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Gili Lankanfushi announces revolutionary wellness experiences for festive season
Gili Lankanfushi has announced a revolutionary new programme of international visiting practitioners, expanding the horizons of wellness experiences in the upcoming festive season.
In an announcement, the pioneering luxury eco-resort said the programme includes holistic and progressive healing therapies ranging from energy flow and Ayurveda to Chi Gung bodywork and salt therapy. These therapies, all offered in the spectacular overwater surroundings of the island’s Meera Spa, will promote balance in body and soul, it added.
Visiting practitioners
Kick-starting the new programme of Visiting Practitioners (VPs) in November is Fah Chanettee, a therapist boasting over a decade of experience in Eastern and Western massage techniques, including Abhyanga and Shirobhyanga, Reiki and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) as well as traditional Chinese medicine. Fah’s healing therapies focus on stimulating the five senses, promoting energy flow along the bladder meridian, balancing the chakras through colour therapy and healing energy and aura imbalance.
Massage and bodywork practitioner Ryko Kalinko will join the Meera Spa team for the month of December, with a focus on Chi Gung healing. This unique bodywork heals and promotes wellness with transformational breath work, tailored full-body massage, meditation and holographic reflexology, alongside energy healing through polarity therapy and guided chi healing.
“The innovative well-being offering will continue into 2018, bringing together some of the wellness world’s leading practitioners on Gili Lankanfushi for a year-long wellness programme at Meera Spa, with the full line-up of VPs to be announced later in 2017,” the announcement read.
Masters in Residence
The work of the VPs will complement Meera Spa’s long-term Masters in Residence, experts in kundalini therapy bodywork and pain relief therapy, respectively.
Master in Residence Esther Bitongan Balaodan practices kundalini therapy bodywork, harnessing kundalini energy and working through the chakras to promote self-awareness, reduce stress, and facilitate physical and mental healing. Devendra Prasad Pokhriyal, resident yoga and Ayurveda master, specialises in pain relief therapy, using palm reflexology and ancient salt therapy to release deeply-held tension from within the neck, back and shoulders, to optimise emotional health and promote mental wellbeing.
In addition to an exciting programme of well-being journeys and VPs, Meera Spa — meaning ‘Ocean’ in Sanskrit — offers an extensive range of signature therapeutic treatments. Inspired by nature, treatments use local flower petals, organic herbs and earth clays to heal and nurture the skin, as well as organic products by Voya and Sodashi, and Meera products created on the island from the finest oceanic and botanical extracts.

Open air walkways link the steam room, sauna and six treatment rooms, where glass floors allow guests to watch fish flitting amongst the coral during treatments. Following treatments, guests are encouraged to relax in the vast relaxation areas, which boast panoramic ocean views, and enjoy spicy pots of freshly brewed Maldivian ginger tea.
Gili Lankanfushi offers complimentary daily sunrise yoga classes at the beachside Yoga Champa as well as one-on-one yoga, meditation and visualisation practices with the spa team.
Complimentary wellness activities also take place every Wednesday and Sunday from 8-8.45am. Ryko will be offering complimentary Tai Chi Chi Gung throughout November and Fah Colour Meditation throughout December.
Set on the private island of Lankanfushi in the North Male Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi Maldives is an intimate coral island in a sparkling lagoon, with jetties threading across the water out to spacious villa accommodations, where ultimate privacy can be found. This luxury resort is just a 20-minute speedboat ride from the main Velana International Airport.
At Gili Lankanfushi, an idyllic personal hideaway is one of 45 spacious, rustic overwater villas crafted from natural wood and glass. A palette of sparkling blues paints the horizon, the ocean stretching to infinity wherever on the island. The open design, with indoor and outdoor living space, allows guests the freedom to be themselves, the sound of the sea and warm breeze soothing all senses.
Featured
Villa Nautica’s festive glow: Yoga at sunrise, fireworks at midnight
Villa Nautica will embrace the festive spirit from 20 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, offering guests an easy island rhythm that flows from bright mornings by the water to music-filled evenings on the sand. The season begins with illuminated beaches and relaxed barbecues, gradually building through creative afternoons and live performances. Christmas Eve will feature a gala dinner, followed by Santa’s arrival on 25 December. The celebrations will culminate in a vibrant New Year’s Eve countdown with fireworks, before settling into a calm reset on New Year’s Day and concluding with Orthodox Christmas.
The programme balances practicality with a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. Mornings will bring sunrise yoga, family pool activities, and interactive cooking sessions, while evenings will feature poolside soirées, wine-paired dinners, and sunset cruises. With simple yet photogenic settings, the lagoon and sky take centre stage in shaping the mood. Guests—whether couples, friends, or families—can participate freely without losing the island’s easy pace.
