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Naladhu Private Island Maldives reopens with contemporary redesign
Naladhu Private Island, an exclusive luxury island haven in the Maldives, has reopened this November with a sleek new look following a complete redesign by New York based designer Yuji Yamazaki.
Home to just 20 ‘Houses’, Naladhu offers the ultimate in privacy and seclusion and ensures an unrivalled level of service to meet the needs of the most discerning traveller.
The public areas and all 20 ‘Houses’ in this intimate resort have been renovated during a six-month closure.
The resort’s top suite, the Two Bedroom Beach Pool Residence, now boasts a 20-metre private beach and the resort interiors throughout have a contemporary feel using Indonesian teak furniture, and high-quality materials such as Indonesian white stone for a lighter colour palette, creating a modern colonial style.
Yamazaki has focused on maximising the number of spaces around the Houses where guests can claim a moment of pause, ranging from ocean-side seating for breakfast to pre-dinner cocktails on the chaise longue overlooking the pool.
The island’s restaurant, bar, wine cellar and gym have been transformed and the new Coconut Grove offers a secluded area for private experiences such as cinema under the stars or private yoga and fitness classes.
The resort’s two categories of Houses, each with 300 sqm of living space, are surrounded by tropical vegetation and invite a total immersion in nature.
The Beach House with Pool has direct access to the white sands and lagoon, whilst the Ocean House with Pool and Private Beach Cabana has a large terrace with panoramic ocean view, in addition to its own dedicated cabana, where guests can relax on their oversized day bed attended by their butler, known as a Kuwaanu.
Each House is named after an indigenous Maldivian flower or plant that grows on the island, with the chosen flora featuring in the House’s garden. For example, Dhigga or Sea Hibiscus, famed for flowers that deepen to orange and finally to red before they fall in the course of a single day, and Finifenma or Pink Rose, the national flower of the Maldives, which the top suite is named after.
The 600 sqm Two Bedroom Beach Pool Residence, sleeping up to six guests, is a vast space guaranteeing peace and privacy. The Residence benefits from both sunrise and sunset views, with its pool and large deck facing the ocean, along with loungers, al fresco dining area and swing. Its new private beach, also with a beach cabana, offers direct access to the turquoise lagoon.
The guest experience at Naladhu is enhanced by the personal Kuwaanu. Deriving from the Dhivehi word for storyteller in the Maldivian language, the Kuwaanu offers a refined and seamless service for guests 24 hours a day. Before guests have even departed for their holiday, the Kuwaanu ensures the in-House wine fridge is stocked with their choice of wine and Champagne, whilst dive and snorkelling equipment is ready to wear in their exact sizes. As butler and guide, the Kuwaanu takes care of everything from unpacking and serving early morning coffee to organising a private island picnic and discussing each day’s dining requests for the chef.
Dining is completely bespoke with guests curating a daily menu and choosing their favourite dishes and locations around the clock, whether it’s an all-day breakfast taken barefoot on the beach, or a ‘journey around the world’ dinner. Favourite dining spots include The Living Room with views over the lagoon, a Champagne floating breakfast in the pool and moonlight midnight snacks on the beach.
Led by Executive Chef Philippe Wagenfuhrer, the resort’s culinary team is experienced in cuisines from around the globe ranging from Arabic to Italian, French to Sri Lankan and Japanese to Indonesian, in addition to local Maldivian flavours.
Educating guests about the ecosystem of the Maldives’ and locale is a high priority. The resort has introduced some new experiences including a snorkelling trail with in-house marine biologist and sustainability manager, Emilia Fulgido, to observe some of the 2,000 species of tropical fish and corals and to understand more about the resort’s reef restoration programme.
Guests can become involved in a coral adoption programme and learn more about coral planting, fish identification and marine life alongside the recycling of micro plastics and a soon-to-launch workshop will study plankton under a microscope lens. Guided walks also teach guests about the flora and fauna on the island.
As part of its sustainability commitment, Naladhu is working with Parley Air to reduce marine plastic pollution and recycle plastic waste and has eliminated all single use plastic on the island.
Bathroom amenities are in natural packaging, with toiletries in luxury refillable dispensers. Water and waste management programmes are in place and the resort has its own water desalination and bottling plant.
The resort’s pre-renovation furniture has been donated to the Maldives’ only hospital for mental health.
Naladhu Private Island has renewed its focus on wellness with a new dedicated spa treatment area including a double treatment room with private bathing and changing area.
A Naturopath and Nutritional Therapist is also in residence and guests can arrange a consultation to focus on their nutrition to help overcome specific issues including stress, sleep and unhealthy eating patterns as well as their digestion, immunity, weight management, hormones, skin and blood sugar balance.
A new health programme RESET focuses on the crucial role the gut plays in health and overall wellbeing. The five or seven-night personalised programme is tailored to the individual and examines the way the gut affects everything from moods to sleep and energy combined with detoxifying treatments such as colon hydrotherapy and IV therapy to yoga and core exercises.
Located on the edge of a pristine lagoon in the South Malé Atoll, Naladhu Private Island is 30 minutes by luxury speedboat from Velana International Airport in Malé. Lead in rates at Naladhu Private Island during low season are USD 1,900 per night on a bed and breakfast basis for two persons sharing an Ocean House.
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.
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.
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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