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Fantastical celebrations at JOALI Maldives this festive season

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From 21st of December 2021 to 9th of January 2022, JOALI Maldives will be hosting a fantasy-world inspired three-week calendar of enchanting festive activities and joyful experiences for all ages.

The paradise island will be transformed into an otherworldly playground that blends past and present, fantasy and reality.

Guests can take part in a range of traditional family experiences throughout the festive period, such as the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony; the unveiling of JOALI Maldives’ culinary art-designed Gingerbread House, getting a visit from Santa Claus, JOALI style; and watching the ball drop for New Year’s Eve, welcoming 2022.

To help guests with their approach to wellbeing this festive season, JOALI Maldives will be home to a selection of trainers and teachers that will help with wellbeing, introspection, and self-knowledge.

Joanne Ignacio, JOALI Maldives’ Resident Yoga & Holistic Teacher, will be on hand to help guests rebalance, relax, and renew with tailored wellbeing experiences. During the festive season, Joanne will be facilitating wellness sessions where guests can take their pick from various yoga styles, pranayama, meditation, manifestation, posture correction, and more.

Darko Vujic, Resident Fitness Trainer, will guide guests through daily fitness training and activities, including metabolic training, mixed martial arts workout, tabata training, aqua fitness workout, and more.

Resident Tennis Coach, Stefan Mijushkovikj’s passion for tennis is manifested in fun and engaging lessons for those who are new, as well as a great competition for more experienced players.

Dr Sohal Shah practices a unique blend of acupuncture and yoga and is renowned for combining herbal remedies, Chinese cupping, and yogic relaxation techniques to treat a host of ailments – from aches, pains and migraines, to insomnia, weight gain and lifestyle addictions.

JOALI Maldives is offering a complimentary consultation with Dr Sohal this festive season, who will identify the guests’ needs and goals for their wellbeing journey.

For adrenaline seekers and water lovers, JOALI Maldives will be offering various activities including parasailing, scuba diving, and glass-bottom kayaking.

Alongside the festive and adrenaline-fuelled activities, guests can learn more about the marine-scape of the Maldives with JOALI’s Resident Marine Biologists, Ida-Wenona Hendriks and Shameem Ali. Ida-Wenona and Shameem are available for a wide range of educational experiences including learning to build coral frames in support of the JOALI Reef Restoration Programme, scuba-diving to plant coral onto the reef nursery and guided snorkelling over JOALI’s house reef.

Younger guests are in for a treat, with fun-filled adventures and learning sessions to keep them busy. Families can enjoy an exhilarating over and underwater sea bob ride; tailored tennis lessons from the tennis pro Stefan Mijuskovic; or archery sessions with an experienced instructor.

Families can also look forward to ceramic art classes with JOALI Maldives’ resident artist, Nataliya Kuleshova or join in the beloved Maldivian pastime of reef-bottom fishing.

To create an unforgettable holiday celebration, JOALI Maldives will be hosting an array of culinary experiences to enjoy, including celebration menus and interactive mixology and culinary classes with their talented chefs.

Festive celebrations will include a Christmas Eve dinner of signature dishes alongside beloved holiday recipes, served by the firelight of beach torches and a Christmas Day brunch with an array of sweet morning treats and celebratory drinks for the adults.

To celebrate the welcoming of 2022, JOALI Maldives will host a New Year’s Eve “Phantasmagoria” celebration, lit by moonlight, stars and fireworks, which includes a lavish feast of international dishes and artistic surprises by their team of chefs.

Start the New Year with a New Year’s Day brunch including a Bloody Mary station, healthy mixed sprouts and vegan salads, and a make-your-own juice station.

Guests can also enjoy a range of educational culinary art experiences during the festive period, including learning to roll sushi like a pro at a Sushi Making class; a hands-on festive favourite cooking class; a day of learning to create authentic Italian cuisine dishes at Bellinis; an interactive Asian cuisine teppanyaki cooking class that is perfect for the entire family; and a family-friendly introduction to Indian Ocean spices from their talented Chefs.

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Villa Nautica’s festive glow: Yoga at sunrise, fireworks at midnight

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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.

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JOALI BEING launches global campaign ‘Joyful Journeys of Well-Living’

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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.

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Coco Bodu Hithi wins Best Waterside Hotel at Condé Nast Johansens Awards 2026

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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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