needs.

    How often are you audited?

    Our first audit was in August 2022. Audits will be completed annually.

    Who is setting your standards?

    Our standards are set by Incl-Tel, the inclusive hospitality branch of Inclucare in the United Kingdom.

Please, contact us if you would like to know more or have further suggestions.