For younger visitors, the festivities will centre around the kids’ club, where cookie and cupcake decorating, beach games, origami and craft sessions, storytelling, and cosy movie nights will take place. Small groups and attentive care ensure that creativity and play remain the focus, allowing parents to enjoy uninterrupted moments around the island.
A highlight of the season will be the Champagne Lucky Draw & Disco. From 1 to 31 December, each bottle of champagne purchased at resort bars or restaurants will serve as an entry to the draw. Guests are advised to keep their entry stubs for the live draw, held at 01:00 during the New Year’s celebration, where the prize will be a seven-night stay in a Water Villa for two.
Throughout the festive period, private experiences will feel as memorable as the larger celebrations. Guests may enjoy candlelit dinners on the sand, floating breakfasts, or early morning snorkelling sessions to begin the year anew. Whether seeking a lively shoreline celebration or a quiet evening stroll beneath lanterns and palms, Villa Nautica offers an atmosphere where every festive moment can glow in its own way.
Featured
JOALI BEING launches global campaign ‘Joyful Journeys of Well-Living’
JOALI BEING, the world’s first well-being island, has announced the launch of its new global brand campaign titled “Joyful Journeys of Well-Living.” The campaign celebrates the art of self-discovery, inviting travellers to reconnect with their inner selves through bespoke and transformative experiences.
Building upon JOALI BEING’s core philosophy of the “Joy of Weightlessness,” the campaign embodies the essence of harmony between mind, body, and spirit. It encourages guests to explore holistic pathways designed to restore balance and inspire personal growth.
Joyful Journeys of Well-Living serves as an invitation to travellers seeking meaningful change and renewal. The campaign narrates stories of individuals discovering joy through purposeful living, mindful connection, and immersive well-being experiences at JOALI BEING.
The visuals capture the island’s tranquil landscapes and nurturing spaces — from oceanfront sanctuaries to treetop villas and transformative healing sessions led by resident experts. The campaign presents JOALI BEING as more than a destination; it is a journey towards well-being, creativity, and self-transformation.
Each guest journey at JOALI BEING is founded on the resort’s Four Pillars of Well-Being — Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy. Through tailored programmes, guests can embark on integrative wellness experiences encompassing sound therapy, movement and fitness, hydrotherapy, nutritional guidance, and energy-healing sessions curated by specialists.
The island features a series of advanced well-being spaces, including:
- CORE: a movement and fitness zone
- AREKA: a transformative treatment centre
- KAASHI: a hydrotherapy hall
- SEDA: a sound-healing room
- Ocean Sala: an open-air meditation and relaxation deck
Each space is designed to nurture a profound connection with nature and the self.
The Joyful Journeys of Well-Living campaign has been conceptualised and produced by JOALI BEING’s in-house team in collaboration with creative partners and visual storytellers from across the globe. The multi-platform campaign integrates film, digital, and print media to convey JOALI BEING’s ethos — a celebration of joy, transformation, and harmony.
The visual narrative draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the Maldives, reflecting JOALI BEING’s immersive design philosophy. The imagery captures the rhythm of the ocean, the play of light, and the flow of energy that define the spirit of the island.
Awards
Coco Bodu Hithi wins Best Waterside Hotel at Condé Nast Johansens Awards 2026
Coco Bodu Hithi has been recognised on the global stage, winning Best Waterside Hotel (Riverside, Lakeside, Seaside) at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2026, held on 3 November 2025 in the UK. It is the second consecutive year the resort has been honoured by the publication, following last year’s win for Best Service, reaffirming its focus on heartfelt Maldivian hospitality and refined island living.
Described by Condé Nast Johansens as an “over-water, over-indulgent Maldivian island outpost,” Coco Bodu Hithi offers an intimate retreat of comfort and calm. The resort’s 32 Water Villas and 24 Coco Residences, each measuring 184 square metres and featuring private pools, provide secluded spaces set above the lagoon, where nature, design, and comfort come together to reflect the island’s romantic ambience.
Known for contemporary design infused with Maldivian heritage, the resort continues to welcome travellers seeking time by the sea, complemented by culinary collaborations with celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs. The experience balances privacy and comfort throughout a guest’s stay. With turquoise waters, quiet spaces, and experiences designed for connection and shared discovery, the resort presents a considered take on island living.
Located 35 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the island combines accessibility with seclusion—close enough for convenience, yet removed for privacy and serenity. As part of Coco Collection, the resort offers bespoke experiences, attentive service, and sustainable practices, shaping stays that feel personal and reflective of relaxed, authentic island life.
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