Each of the 1,000-odd islands in this Indian Ocean archipelago deserves the tag ‘beautiful’. Among the glittering green gems, though, Mirihi stands out for the sheer, concentrated, paradisiacal perfection it squeezes into its 1,148 by 164 foot (350 by 50m) size.

The island, in the Alif Dhaal Atoll, was the first to introduce overwater bungalows, now so synonymous with the region, and its landmass is dwarfed by surrounding reefs, swum by sea turtles, eagle rays and reef sharks.

Now discover the secrets of the world's most mysterious islands

The most beautiful small islands in the world